Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!dlyons
From: dlyons@Apple.COM (David A. Lyons)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: new apple IIs...
Message-ID: <47564@apple.Apple.COM>
Date: 22 Dec 90 19:12:32 GMT
References: <5769@crash.cts.com> <90340.003321AABENSON@MTUS5.BITNET>
Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA
Lines: 26

In article <90340.003321AABENSON@MTUS5.BITNET> AABENSON@MTUS5.BITNET writes:
>Why does everybody keep saying that they'd have to copy Apple's IIgs
>ROMs?  They'd only have to write their own.
>
>Andrew A. Benson  (Internet: aabenson@balance.cs.mtu.edu)
>                  (BITNET  : aabenson@MTUS5.BITNET)

There would be 2 large problems if somebody wrote "equivalent" GS ROMs:

1.  Future Apple-release system software would not work with it.
    Through the normal patching of ROM toolsets, we jump into anywhere
    in our ROM we need to.

2.  Some parts of the toolbox, especially QuickDraw II "regions", are
    covered by patent.  Doing something equivalent with a different
    data structure is not good enough, since regions are stored in
    several file formats (inside PICTs).

-- 
David A. Lyons, Apple Computer, Inc.      |   DAL Systems
Apple II System Software Engineer         |   P.O. Box 875
America Online: Dave Lyons                |   Cupertino, CA 95015-0875
GEnie: D.LYONS2 or DAVE.LYONS         CompuServe: 72177,3233
Internet/BITNET:  dlyons@apple.com    UUCP:  ...!ames!apple!dlyons
   
My opinions are my own, not Apple's.