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From: newton@monty.apana.org.au (Mark Newton)
Newsgroups: comp.os.coherent,comp.os.linux,comp.os.minix,comp.os.386bsd.questions,comp.os.misc
Distribution: world
Subject: Re: Unix CAN be used on a minimal system! (Re: Unix OS for 286)
References: <1r5kg0$4mn@rug16.cs.rug.nl>
Message-ID: <930425160@monty.apana.org.au>
Organization: APANA South Australia - State mail hub
Date: Sun, 25 Apr 93 16:50:44 +0930
Lines: 57
laverman@cs.rug.nl (Bert Laverman) writes:
> scott allen long wrote:
> : You people are all masochists! Next we'll be hearing from a guy who is "doing
> : just fine" running Unix on an Altair 8800 with 64k of memory and an 8" floppy!
> : What do you guys do, read Great Novels while your computer boots up?
> As a matter of fact, there's this system called UZI,
> a Unix Z80 Implementation, that tries to do just that.
[ ... ]
Reminds me of something I saw in a humor newsgroup (aus.jokes) last year:
[----------8<---------]
ZX80/81 owners unite. Research is currently underway into a version
of UNIX for the stock standard ZX81, call ZUNIX. Using a new mega
super ultra data compression method (involves a hyrdraulic press) the
follow features have been implemented in ZUNIX -
* Runs in the standard 1.5K. No need to go for that wasteful
extra 4K or 16K RAM upgrade.
* Will be licensed in 100 and 200 user versions
* Efficient paging and swapping to cassette tape at 300 baud.
Later versions will support multiple cassette recorders for really
high performance IO.
* Includes all Unix tools, networking and X. Full source included.
* Able to fully use all expanded and extended memory (i.e above
the 1.5K limit)
* Includes software to emulate a PC running MSDOS (similar to VPIX
and DOS MERGE).
* Support for Hyperchannel Interface (enables CRAY to be used as
a frontend)
* Support for real time processes.
We've been beta testing ZUNIX for the past year, using 150 developers,
all going through the edit-compile-link cycle all day. The only performance
degradation we've noticed is when Jeff (the ZX81 is on his desk) has
to swap cassette tapes. Even this will be fixed when we write the
drivers for multiple cassette recorders. Can't wait!!
ZUNIX is expected to sell in the $1.50 -> $2.00 range, on a single cassette
tape, from <J>oint <O>perational <K>ode <E>ngineering. Even after ZUNIX
has been fully implemented we anticipate there will be (as you can
imagine) a large amount of the 1.5K main memory free. To this end we
invite you to post your suggestions for further features that could
be implemented in the remaining space (eg traffic control system for
large city).
Tite Kode
Director
Joint Operational Kode Engineering
[----------8<---------]
- mark :-)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I tried an internal modem, newton@monty.apana.org.au
but it hurt when I walked. Mark Newton
----- Voice: +61-8-3224071 --------------- Data: +61-8-3222915 -----