Re: dos 3.3

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Dave Althoff (dalthoff@capital.edu) writes ...
>

 ....

> 
> It appears, then, that it is possible...given a properly formatted hex dump of
> DOS, to get DOS 3.3 loaded and operational on a machine which has no comm
> software and shares no disk hardware with the download machine.
> 
> This being the case, I wonder if anyone has considered making such a dump
> available for the benefit of the many people who just want to get started
> with their "new" Apples and do not have any disks for them.  I ask, because
> while any of us *could* provide such a file on the 'Net...in fact, if I
> search hard enough, I have one someplace...I believe it would be technically
> illegal to do so, as DOS 3.3 still belongs to Apple Computer.  But if one of
> the sites authorized to distribute Apple system software were to make a copy
> of DOS 3.3 available in this format, it would provide a means for new users
> to get started with *only* a net connection.  Once equipped with DOS, for
> instance, a new user could load up a quick-and-dirty capture-port-to-file
> Applesoft program, and use that to download, say, a proper comm program in
> Executioner format.  You can see how this builds...a couple more basic
> utilities, and this new user can download a disk image of ProDOS, Shrinkit,
> and BinSCII and really get rolling...
> 
> It's just a thought....I have no idea how much demand there might be for such
> an option......
> 
 ....


     Your experiment is fun to read about. Dedicated DOS and Term files
tailored for bare bones transferring could be a good start for some
users. The tricky part in such procedures usually seems to be clear
directions for each step of the procedure using standard setups-- that
and making sure that the user gets a good download on the PC and has a
file with no extra garbage added-in.

     Regarding the copyright for DOS, that is no problem. Thousands of
items on ftp sites include DOS. If you decide to upload a few files
along with directions to ftp sites, be sure to post an ANNouncement.



Rubywand