from "Robert Deering" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: >I still enjoy using my old i286-based Zenith. Arachne's documentation >strongly suggests >= i386, and I'd say that's correct. Machines that >don't use protected mode like i386-up really need regularly updated >internet software of their own. Anyone who'd write this would have to be >a "true amateur", meaning it'd be done just for the love of it (root >word="amato" or "love"). > >I'm a very strong supporter of keeping these older machines viable and >fun to use. In fact, I'm one of the quickest to rant when a 386 is >required. It's time for Arachne to move on, though. How fast or slow is Arachne on the i286-based Zenith? How long do those about.com pages take to load? It is like waiting for grass to grow at the South Pole? Actually i286 has 16-bit protected mode. Register ds contains a selector for the data segment, rather than the physical address. Confusing? 32-bit protected mode is much simpler with flat memory model but not compatible with i286. Some programs, including OS/2 1.x (Win 3.x too?) used 16-bit protected mode. OS/2 2.x and newer had to retain the ability to run 16-bit OS/2 programs in addition to the newer 32-bit programs. But for new software, there is no need to mess around with 16-bit protected mode. On ranting when a 386 is required, I'm satisfied if it will run on a 486, as opposed to a Pentium >= 300 MHz with 64 MB or preferably 128 MB RAM. >I'm sure development could be speeded if the constraint of remaining >compatible with historic PCs were removed. I'll personally miss Arachne >on my old stuff (including my XT), but getting better performance sooner >from the rest is worth the tradeoff. You will still be able to watch Arachne crawl on i286-based Zenith and XT, even if newer versions of Arachne will require 386. But you won't be able to upgrade. People with 486s and better will be frustrated by Arachne stifling progress by retaining compatibility with i286s and XTs and will look for better with Linux and the BSDs, or even QNX or Solaris, now going open-source with v8. Many already have switched away from DOS. I am interested in the WATT-32 URL in order to have the possibility of better FTP, news and mail programs for DOS, maybe even compile DOS Lynx 386 from the source. Or would I be better off with Linux or NetBSD?
