VP/ix vs Merge

[Ross Oliver]

In article <212 at libcmp.UUCP> ecu at libcmp.UUCP (Edward C. Unrein) writes:
>In article <15814 at cup.portal.com>, compata at cup.portal.com (Dave H Close) writes:
>> Most of you have probably noticed in SCO's latest newsletter their announcement
>> of Open Desktop.  This product includes DOS Merge from Locus.  In the same
>> newsletter, SCO announces a free upgrade for VP/ix (which support tells me isn'
>> actually ready, the announcement was "very premature").
>> 
>> What does this mean?  So far as I know, those are the only two DOS-under-Unix
>> products available.  Is SCO abandoning VP/ix, perhaps because of all the
>> complaints recently aired on the net?  Is Merge any better?
>> 
>> Dave Close, Compata, Arlington, Texas
>> compata at cup.portal.com
>
>Unfortunately you are correct in you assumption of SCO's abandonment of VP/ix.
>Our company is a Level III authorized reseller and a member of SCO's
>Reseller/VAR Advisory Board(one of only 10 Resellers) and we have been
>informed of the decision to support Merge.
>
>This hasn't been released to the general public at this time, only minor hints
>via way of SCO's Discover publication.

Below is the official statement from SCO management
on the issue of VP/ix versus Merge 386.  Further
inquiries can be directed to sco!info.

Ross Oliver
Software Support Engineer
The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
--------------------------------------

The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc. (SCO) currently offers two options for 
DOS-under-UNIX integration.  SCO VP/ix is the standard SCO operating
system extension for running multiple DOS applications concurrently with
multiple UNIX System processes in a fully paged, virtual-memory environment. 

SCO also recently announced Open Desktop, an open systems environment for 
386-based PCs, which combines technologies from several vendors in a single
integrated package.  Open Desktop provides DOS-under-UNIX integration with
Merge 386 from Locus Computing Corporation. 
	
SCO VP/ix is available for all SCO XENIX 386 and SCO UNIX System V/386
platforms.  Support for SCO VP/ix has been incorporated in all appropriate
SCO device drivers and many third-party drivers, and SCO VP/ix has been
specially tuned for high performance in a multiuser ascii terminal environment. 
In addition, SCO VP/ix supports SCO MultiScreen virtual consoles and the full
set of mouse devices included with every SCO operating system.
	
SCO VP/ix is a key product in SCO's DOS compatibility and office automation
strategies.  SCO will continue to develop and support SCO VP/ix as an optional
operating system extension.

Merge 386 is designed for the networked, X Window System graphical 
workstation environment provided by Open Desktop.  Merge 386 is highly
optimized for SCO Xsight, Open Desktop's X Window System technology, and is
therefore the logical choice for Open Desktop's DOS-under-UNIX integration.
	
SCO is dedicated to providing products and services demanded by our customers.
To this end, we endeavor to provide the right solutions for the widest possible
range of computing requirements.  If you need an integrated, PC-based UNIX
System platform designed for both engineering and general-purpose graphical
workstations, look into Open Desktop. If you need to run DOS applications in a
multiuser SCO XENIX 386 or SCO UNIX System V/386 workgroup environment, we're
proud to offer SCO VP/ix. 
	
To clarify any questions or concerns about SCO's product line, contact your
SCO sales representative, SCO Authorized Reseller, or SCO Authorized
Distributor.  Your established contact will be aware of the latest SCO 
directions, policies, and positions.