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From: jimm@amiga.UUCP (Jim Mackraz)
Newsgroups: net.micro.6809,net.micro.68k,net.micro
Subject: Re: CD ROMs to use 68000 OS9
Message-ID: <994@amiga.amiga.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 16-Apr-86 23:13:44 EST
Article-I.D.: amiga.994
Posted: Wed Apr 16 23:13:44 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 18-Apr-86 20:32:56 EST
References: <808@ihwpt.UUCP> <1185@lsuc.UUCP>
Reply-To: jimm@homer.UUCP (Jim Mackraz)
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In article <1185@lsuc.UUCP> jimomura@lsuc.UUCP (Jim Omura) writes:
>
>     Mike K. mentioned a CD-ROM standard based on OS-9 68K.  In fact, it's
>called CDI. 
>Jerry Pournelle was very excited about it (see recent Infoworld
>articles by him).
>This summer is going to be very important to the 68000 software industry.
>
>                                            Cheers! -- Jim O.
>James Omura, Barrister & Solicitor, Toronto

I can sense Jim's glee now that OS-9 is the darling of JerryP and the
InfoWorld circles of journalism, by virtue of its incorporation in
the CDI standard, but I have reservations and I would like to hear some
net input.

As I understand it, OS-9 will be used as an internal control operating
system within a closed, appliance type of product (i.e., like
a stereo component) which will use custom--and we can assume proprietary--
chips for graphics and audio.

The question is: What advantage is held by a computer running OS-9 if
the CDI standard becomes a success?

[By the way, I am not nearly as skeptical or sarcastic as the following
may sound, it just came out that way today, and I'll let it ride, OK?]

I can only conjecture:

    1- that your computer will be able to execute software on the CDI
	disks.  I doubt this very strongly.

    2- that your computer will be able to be used as a development station
	for CDI software.  This will require many other things.

    3- that your computer manufacturer is in bed with the right people
	at an early stage, if he/she hurries, as far as arranging
	2, above.

    4- that you will catch nice publicity from Jerry Pournelle, since
	you are on the wave of the future of 68000 software technology.

    5- that you can learn to be a great consultant for people who build
	CDI systems (none in the US, i think) authoring systems,
	and so on, to say nothing of those people swayed by item 4.

    6- that OS-9 is really great, independent of CDI, and that you
	come out ahead even without any of the above panning out.
	This item would have been omitted, given the specific "question",
	but I know what OS fanatics are capable of doing to one's mail burden.

cheers, and good luck to OS-9, 68000's, CDI, and you all.

		    jimm