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From: jburnes@csisun.uucp (Jim Burnes)
Subject: [386BSD] Latest Update
Message-ID: <C04uIJ.18D@csisun.uucp>
Organization: CompuSci, Inc
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 16:44:42 GMT
Lines: 59
I have a couple of questions about 386bsd since I have been of
then net for about 4 months [serious withdrawl] and need to
know where it stands...
1. I have the 0.1 distribution sitting next to me on a bunch
of microdisks. Has a newer version come out? Any rumours?
Who is the keeper of the lastest patched version/patches?
2. Has anyone come up with a hack on 'bootany' or 'shoelace'
to let you boot either MSDOS/BSD or whatever?
3. I'm interested in getting x386 to run on top of 386bsd.
I've read a lot lately about graphics accelerators and
everytime I read it seems like 2 months from now better/faster
accelerators will be out. Right now it seems like a
battle between the Actix Grphicsengine 32/VLbus or
the ATI Ultra Pro with a strong showing of support
for the S3 chips. In the coming months it looks like
the S3/928 chipset or the new Matrox chip may be the
way to go. Matrox apparently is building in (get this)
Goroud shading.
4 BTW: What are peoples favorite window managers for X386?
I would think 'tvtwm' is pretty popular. Is it possible
to buy Motif from OSF and just compile it down for x386?
Several advantages for MOTIF here...namely the HP Motif
Interface builder "winterp" can be used on it. I heard
somewhere that Motif was $100 from OSF.
4. I'm planning upgrades now for installing 386bsd. I think
a 15 or 17 inch MAG monitor would be great. For a hard
drive either a 213 or a 340 would seem my most affordable
price point. Anyone have any idea on the best performance/
value on these critters? Seems like Maxtor and WD are
the way to go.
5. At the current prices it seems like the AMD 386/40 VLbus
motherboards are still a better deal than the 486's.
My own pet theory is that a 386/40 is faster than most
people realize. Combined with a decent graphics accelerator
such a system should really fly. Even with the additional
cost of a Cyrix 387/40 its still cheaper than 486's. Are
there large additional benefits of a 486 on 386BSD? My
guess would be that the large on-chip cache would visibly
speed things up if the kernel stays in it most of the time.
6. What about SCSI/tape backup support? Serial ports, parallel
printer drivers etc etc.
Thanks for taking the time.....
Many thanks to the Jolitzs for a serious act of philanthropy.
Support the hacker ethic!
Jim Burnes
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