From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on inbox.vuxu.org X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.0 required=5.0 tests=HTML_MESSAGE, MAILING_LIST_MULTI,RCVD_IN_DNSWL_NONE autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 Received: (qmail 13636 invoked from network); 17 Mar 2021 21:09:20 -0000 Received: from minnie.tuhs.org (45.79.103.53) by inbox.vuxu.org with ESMTPUTF8; 17 Mar 2021 21:09:20 -0000 Received: by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix, from userid 112) id 795D29BB26; Thu, 18 Mar 2021 07:09:18 +1000 (AEST) Received: from minnie.tuhs.org (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 2CFBC9B68A; Thu, 18 Mar 2021 07:09:01 +1000 (AEST) Received: by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix, from userid 112) id BD9009B68A; Thu, 18 Mar 2021 07:08:59 +1000 (AEST) Received: from zimbra.anteil.com (zimbra.anteil.com [67.110.179.138]) by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 18B489B688 for ; Thu, 18 Mar 2021 07:08:59 +1000 (AEST) Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by zimbra.anteil.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id A126510066; Wed, 17 Mar 2021 17:08:58 -0400 (EDT) Received: from zimbra.anteil.com ([127.0.0.1]) by localhost (zimbra.anteil.com [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10024) with ESMTP id HC8oAF-uiLQF; Wed, 17 Mar 2021 17:08:57 -0400 (EDT) Received: from zimbra.anteil.com (zimbra.anteil.com [192.168.1.22]) by zimbra.anteil.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id 383411003C; Wed, 17 Mar 2021 17:08:57 -0400 (EDT) Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2021 16:08:57 -0500 (EST) From: Jim Capp To: Josh Good Message-ID: <17719473.3631.1616015337052.JavaMail.root@zimbraanteil> In-Reply-To: <20210317203335.GA5249@naleco.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_Part_3630_29406851.1616015337050" X-Originating-IP: [192.168.200.43] X-Mailer: Zimbra 6.0.7_GA_2476.RHEL4 (ZimbraWebClient - SAF3 (Linux)/6.0.7_GA_2473.UBUNTU8) Subject: Re: [TUHS] Surprised about Unix System V in the 80's - so sparse! X-BeenThere: tuhs@minnie.tuhs.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.26 Precedence: list List-Id: The Unix Heritage Society mailing list List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Cc: tuhs@tuhs.org Errors-To: tuhs-bounces@minnie.tuhs.org Sender: "TUHS" ------=_Part_3630_29406851.1616015337050 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Josh, The appeal was that SCO Xenix would turn a PC into a multi-user machine. For me, that meant shared databases and shared applications. We would run anywhere from 3 to a dozen or more "dumb" terminals. Unlike a DOS PC, SCO Xenix included most of the UNIX tools. At one time, it even included PWB. Just like a DOS based PC, applications like Word Perfect and Lotus 123 were available (for a price). My $.02 Jim From: "Josh Good" To: tuhs@tuhs.org Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2021 4:33:37 PM Subject: [TUHS] Surprised about Unix System V in the 80's - so sparse! Hello UNIX veterans. So I stumbled online upon a copy of the book "SCO Xenix System V Operating System User's Guide", from 1988, advertised as having 395 pages, and the asked for price was 2.50 EUROs. I bought it, expecting --well, I don't know exactly what I was expecting, something quaint and interesting, I suppose. I've received the book, and it is not a treasure trobe, to say the least. I am in fact surprised at how sparse was UNIX System V of this age, almost spartan. The chapter titles are: 1. Introduction 2. vi: A Text Editor 3. ed 4. mail 5. Communicating with Other Sites 6. bc: A Calculator 7. The Shell 8. The C-Shell 9. Using the Visual Shell And that's it. The communications part only deals the Micnet (a serial-port based local networking scheme), and UUCP. No mention at all of the words "Internet" or "TCP/IP", no even in the Index. Granted, this Xenix version is derived from System V Release 2, and I think it was for the Intel 286 (not yet ported to the i386), but hey it's 1988 already and the Internet is supposed to be thriving on UNIX in the Pacific Coast, or so the lore says. I see now that it probably was only in the Berkely family that the Internet was going on... In truth, I fail to see what was the appeal of such a system, for mere users, when in the same PC you could run rich DOS-based applications like WordPerfect, Lotus 1-2-3, Ventura Publisher and all the PC software from those years. I mean, mail without Internet is pretty useless, althouhg I understand it could be useful for inter-company communications. And yes, it had vi and the Bourne Shell. But still, it feels very very limited, this Xenix version, from a user's point of view. I'm probably spoiled from Linux having repositories full of packaged free software, where the user just has to worry about "which is the best of": email program, text editor, browser, image manipulation program, video player, etc. I understand this now pretty well, how spoiled are we these days. -- Josh Good ------=_Part_3630_29406851.1616015337050 Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <= div style=3D'font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; color: #000000'= >Josh,

The appeal was that SCO Xenix would turn a PC int= o a multi-user machine.  For me, that meant shared databases and share= d applications.  We would run anywhere from 3 to a dozen or more "dumb= " terminals.

Unlike a DOS PC, SCO Xenix included m= ost of the UNIX tools.  At one time, it even included PWB.
<= br>
Just like a DOS based PC, applications like Word Perfect and = Lotus 123 were available (for a price).

My $.02

Jim



From: "Josh Good" <pepe@naleco.com>
To: tuhs@tuhs.= org
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2021 4:33:37 PM
Subject: [TUHS] Surprised about Unix System V in the 80's - so sparse!

Hello= UNIX veterans.

So I stumbled online upon a copy of the book "SCO Xe= nix System V Operating
System User's Guide", from 1988, advertised as ha= ving 395 pages, and the
asked for price was 2.50 EUROs. I bought it, exp= ecting --well, I don't know
exactly what I was expecting, something quai= nt and interesting, I suppose.

I've received the book, and it is not= a treasure trobe, to say the least. I
am in fact surprised at how spars= e was UNIX System V of this age, almost
spartan.

The chapter titl= es are:

1. Introduction
2. vi: A Text Editor
3. ed
4. mail<= br>5. Communicating with Other Sites
6. bc: A Calculator
7. The Shell=
8. The C-Shell
9. Using the Visual Shell

And that's it. The c= ommunications part only deals the Micnet (a serial-port
based local netw= orking scheme), and UUCP. No mention at all of the words
"Internet" or "= TCP/IP", no even in the Index.

Granted, this Xenix version is derive= d from System V Release 2, and I think
it was for the Intel 286 (not yet= ported to the i386), but hey it's 1988
already and the Internet is supp= osed to be thriving on UNIX in the Pacific
Coast, or so the lore says. I= see now that it probably was only in the
Berkely family that the Intern= et was going on...

In truth, I fail to see what was the appeal of su= ch a system, for mere
users, when in the same PC you could run rich DOS-= based applications like
WordPerfect, Lotus 1-2-3, Ventura Publisher and = all the PC software from
those years.

I mean, mail without Intern= et is pretty useless, althouhg I understand it
could be useful for inter= -company communications. And yes, it had vi and the
Bourne Shell. But st= ill, it feels very very limited, this Xenix version,
from a user's point= of view.

I'm probably spoiled from Linux having repositories full o= f packaged free
software, where the user just has to worry about "which = is the best of":
email program, text editor, browser, image manipulation= program, video
player, etc. I understand this now pretty well, how spoi= led are we these
days.

--
Josh Good

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