Re: [9fans] What a poor VGA support !

[Digby Tarvin <digbyt@acm.org>]

> Sorry folks, but I'm in a particularly pedantic mood this morning ...
>
> > 6 DOSez : MS-DOS, PC DOS, Open DOS, DR DOS, PTS DOS, FreeDOS
>
> None of these have VGA support. They use the BIOS to write to the
> screen as if it was a 24x80 tty.
>
> > 6 Windozes : 95, 98 , ME, NT, 2K, XP
>
> Make that two Windows: 95 and NT. The others are just different
> releases of 95/NT.

I'd also disqualify any Microsoft operating system from such comparison
on the basis that hardware support is invariably supplied by the
hardwave vendor, and no alternative OS vendor can hope to compete
with that sort of monopoly advantage...

Unix/Linux and other system that use XFree86 has a much larger developer
base, and so is bound to have better hardware support.

The remaining systems in you list make more interesting comparisons, and
I would be interested in seeing any 'supported hardware' lists for them.
How many of them provide source code for the drivers?

For Plan9 it is probably a better use of resources to have well developed
drivers for products from the few responsible hardware vendors
that see fit to adequately document the interface to their hardware,
especially as that usually selects for the better quality hardware
in any case. So long as this is able to encompass a range that includes
some examples of high end capabilities, and some that are low cost, so that
buying Plan9 capable hardware doesn't involve having to compromise too
much.

What we really need is some sort of industry acreditation that can
be awarded to manufacturers of non-Microsft specific hardware, so
that people who want a choice can avoid winding up with a lemon
without needing to carry around a long list of supported hardware
for every OS they may ever want to run - as well as providing an
incentive for manufacturers to play the game. I don't mind so much if my
hardware is not currently supported - it is when it *can't* be
supported that annoys me...

Unix support is often a good sign, but I know of some cases where
drivers are provided by manufacturers, or under a NDA, such that
source is not available, or where drivers have had to be reverse
engineered and developed in spite of the manufacturer...

Unfortunately I suspect the vast majority of the market will have
already bought hardware 'bundles' before realising there is a problem,
making intelligent hardware selection no longer an option,
and as a result will be stuck with Windows...

Regards,
DigbyT
--
Digby R. S. Tarvin                                              digbyt@acm.org
http://www.cthulhu.dircon.co.uk