Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!softart!riml
From: riml@softart.UUCP (Research in Motion Limited)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: PC-MOS....true ???
Message-ID: <36@softart.UUCP>
Date: 7 Mar 88 14:21:50 GMT
References: <521@wa3wbu.UUCPo <923@unccvax.UUCP>
Organization: Softart Microsystems Inc., Waterloo Ont. Canada
Lines: 73

> 
> in article <521@wa3wbu.UUCPo, john@wa3wbu.UUCP (John Gayman) says:
> 
> o 1. Have up to 4 users on a XT and 5-9 users on an AT, all running
> o simultaneous.
> 
> I haven't seen a MU ( multiuser version )  of PC-MOS so far !

Does this mean that you HAVE seen PC-MOS, or that you don't think it is
multi-user?  All of their advertising indicates that it is available in
1, 5 and 25 user versions.  If you know better, please indicate and tell
us the basis for your comments.
> 
> o 
> o 2. All users can be simultaneously running ANY MS-DOS application on
> o    a *dumb* terminal. When they say dumb, they mean even like an ADM-3!!
> o    And they dont say just character-based applications, they say ANYTHING.
> 
> This is impossible ! On an XT for example there is no way to trap 

Yes, there is.  If you add your own "memory Management" hardware. 
If you look at their advertising & actually see their hardware card,
which I have, you will know that they have added an ASIC chip to the
addressing paths, which would allow such trapping.

> Furthermore PC-MOS is extremely UNSTABLE. A much better system ( multi-

UNSTABLE?  Is this from experience?  Please tell!  (See below for reason.)

> o 3. They do require that you buy *their* serial card ($500) and their
> o    "memory management board" ($500).
>  
> o     I'm at a loss!  I mean, after he read me the information they sent
> o it sounds impossible. 

>

It's not impossible.  Admittedly, it DOES sound too good to be true.
The last time I saw the package was in November 1987.  At that time
they did NOT claim that the software would work on XTs.  ATs, yes.
386 machines, yes.  On an AT you needed their little memory management
unit, which provided the trapping you need, above what the 286 gives you.

If they have modified this to provide an 8088 the protection necessary
to run PC-MOS then this is news to me.  Anyone know for sure?

Also, it is something we are considering as a purchase, so I am also
interested in hearing from people with FIRST-HAND experience with 
PC-MOS.  Not necessarily from the multi-user point of view, though
that would be interesting.  

It's nearly trivial (after you write the Virtual 86 monitor) to support
multiple DOS applications on an 80386.  With an intelligent serial card
and the appropriate PC terminals, you could easily support a number of
DOS users.  

I write not based on experience with the system, just based on a single
demonstration and their advertising.  My final comment is that the package
is an operating system that is DOS compatible, it is not a DESQv*ew or
W*indows type of environment.

If my information is incorrect, correct me.  I do not claim expert status
on PC-MOS.  Anyone out there who IS an expert I would like to hear from
you before I go out and buy the package.

Thanks.

--Michael A. Barnstijn (VP Software Systems)
  Research In Motion Limited
  465 Phillip Street, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada  N2L 6C7
..!watmath!softart!riml
  (519) 888-7465