Message-Id: <199705231508.LAA26131@delorie.com>
Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 10:02:19 -0500
From: "Jonathan E. Brickman" <brickman AT cjnetworks DOT com>
Reply-To: "Jonathan E. Brickman" <brickman AT cjnetworks DOT com>
To: opendos AT delorie DOT com
Subject: Re: OpenDOS announcement...
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> That would be very useful -- a
> master list of shortcomings vs.
> "the industry-standard DOSes."
> I agree with Jonathan that making
> OD compatible with and *at least*
> as good performance-wise is a top
> priority and ought to be taken
> care of before folks start coding
> up new features.

Honestly, I don't really think that
full compatibility is necessary, given
that the definition of "full compatibility"
is not exactly firm.  Here are things
I consider vital for OpenDOS credibility:

1.  Take the "fully compatible" allegation
off the Caldera web sites right now.  Leave
it off.  Replace it with a list of specific things
that OD will actually do buglessly right now.

2.  Fix the installation procedure.

3.  Make a list of memory-related
configuration solutions.  Post it.

4.  Make a list of incompatible drivers,
driver types, rough guesses at
untested driver types, and suggested
substitutes.  Post it.

5.  Don't worry about Windows 3.1x compatibility
for now.  Get the latest versions of
WordPerfect for DOS and Arachne and other
vital apps to work well, no matter what it
takes.

6.  Then work on rewriting source
to eliminate the needed hacks et cetera.

Until items 1 through 3 above, at a minimum,
are completed, I will continue to have
strong reason to recommend against use of
OpenDOS.

Jonathan E. Brickman         River City Computing, Inc.            (913) 232-6663
http://www.cjnetworks.com/~rivercity                    brickman AT cjnetworks DOT com
It seems to me that men usually think more about carburetors, and women
think more about doors.  I think the world needs really good carburetors...and
really good doors.