Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!neat.ai.toronto.edu!shao
From: shao@ai.toronto.edu (Sherwin Shao)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: A proposal--TOS Replacement Project
Keywords: TOS, replacement project, STOS
Message-ID: <88Nov13.041124est.6212@neat.ai.toronto.edu>
Date: 13 Nov 88 09:11:11 GMT
References: <700@sdcc15.ucsd.edu> <88Nov13.031109est.6209@neat.ai.toronto.edu>
Organization: Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto
Lines: 42

Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: A proposal--TOS Replacement Project
Summary: 
Expires: 
References: <700@sdcc15.ucsd.edu>
Followup-To: 
Distribution: 
Organization: Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto
Keywords: TOS, replacement project, STOS

In article <700@sdcc15.ucsd.edu> pa1132@sdcc15.UUCP () writes:
>Well, everybody is tired of waiting for Atari to improve the ST,
>right?  Atari is hopeless.  Then, why not improve it by ourselves?
>In the Amiga world, they have something called "ARP", short for
>"Amiga-DOS Repleacement Project", which some Amiga developers wrote
>to replace the dump Amiga DOS.  Their idea worked.  So, perhaps it
>is time for us Atari people to have a TOS Replacement Project--to
>write a new, but compatible operating system to replace the old
>brain-damaged TOS.  The new operating system should be called
>"STOS", short for "SmarTer Operating System", meaning an OS smarter
>then TOS.  Any comments?

The whole problem with Atari is their lack of recognition for the importance
of software in the system.  The success of the IBM was largely due to 
Microsoft's undying support, and the success of Apple is due to amazing 
internal software guru's and Microsoft again.

A better operating system would be great.  We know the hardware's potential.
Magic Sac has proven that it is faster than even the Mac.  But ST software
itself will never amount to much. (ie, challenge IBM or Apple) Unless of
course the Tramiels wake up and realize that Software IS everything!!!
And then a new smarter OS will be useful.

Several things can be done:
	1. If Atari started giving away development info.
	   So that all poor (but highly intelligent) hackers will be in on it.
	   And we do know that lots can be produced by unknowns...
	   (Yes, for free.  As an investment for the future...)
	2. If great PD software would be recognized and incorporated into
	   the operating system.  (ie, DCFormat can be put in place of that
	   awful formatter in the Desktop.)
	3. (you think of something, and post it!!)