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Aucbvax.6487 fa.works utcsrgv!utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!works Mon Mar 15 04:56:06 1982 Re: is unix really the answer? >From RENTSCH@Usc-Ecl Wed Mar 10 16:57:29 1982 I would like to second most if not all of Joel Goldberger's comments. I too think that trying to adapt UNIX for Alto style personal computers is simply the wrong path. Admittedly many many people have been and will be using UNIX, but the environment envisioned for UNIX just doesn't match the Alto style mold. Most systems that start with a good idea and then try to adapt to a new paradigm end up being a disappointing mixture of the two, with a real identity crisis about when to use which ideas. It's better to do a new design from the ground up both in terms of quality of implementation and conceptual integrity. Xerox has the right idea with the mesa development environment, for example, by deciding to go with an all new system.

On the subject of Xerox, the information that I have is that MESA will be available on the STAR, at a cost of $3,000/processor, but not until the end of this calendar year. I have seen the development environment running on a STAR (at Xerox) and it looks pretty good and very integrated into the workstation mold (uses windows, makes use of display well and the mouse, etc.) This is not too surprising since after all Xerox has been blazing the trail (you can tell the pioneers by the arrows in their backs) and has many many man years of experience with Alto style implementations.

What would really be nice is if a Smalltalk implemenation were available from Xerox for the STAR. Office Products Division has not yet gotten off its corporate butt and made the decision (officially) to get back into the (now personal) computer business. I have heard rumors that Xerox is planning a Smalltalk implementation for the STAR and that Dave Liddle of OPD is enthusiastic about Smalltalk, but a flurry of enquiries would certainly help. Call David Liddle at (415) 494-4770 , and ask him personally when Smalltalk will be available. I think he'll get the message.

Tim Rentsch -------

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