Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!apple!dlyons
From: dlyons@Apple.COM (David A. Lyons)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: Multitasking programs
Message-ID: <51124@apple.Apple.COM>
Date: 3 Apr 91 16:10:08 GMT
References: <28671.apple.net@pro-avalon>
Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA
Lines: 34

In article <28671.apple.net@pro-avalon> jeff@pro-avalon.cts.com (Jeff Jungblut) writes:
>Regarding all the hype about MultiSwitch GS: this is the best April Fool's
>joke I've seen this year.  It had me going up to the description of the
>"P8 emulator".  Didn't any of you guys notice the Date: line on this
>message?!
>
>-- jeff@pro-avalon
>
>UUCP: crash!pro-avalon!jeff               | pro-avalon
>ARPA: crash!pro-avalon!jeff@nosc.mil      | 619/632-7161, 2400, 81N
>INET: jeff@pro-avalon.cts.com             | Leucadia, CA

The BrainStorm folks appear to be legitimate.  I have not seen their product,
but they first posted their press release to the AII.NEWS$ group address
on AppleLink several weeks ago, and I saw the letter Andy Nicholas received
from them months ago.

A P8 emulator is a very interesting idea; it could actually work, although I
don't see how it can be *guaranteed* to work, since P8 programs will wind
up doing device access behind the back of loaded GS/OS device drivers, and
this could cause major problems (the GS/OS rule is never to make SmartPort
calls behind a device driver's back).

I also wonder whether they're switching the bank 0 portion of GS/OS in and
out all the time, which would be tricky (for one thing, there's a heartbeat
interrupt down there that dispatches SIGNALs).
-- 
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.