Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!helios.ee.lbl.gov!pasteur!ames!pacbell!att!ihnp4!ihlpe!kimes
From: kimes@ihlpe.ATT.COM (Kit Kimes)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Re: AMAC bugs?
Summary: SpartaDOS-X
Message-ID: <3022@ihlpe.ATT.COM>
Date: 10 Jun 88 12:42:40 GMT
References: <8806061304.AA01588@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> <1917@alliant.Alliant.COM>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories - Naperville, Illinois
Lines: 58

In article <1917@alliant.Alliant.COM>, lackey@Alliant.COM (Stan Lackey) writes:
> 
> If&when Atari comes out with an OS that supports the XF551, I shouldn't need
> SpartaDOS anymore and this problem will fix itself.
> 
I think you mean DOS, not OS.  Atari is supposed to be about ready to release
ADOS.  Recent buyers of the XF551 are still getting Atari DOS 2.5 though.

> Speaking about dying and going to heaven...has anyone tried the new cartridge-
> based SpartaDOS?  I understand it is huge, and turns itself on and off to
> give the user more RAM, while providing much more functionality.  What's the
> deal?
> 
The Beta versions of SpartaDOS-X cartridges are just now going out according
to ICD.  If all goes well, they should be available in 2 to 3 months.  I have
a one page sheet that ICD posted to their BBS and I have included it below.
It doesn't say anything about turning inself on and off.


					Kit Kimes  
					AT&T--Information Systems Labs
					...ihnp4!ihlpe!kimes

=============================================================================

                                SpartaDOS X

Just what your 8-bit has been waiting for...a cartridge based DOS which
increases the power of your computer and includes an abundance of features
such as automatic Ultra Speed I/O with the Indus GT, US Doubler, and High Speed
on the new Atari XF551.  SpartaDOS X is a fantastic new version of its disk
based cousin.

Even though SpartaDOS X is a 64K cartridge, it requires no memory from your
computer.  You may piggyback another cartridge on top of the SpartaDOS X
cartridge and operate just as if you had booted from disk -- except much, much
faster.  Here are just a few of the advanced features found in this cartridge
based DOS.

        High Speed drive access with US Doubler, Atari XF551, and Indus GT
            drives.
        New improved menu program.  Shows entire directory tree and performs
            multi-file operations.
        Supports up to 1 meg of internal memory as a RAMDISK.
        The Lowest MEMLO of any DOS!
        Powerful file loader supports relocatable files and symbol linking.
        All new command processor includes parameter passing on batch files,
            user definable prompt, and search file paths.
        Commands now allow MS-DOS syntax!
        The most commonly used commands are built right into the cartridge!
        Atari 800 support with Axlon compatible upgrades.
        Built in, all new formatter pops in with an XIO#254.

SpartaDOS X runs on an 800XL, 1200XL, 600XL (with expanded memory), 65XE, 130XE
800XE, the XE Game System, the old 800 with Axlon compatible RAM upgrade.

NOTE: SpartaDOS X will become available in June 1988. ($79.95 MSRP)

[not true, more like September 1988 - kk]