Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!helios.ee.lbl.gov!pasteur!ames!pacbell!att!ihnp4!upba!unocss!tucker
From: tucker@unocss.UUCP (Greg Tucker)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re: ProDOS vs. DOS 3.3 (was: SOFTSWITCH)
Summary: Yeah, but ProDOS sure was a good try...
Message-ID: <299@unocss.UUCP>
Date: 13 Jun 88 03:43:53 GMT
References: <366@dogie.edu>
Organization: U. of Nebraska at Omaha
Lines: 47

In article 3179 (Re:ProDOS vs. DOS 3.3 (was: SOFTSWITCH)) 366@dogie.edu
states: 
> What?!?  ProDOS is close (anywhere near) a real OS?  Since when?
> Have there been that many major changes to ProDOS from when I used
> to use it all the time (a couple years ago)?  Sure, ProDOS is a
> >>small<< step in the right direction, but it is meager, at best
> (sorry, Apple).

I will grant you this much, though that step may be bigger than you think.

> Perhaps we don't agree as to what a real OS is.  Let me enumerate:
> 	- multi-tasking (I guess this rules out most micros)
> 	- I/O re-direction
> 	- device independence
> 	- piping (this can be done without m-t)
> 	- virtual memory (on a 6502?  yea, right)
> Anyone care to add to this list?

Sounds to me like you are looking for a UNIX shell on the Apple.
No low end micro has added more than one of these features, you expect
them added on an Apple?  I hate to disappoint you, but...

> It is interesting to note that I believe all of the above (except
> virtual memory) can be done on a //e/c.  At one time (I'm talking

On a crummy little Apple?  Even one program can barely run with only
128k of memory.  Do you want 2 or 3 programs to?  Besides, bank
switching pretty well eliminates any hope of running a multitasking
environment.  What happens when you get an interrupt?

> 	  a. I have never seen any decent, cheap C/Pascal compilers

I agree one hundred percent.  Could Turbo Pascal run on the //ec?

ProDOS has at least achieved device independence.  Given the limitations
of the hardware, ProDOS is NOT all that bad...

BTW, I have heard about an MS-DOS shell that runs under ProDOS.  Does
it allow for I/O redirection, and is it worth getting?

"The most impassionate song to the lonely soul is so easily outgrown..."
                                     -The Smiths

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