Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!agate!saturn!ucsco.UCSC.EDU!sandy47
From: sandy47@ucsco.UCSC.EDU (90784000)
Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Subject: Re: Need a patch for Minix/ST 1.1
Summary: Can anyone help me obtain whole version, not patch?
Message-ID: <9199@saturn.ucsc.edu>
Date: 24 Sep 89 19:46:06 GMT
References: <24162@louie.udel.EDU> <2391@ucsfcca.ucsf.edu> <1115@aurora.AthabascaU.CA>
Sender: usenet@saturn.ucsc.edu
Reply-To: sandy47@ucsco.UCSC.EDU (Larry McElhiney)
Organization: University of California, Santa Cruz
Lines: 46


I have roamed the Internet archives for several months, since I first got
my purchased Minix package in the mail.  There is an incredible amount of 
information avaialble on the PC version(s), which is to be expected, and a much
smaller amount available for the ST, again, as expected.  Everyone talks about
this patch or that, what they have ported over, what problems they have had
installing this or that.  I have read a multitude of repeated cycles of the 
same questions, mostly from new users like myself.  I have also seen the many
responses from experts which are of a derisive nature toward these questions.

I think that both side have a point, just as many others who have purchased the
commercial version of Minix for the ST, I _need_ answers to my questions and
friendly help, even including a disk swapping now and then.  The experts (who
though they don't remember it much, were once novices too) _need_ a forum
which they can use to pass on information and get help too.  

I think that there needs to be some modification in the structure of the group: machine oriented groups is certainly one way, but the portability of Minix 
suggests that this is _not_ the way to alleviate the problems.  Level orient-
ation seems like the better approach, since the new users would not then be
interfering with the net bandwidth of the experts.  Questions which are have
been repeated a number of times could be dealt with easily since that is why
the group was formed. 

I think that the previous article sums up the difficulty of the patch system
and its distribution network as well with:  just tell me where I can get a 
modified version.  Why should a beginner, who _wants_ to learn about the 
operating system, or who just wants to use the operating system be put into a
situation where they must become an "expert" before they can do so?  

I too would like to pay someone for a real, usable version of Minix-ST with 
the latest patches installed, and I think that the number of people who would doso is large enough to make it a commercial venture, though that doesn't seem
the way it should be dealt with.

How about some useful debate on the problems that have been troubling us all:

	comp.os.minix.pc
	comp.os.minix.st


	comp.os.minix.new
	comp.os.minix.exp


Please, let's make this worthwhile, flames --> /dev/null, and be part of the
solution, not the problem!  (If you want to make a personal comment, send it 
to me by email, don't post it here.)