COHERENT -- cheap *nix clone from Mark Williams CO

[Kevin L. Allred]

On page 37 of the April Dr. Dobb's Journal is an add for a cheap UNIX
clone ($100) called COHERENT from Mark Williams CO.  I called them on
the phone, and asked if they had a 386 specific version.  The answer
sadly is that currently they only have a 286 version, but that they
were working on a 386 version.  I made it clear that I was only
interested in a real 386 version (no 64K segment limitations, and
demand paged virtual memory), but I requested information from them
regarding the product.  According to the add the product is cheap
because they independently developed a UNIX compatible kernel that is
AT&T code free -- so naturally part of the purchase price isn't going
to AT&T.  In addition they ship C, Lex, Yacc and text processing with
the standard system.  They offer a 60 day money back guarantee.  I
would have already ordered it, if only it weren't 286 code --- I
like to use gnuemacs and several other large memory type programs that
won't fit into a 286.

If any of you have tried (are trying) this product, I would like to
hear what your experience is.  I hope they get a 386 version out
before they decide to can the program.  I suspect there are a number
of others out there who aren't quite ready to shell out the $600 for
the comparable Everex package (ESIX) yet.  If COHERENT never jells,
there continues to be hope that a 386 MACH based product will appear
soon, and then there is the FSF GNU project coming up in the wings.
-- 

	Kevin Allred
	allred at emx.cc.utexas.edu
	allred at ut-emx.UUCP