ref: Microsoft barriers to Linux adoption on the desktop

[Robin Laing]

Jeff Vian wrote:
> On Thu, 2006-02-16 at 08:37 -0700, Robin Laing wrote:
> 
>>Mike McCarty wrote:
>>
>>>Guy Fraser wrote:
>>>
>>>[I wrote]
>>
>>>
>>>>As far as I know, the 80386 was the first processor supported
>>>>by Linux, or BSD but I don't know. Back in those days, I 
>>>
>>>
>>>What I said. MicroSoft products are better able to run
>>>on old hardware than Linux.
>>>
>>>You agree, so there's no need for further discussion.
>>>
>>>Mike
>>
>>But can these products be purchased today?
>>
>>For the record, was Linux even available before the 386?  What was the 
>>current processor available with Linux first came out?  What was the 
>>current microsoft product.
>>
>>You also cannot compare Linux to DOS.  It was more than DOS from day 
>>one so it is an unfair comparison.
> 
> 
> The first Linux kernel was availablew in late 1991.  The 386 was already
> out by then and IIRC the 486 came out by 1993 and the Pentium by 1995.
> I first used RedHat 4.0 with the 1.3.XX kernel so that was the
> 486/Pentium days 
> 
> In fact, Linus email where he announced the kernel running was dated
> August 25, 1991 and it says the kernel was written on the 386.
> 
> The history for Linux gives this in the release notes for the 0.01
> kernel.
>     Hardware needed for running linux:
> 	- 386 AT
> 	- VGA/EGA screen
> 	- AT-type harddisk controller (IDE is fine)
> 	- Finnish keyboard (oh, you can use a US keyboard, but not
> 	  without some practise :-)
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>>-- 
>>Robin Laing
>>
> 
> 

This is the point.  DOS was written before Linux existed so it will 
run on previous devices.  Heck I still have an unused 4004 chip at 
home and I wonder if DOS would run on that?  How about a VIC 20?

My point is Linux won't run on a 286 or 8080 because it was never 
designed to run on that.  It is also an interesting history lesson.

I used Linux in 1993 for the first time on a P90. I also used CP/M on 
a Z80 processor.

DOS and Linux do two different things.  DOS isn't a 
multi-user/multi-threaded OS.  Linux was from day one.  Of course 
Linux will need more resources but as a basic system it will do more 
than DOS.  Of course, you can look at the Tiny Linux stuff that it 
going on.

-- 
Robin Laing