Re: You guys are NUTS !

[Phoenyx <quazar@dcnet2000.com>]

Well, I was going to quote here, but it's just too long so I'll try
to hit on the salient points.

We could take quite a few lessons from the *nix style systems. For
instance, you could resolve the P8 disk size problem by creating one
single file system. With symbolic (and sometimes hard) links to point
to different drives. If you are familiar with Linux, you will know
the benefits of this. On my Linux box, I have set things up so that
I can re-install the system without loosing the user specific subdir's
unless of course, I loose both HD's.

Your description of multi-tasking is more suited to multi-processing.
Which in itself could be very useful. I was considering more along the
*nix lines again where all jobs are broken down to their smallest
useable tasks which can then be run as independent tasks. While this
is a very loose description of the way *nix handles programs, it does
describe the basics.

I could see the multi-processing parts of the system to be useful for
several functions. One could drive the video display, another could
drive the external memory system and yet another could deal with the
hard copy output systems. Oh and don't forget to include a network
connection also. On the other hand, there are some interesting
possibilities in parallel processing systems, and the field is
growing every day.

With many of the PCI style video cards much of the functionality is
performed on the card. This would help reduce the code required to
create a driver as well as improve the video and OS uniformity.

Personally I like the Linux/X approach. For those of us who prefer the
CLI, you have a very powerful one available and it has it's own script
language also. Or if you don't like that one, select another as there
are several to choose from. Then when you need the GUI, it is easily
launched and just as easily exited from. As it doesn't try to be the OS,
you gain more flexibility as well as the ability to select and customize
the window manager.

With a new OS and some talented programmers, this could be quite
feasible on the GS. As for the 8 bit systems, it has been emulated
by several programming systems, although not accurately. For instance,
the Aztec C system has a distinct *nix feel and with the Phade utils
it is even more so.

We can't easily duplicate the GS rom's without a lot of legal hassle,
but anyone who owns the Dos 3.3 system master can duplicate the 8 bit
rom's. At least anyone who legally owns the disk. Of course, there's
probably a clause somewhere which stipulates OEM (Apple) equipment
only.

Well, just another couple of cents worth for all to think about.

Phoenyx