kiki@uhunix1.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Jack W. Wine) (03/13/91)
From the two articles which described Geoworks, it is not only a GUI, but
a new operating system. It was initially called OS/90 (OS/9000's prede-
cessor, OS/9's successor?!?). Some of the specs are:
o a fully pre-emptive multitasking/multithreading env.
o GUI independent; capable of switching among Motif, OpenLook
and Presentation Manager interfaces.
o interprocess communitcation
o disk-based virtual memory implementation
o scalable outline fonts
o network compatibility
o 24 bit color support
o program kernal occupies only 70K, with another 70K for Motif
o programs included are: GEOWRITE (highly capable DTP/word proc.),
GEODRAW (object-oriented color graphics prog), GEOMANAGER (file-
manager), and desk accesories like a telecomm program and appoint-
ment calendar.
o object-oriented developers package available
[refer Byte, Aug '90 pp. 108-109 and Computer Shopper Sept '90, pg. 152]
The GeoWorks Emsemble is sold and runs on 8088/286/386/486 machines and costs
about $125. A fully working program, except for disabled saving ability, is
available from GeoWorks for $9.95 at 800-777-0001 or (818) 707-7100.
It's nice that the Atari ST is able to run other operating systems, but it
still needs to hit the "home run" by providing an OS that is quick, capable,
portable and inexpensive. Geos shows that a good assembly language program
makes the most of a processor. OS/9 demonstrated this on a Tandy CoCo 3 too.
OS/68K is available for the ST, but it is a little expensive for most people.
I was wondering if multiple operating system options could be realized by
providing for sockets using credit card type ROM packs. They are utilized
by some portable computers, but I've not seen them on a desktop machine. If
GEM were on these ROM cards, then updating would be simple and quick.
Jackbill@mwca.UUCP (Bill Sheppard) (03/14/91)
In article <11921@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu> kiki@uhunix1.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Jack W. Wine) writes: >From the two articles which described Geoworks, it is not only a GUI, but >a new operating system. It was initially called OS/90 (OS/9000's prede- >cessor, OS/9's successor?!?). Some of the specs are... There is _no_ connection between Geoworks and OS-9 or OS-9000; not sure where this rumor may have started, but there is definitely no link. OS-9 is our 68xxx-specific operating system, OS-9000 is more portable and currently runs on both 680x0 and 80386/486 systems. There has never been (from Microware, anyway) any OS-90... >It's nice that the Atari ST is able to run other operating systems, but it >still needs to hit the "home run" by providing an OS that is quick, capable, >portable and inexpensive. Geos shows that a good assembly language program >makes the most of a processor. OS/9 demonstrated this on a Tandy CoCo 3 too. >OS/68K is available for the ST, but it is a little expensive for most people. For single copies OS-9/ST is $600; compared to the price of some of the low-end Atari hardware this isn't especially cheap, though considering that it includes a C Compiler and many other utilities and that we sell essentially similar software for some industrial CPU's for ~$2000, it's not especially expensive, either. The net cost can be _substantially_ reduced if someone (Atari, or Dave Small, for example) were to license OS-9 from us. For example, IMS is selling the MM/1, a 15 MHz 68070-based system (quite capable, including HD floppy, 1 Meg, decent graphics and sound, and many other goodies) _including_ Professional OS-9, for less than $900. -- ############################################################################## # Bill Sheppard -- bills@microware.com -- {uunet,sun}!mcrware!mwca!bill # # Microware Systems Corporation --- OS-9: Seven generations beyond OS/2!! # ######Opinions expressed are my own, though you'd be wise to adopt them!######