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Xref: sserve comp.os.linux.misc:32714 comp.os.386bsd.misc:4639 Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.misc,comp.os.386bsd.misc Path: sserve!newshost.anu.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!msunews!caen!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!news.indirect.com!wes From: wes@indirect.com (Barnacle Wes) Subject: Re: Interested in PowerPC for Linux / FreeBSD / NetBSD? Message-ID: <D1r0KB.32L@indirect.com> Sender: usenet@indirect.com (Darin Wayrynen) Organization: the Briney (notso) Deep Date: Sun, 1 Jan 1995 22:45:46 GMT References: <SLAVITCH.94Dec30100701@deanna.development.bcsc.bell.ca> <NEWTNews.32288.788808358.muzaffer@omer1.smixedsignal.com> X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2.1 [BP] PL2.1] Followup-To: comp.os.linux.misc,comp.os.386bsd.misc Lines: 42 muzaffer@smixedsignal.com wrote: : Normally people don't need to run their apps over the network (because of : performance and ease of use reasons) but when you have such a need (like : running a FES program on a Cray) you can write that for X and use it with : NT already. Here's the crux of this issue: the computing "model" subscribed to by the designers of WNT doesn't *require* a networked window system. The reason for this is simply that WNT also assumes a fairly homogenous mix of computers (mostly intels, with perhaps a few RISC machines thrown in). If multiple architecutures are present in the network, they will probably be handled by "fat" executable files or some similar mechanism. Since the same executables are available to everyone, and the machines are so homogenous, there is no compelling reason to run *any* application anywhere other than your own workstation. The UNIX world is very different - we buy different machines for different jobs. We may have several low-end HP and Sun workstations purchased for their performance (good) and price (relatively low), a couple of RS/6000s to run floating-point intensive apps on, and perhaps an Alpha or an big SMP Sun system as a database server. The non-homogenous computing environment demands a networked display system in order to run applications on other systems and have them display on *my* workstation. For technical people who are computer-savvy, the UNIX network model represents a leap in capabilities that the PC world cannot match: you just cannot get a PC that runs financial analyses as quickly as a Cray, for instance. For a workgroup of users in an insurance office, or even the CAD department, NT represents as much power as they need, at a much lower price. The lower price comes not only from the savings on the PC hardware, but also in the level of knowlege needed to effectively operate the computing group. To summarize, UNIX is better for people who need it, and WNT is (probably) better for people who need a computer network but don't need UNIX. WNT is really more like MacOS for PCs, along with working multi-tasking. Now, can we end this infernal thread and get on with discussing the *real* best OS in the world, FreeBSD!?!?!? ;^) Wes Peters