From mboxrd@z Thu Jan  1 00:00:00 1970
Date: Sun,  4 Aug 1996 21:08:08 -0400
From: Shon Frazier vtipres@mindspring.com
Subject: Sell me on Plan 9
Topicbox-Message-UUID: 4a7e316c-eac8-11e9-9e20-41e7f4b1d025
Message-ID: <19960805010808.-w74R48jtENK1ydvnQHZNNJgm1w1PdoFKGpC71-gf9M@z>

If this should be directed elsewhere, please forward or return with
forwarding instructions.

I got interested in Plan 9 some time ago when I stumbled across it on the
Web.  What I've read seems to suggest that this OS provides easier access to
system resources for application development (users typically do not care
how their applications interact with their hardware, as long as they get the
expected result).  Other than this, it seems to be another networking
environment.

I subscribed to the Plan 9 mailing list in an attempt to learn more about
the OS.  I have learned a great deal.  One thing I have discovered is the
fact that there are still numerous bugs in the system.  Many apparently due
to attempts to port to other machines.

These facts lead me to beleive that this rather expensive release is nothing
more than a beta test.  I will agree that some of the apparently few
benefits of this system may be useful, but the price to experiment with
these benefits is much too high.

Inferno and Limbo have tremendous potential.  Universal application
compatibility across all platforms will surely have an impact on this
industry.  Since universal compatibility is the goal and since Inferno will
be released to run under several operating systems, it would be much more
beneficial to develop applications to further the use of these tools.

After all this I have one question: Why should my company buy Plan 9?
Please do not misread my tone.  I guess I simply don't understand the whole
Plan 9 marketing concept.  I will continue to monitor the Plan 9 mailing
list for more information.

A response at your convenience will be appreciated.
----------------------
S Frazier
President
VTI
Covington, GA
vtipres@mindspring.com