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From: CSvax:Pucc-H:ags@pur-ee.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro.apple
Subject: Re: New Apple Operating System
Message-ID: <318@pucc-h>
Date: Sun, 2-Oct-83 23:01:47 EDT
Article-I.D.: pucc-h.318
Posted: Sun Oct  2 23:01:47 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 3-Oct-83 22:38:02 EDT
References: <530@houxz.UUCP>
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center
Lines: 40

Apple has announced a new operating system for the Apple II series,
but I have not heard anything about windows or icons being involved in
the new system.  Possibly the press releases in Business Week may
have confused the Apple II with the MacIntosh.  On the other hand, it
is quite possible that independent software developers have done some
interesting things already with the new system.

The new Apple II operating system is called ProDOS.  According to a story
in InfoWorld, July 18, 1983, the new system will not be available for
retail sale to users until early 1984, but Apple is now licensing the
system to software developers for application development.  Some
commercial programs using the new system should start appearing soon.
Some features of ProDOS (according to Apple):

1. Apple III - style file structure (Hierarchical File structure, file
   naming and data formats are those of Apple III SOS -- Sophisticated
   Operating System).

2. Ability to move ProDOS data files and data disks between an Apple II
   running ProDOS and an Apple III running SOS.  (Only data files, not
   programs, are interchangeable)

3. Ability to handle files larger than 143K (the capacity of a disk).

4. Support for interrupt-driven processing, for networking and data
   communications applications.

5. Faster response to keyboard commands.

The new system is not intended to replace any of the existing Apple operating
systems (DOS 3.3, Pascal, or SOS)  -- all will continue to be available, says
Apple.  ProDOS itself will be available only on the Apple II, not Apple III.
No hardware changes are needed on any Apple II that has at least 64K of 
"internal memory" [presumably meaning RAM?].  ProDOS-based applications
written in Applesoft BASIC will run on an Apple II Plus or IIe.  Those
written in assembly language will also run on the old Apple II.  The current
Disk II interface will still work.

				Dave Seaman
				..!pur-ee!pucc-h:ags