Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!ucsd!ucbvax!pnet91.UUCP!ericmcg
From: ericmcg@pnet91.UUCP (Eric Mcgillicuddy)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: GS/OS et al
Message-ID: <9010081715.aa22771@generic.UUCP>
Date: 8 Oct 90 17:01:02 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 32

>>>>>>>>>>> from Doug Gwyn
>GSOS is a 32- bit OS  the likes of which Mac users will not see until
>Jan. '91.  Unfortunately it sits on top of an 8-bit FST.

  Operating systems are not measured in such terms.  (If you think they
are, then tell me how many bits UNIX "is".)  The main problem with the
ProDOS FST, whish is the only one that GS/OS supports at present that is
suitable for general disk file storage, is that it has a limit of 32MB
per volume (logical filesystem).  That is due to the data format used in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

You are corect, but when I think of Prodos I think of 8-bits, the FST has
nothing to do with word sizes. 

I do refer to GSOS as a 32-bit operating because The MacOS is referred to as a
24-bit operating system (perhaps incorrectly) with System7 providing the
32-bit version. In this context the OS has little or nothing to file
management, but rather with memory pointers and block sizes. GSOS allows one
to create memory blocks up to 4Gb anywhere within a 4Gb address space. This is
what I meant by 32-bits. I believe this is true of UNIX, but there are so many
versions that the 'standard' may be different, what is the largest memory that
can be gotten with 'malloc()'?

The 65816 can of course only access 24-bits of the 32 bit address space and
the toolbox routines are a bit sloppy with the remaining 8, you can't
guarantee that they will not be changed by a toolcall. But the potential is
there and just needs someone to tap it.

Anyone else have anything positive to add about the Apple II?

UUCP: bkj386!pnet91!ericmcg
INET: ericmcg@pnet91.cts.com