Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!motown!jmr From: jmr@motown.UUCP Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions Subject: Why UNIX? Or, What hath AT&T wrought? Message-ID: <1509@motown.UUCP> Date: Mon, 7-Dec-87 16:49:58 EST Article-I.D.: motown.1509 Posted: Mon Dec 7 16:49:58 1987 Date-Received: Sat, 12-Dec-87 15:38:39 EST Organization: Allied-Signal Corporate Tax Dept., Morristown, NJ Lines: 68 OK. Here's the perfect question for comp.unix.questions: Why do I have UNIX? Or rather, Why do I have AT&T System V UNIX?? Now, I'm not trying to bee *too* sarcastic, but this really bothers me! Three years ago, when I was ``UNIX shopping,'' for a VAX, the choice was System V or Ultrix -- Now, as an end-user commercial installation, we needed to buy support for all the broken commands. The arguments went something like: Well, DEC is fairly new at Ultrix -- as a secondary operating system, you can be sure to get secondary support. You could go BSD, but you're pretty much on your own as far as support goes. Do it yourself or third party. Look at everything that AT&T has invested in UNIX -- especially when it comes to VAX equipment -- They could *NEVER* drop support for it! Naturally, AT&T has dumped on their customers, now we're up the proverbial creek! The other major question is software -- Has anybody ever tried to BUY anything to run on this? I'm about at my wits end! + We use COBOL extensively. There is no such thing as a true COBOL compiler for this, in spite of what the vendors say. + Communications? HA! Ever try to find something good? I'm not picky -- I'll look at ANYTHING! + Spreadsheets -- Well, I'm surrounded by Lotus people on PC's. Did you know that some version of a Lotus look-alike is available for EVERY version of UNIX *EXCEPT* System V? + Database programs -- Last check, all of these programs were limited by machine restrictions -- My reports have to show integers in the tens of billions of dollars -- too large for plain old ints. Should I just go work for a smaller company? + Anybody out there realize that hardly ANY programs posted to usenet sources will compile under vanilla System V -- even when they claim to be able to do so? What good is SVID, government tests, ``standards,'' verifications suites, if you can't find any software to run on the thing? I'd much prefer to spend my time *using* the machine than creating programs that people with other operating systems are already running! Well, I've rambled enough. The real point of this is guidance. AT&T apparently doesn't want any more business from DEC owners. Now that our maintenance contract is expiring, what to do? 1. Buy support third party for System V 2. With all my System V problems, should I move to BSD and third party support? 3. Upgrade to System V 3? not too practical -- same problems of no software, and there's nothing in it I would take advantage of. 4. Sell the VAX and buy IBM PC's? Na -- just kidding! I'm tempted with number 2, but scared to death of porting everything! But seriously -- If anyone were buy UNIX today, is there *any* reason for System V? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "I enjoy working with human beings, and John M. Ritter have stimulating relationships with them." Allied-Signal, Inc. - HAL 9000 Corporate Tax Department {bellcore,clyde,ihnp4,princeton,rutgers}!motown!jmr ------------------------------------------------------------------------------