On 11/28/05, UNIX admin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > Linus has specifically stated that not only is
> > backwards compatibilty
> > not a requirement for him, but that he (and the other
> > Linux developers)
> > will deliberately break compatibility with previous
> > releases to discourage
> > binary-only software.  Because of this policy, how
> > long do you think it
> > will be before companies like Nvidia take a look at
> > their Linux vs Solaris
> > maintenance costs, and decide to srop support for the
> > former as a cost
> > saving measure?
>
> Bless Linus, he deserves a pat and a hug for doing this, because this will be 
> one of the biggest reasons why Solaris will eventually weed out Linux.
>
> Let's just hope Linus doesn't change his mind.

I fail to see how a failure in backward compatibility or binary
compatibility has slowed down Windows.  The long term stock chart for
Microsoft is amazing.  Consistently upwards with multiple stock splits
along the way and then a slight drop and level off.  Stunning really. 
I highly doubt that I can install software for Windows for Workgroups
on Windows 2003 or Longhorn ( or what ever it is called ) but I can
run software for Solaris 8 ( and earlier ) on Solaris 10.  Is this a
strength ?  It certainly is with big iron and long term software
investments.  Is it working for a desktop however ?   Will Apple care
when it jumps to Intel about backward compatibility ?

No.  I think a successful hybrid is in the future somewhere.  For all
these desktop OS things that will ultimately be replaced by a box on
my television and a remote keyboard/mouse combination.  If I can get
500 channels of junk on television I can certainly also get a desktop
channel which allows me to use a mouse and a keyboard.  I can selct
the channel that I want, Windows, or MacOS or Linux or SCO or Solaris
or ... OS/2 ?

I think that OpenSolaris on PowerPC will have no backward
compatibility issues as there will be nothing to look back on really. 
Will that be a hindrence?  I don't think so.

Dennis
_______________________________________________
opensolaris-discuss mailing list
[email protected]

Reply via email to