root@ucsfcca.UUCP (Computer Center) (05/09/86)
Quite a few netters have expressed interest in multi-tasking on the ST's. Others have expressed explicit interest in OS/9. Well, I have an announcement distributed at Comdex which answers both of these but since I wasn't there I didn't want to rush in (Jim O. where are you?) ahead of someone with more information. The announcement is from TLM Systems Inc. 4704 W. Jennifer, Suite 105 Fresno, CA 93711 (209) 276-2345 or 67 Grandview Pleasantville, NY 10570 (914) 747-1450 for the OS/9 68000 Operating System for Atari ST which is said to feature Unix-like structure and command vocabulary Multi-user/Multi-tasking capabilities Shell oriented command line processing Sequential and concurrent command execution I/O redirection Wildcard matching Unix-like utility command library Full screen editor 68000 macro assembler and development tools Optional languages: BASIC C Pascal Fortran COBOL selling for (I am told, it is not on the announcement) $299 without the optional languages. In my opinion, the price will limit its appeal. For a ~$1000 system ~$300 for a second operating system is steep. Power-users with hard disks will love it but how many of them are there? The big question is, of course, how much software development will it attract? Of course, if the same programs will run on it and on GEMDos that's another story, but I would have expected VERY BOLD presentation of that in the announcement if it were true. I have seen the flier; that's all I know. Thos Sumner (...ucbvax!ucsfcgl!ucsfcca.UCSF!thos)