Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!duke!unc!mcnc!ecsvax!dgary
From: dgary@ecsvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re:Why by Apple
Message-ID: <1204@ecsvax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 19-Sep-83 11:33:22 EDT
Article-I.D.: ecsvax.1204
Posted: Mon Sep 19 11:33:22 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 19-Sep-83 22:29:02 EDT
References: ihuxm.557
Lines: 28


This business of operating systems seems to have confused people.  Let me see
if I can shed a tiny bit of light without getting too boring.  BASIC on the
Apple uses a pathetic disc operating system that runs as a part of the BASIC
language and requires all sorts of nonsense to do anything.  Apple has recently
announced (but I have not seen) an allegedly much improved operating system
for its //e.  (When I say "Apple" I mean Apple ][ or //e.  The Apple /// has
its own operating system, Apple-SOS, and the Lisa has a monster one as we all
are well aware.)

The UCSD P-system is an operating system written to run on a non-existent
computer called the "P-machine".  This computer can be "emulated" by a fairly
small program on just about any computer.  Apple users desperate for a
real operating system (and a real language) have been able for some time to
buy the "Apple language card" which is some extra memory replacing some ROM
in the address space and generally bundled with the P-System and the UCSD
Pascal compiler.  When an Apple user speaks of using the "Pascal operating
system", he or she is talking about the P-System.

Although it is sophisticated in many respects, the P-System is too slow for
certain applications.  It is also surprisingly non-standardized (try switching
between the IBM version and the Apple version - you'll soon find some
disturbing differences underlying the superficial similarities).  Its biggest
flaw from a user standpoint is the disc format.  Files are stored contiguously,
which requires that discs be "K)runched" periodically.

Personally, I'll wait for Unix.  (Supposedly, MS-DOS 2.5 and following are
going to be compatible with Xenix...)