Standalone UNIX and 1.1 upgrades

[Richard Buck]

Oft-asked questions include:

	Can I buy Amiga UNIX separately to put on my A3000?
	Does Amiga UNIX work on a 2000/2500?
	How can I upgrade from/to version 1.1?
	How much do the various 3000UX models cost?
	Can I buy a multi-user license?


I'm not in marketing, so this is not "official", but it is accurate.


1.	When can I buy standalone Amiga UNIX to put on my A3000?

Soon.

The standalone UNIX package exists; no extra pieces are required, and we
have many shrink-wrapped packages sitting in our offices right now.  The 
reason you haven't seen it at dealers is that we've had trouble designing a
cardboard box and setting a price.  It will be exactly the same as the 1.1
shipped on 3000UXes, including tape, disks, and documentation.  You should
have at least 4 MB RAM and we recommend a 200 MB disk (although it runs
fine in 100 MB).   You can use this package to reinstall over your existing
hard disk, if it's big enough, or install on a separate disk.  It will be
available soon, certainly by the end of this month.  With the release of
2.0, the same product will be available for 3000s and 2000s.


2.	Does Amiga UNIX work on a 2000/2500?

Yes and no.

A well-hidden secret is that it does work, but we don't like to admit that.
We're not supporting the 2000/2500 series until a hardware upgrade package
is available and Amiga UNIX 2.0 comes out.  The basic upgrade (other than
having enough memory and disk space) is replacing the 2630 and Kickstart
ROMs, but more details will follow when we release the kit this summer.  We
don't like it in its current configuration because it doesn't match the
way AmigaDOS and Amiga UNIX live together (and boot) on the 3000 series.  
While it works and has worked all along, we want to wait until the 2000
series UNIX can be brought into sync with the 3000 series UNIX.  This
upgrade kit and path will be available when 2.0 is released.

For those who care, there are no plans to put Amiga UNIX on an A500.


3.	How can I upgrade from/to version 1.1?

Easily.

If you bought a legitimate copy of any previous Amiga UNIX version, you can
upgrade to version 1.1 by sending $50 to Dawn Phelps, Amiga UNIX Marketing 
Coordinator, 1200 Wilson Drive, West Chester, PA, 19380.  You'll need a
proof of purchase of some sort, since we didn't include a registration card
in many of the early builds.  The $50 is to cover the cost of the tape and
new manuals.  Future upgrades (to 2.0 and beyond) will be handled in the
same manner.  For the time being, upgrades are being shipped with a copy
of the new System V Release 4 Wall Chart.


4.	How much do the various 3000UX models cost?

More than a breadbox, less than a boat.

This information has been published in various places, and I think my life 
will be easier if I don't add anything more at this point.


5.	When can I buy a multi-user license?

Soon.

It's similar to the standalone UNIX issue.  The product exists, and existed
when we started shipping Amiga UNIX 1.1 on 3000UXes, but we haven't put it
in a cardboard box and set a final price.  We plan to do this right away.

Since UNIX System Laboratories still thinks of UNIX as a big system, the
royalty fee reflects their assumption that many users will use one system.
Our system is priced as a workstation; if we made the multi-user license
available to everyone, it would raise the cost of the machine.  Many - most -
of our customers want to use the 3000UX for multiple login sessions on the 
various virtual screens and network port, but all under the same user 
name (or root).  We therefore provide a cheaper license.  If you want 
an unlimited license, USL assumes you are using the system as a large file 
or e-mail server, and therefore wants you to pay a higher licensing fee.



--
		"Klaatu barada nicto"

		Richard Buck, (215) 344-3019, buck at amix.commodore.com  (4/91)