Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!sri-unix!TIKIT@USC-ECLB.ARPA
From: TIKIT@USC-ECLB.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Lisa 2 disenchantment
Message-ID: <16737@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 10-Feb-84 21:52:00 EST
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.16737
Posted: Fri Feb 10 21:52:00 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 20-Feb-84 02:11:14 EST
Lines: 68

From:  TIKIT 

I have been watching and reading the Macintosh and Lisa info for
quite some time now. I have a few observations and opinions I will
throw into the pot concerning Lisa.

I have been looking for a small, cheap computer system that I can run
Unix on (and provides a large linear address space, none of that overlay
or segmentation crap) and saw the Lisa 2 as a viable computer for this.
I have heard of two vendors that sell Unix for the Lisa. One of which
I have investigated rather thoroughly. Unipress Inc. distributes Uniplus+
unix compatible with unix system 3. I have an outstanding request for 
information on the other vendor on Arpa but have heard nothing yet.

Here are some facts about the Lisa:
* The Lisa runs at a clock rate just over 5 MHz. The Macintosh is 
  just over 7.5 MHz.
* The Lisa is software compatible if you use an emulator program called
  MacAlike.
* To run the Lisa software you must add 512K bytes of memory then purchase
  the software, one piece at a time.

Now, correct me if I am wrong, but I conclude from this:
1. The Lisa is slow.
2. To run the standard Lisa software means the purchase of much more
   memory than comes standard (twice what it comes with, $ 1400 worth).
3. It appears that being Macintosh compatible means running VERY slow
   (slow clock rate, emulation software).
4. Its going to be expensive to run Lisa software on Lisa (due to the
   seperate package and sales approach of Lisa software).

Soooo, forget Apple Lisa software and Macintosh compatibility!

Next, Uniplus+ unix.

Facts about Uniplus+ unix.
* Runs on Lisa 2 with no extra memory.
* Needs the 10 MByte disk (Lisa 2/10) and leaves little for the user.
* Treats the display as an adm3 terminal.
* Troff does not interface with the bit-mapped display or Imagewriter
  printer.
* Emacs does not run on it (yet).
* The bit-mapped display (and all those lovely routines in ROM)
  is not easily accessible from C.
* The C compared well in an earlier benchmark on info-micro using the 
  Lisa 1.
* The Bourne (sp?) shell has(had?) a severe bug in it.
* It got a positive reaction  from a user at Apple except for the 
  adm3-like characteristics and the bug in the shell.

Conclusion:
1. The adm3 terminal is really stupid! No insert line, delete line,
   insert character, delete character, etc...
2. Of what use is a bit-mapped display and high-efficiency ROM
   routines if I must hack into them?
3. Sure would like to see troff generate something that could be printed
   and viewed by the Lisa.

Finale.....
Oh well.  I guess I can wait ANOTHER year.  Is there no end to this?
When will these manufacturers figure it out and produce something that
works and works well?
I guess I will try the ATT machine (if it ever comes out).

Stewart French
Texas Instruments
tikit @ usc-eclb
-------