Re: //GS software

[gareth@vcn.bc.ca (Gareth Jones)]

Liam Busey (liam1@ix.netcom.com) wrote:
: Over the past month or so I've heard a lot of talk about the need for
: new hardware development for the //GS but not much on software. I'm
: curious as to what sort of new programs people would like to see for the
: //GS. I'd like to get a feel for what's been done and what needs doing
: as I'm a relative newcomer to the //GS. Any input would be appreciated.
: 
: Liam Busey

The GS has a number of good programs. I'll mention just GS/OS ones here,
although it also runs excellent 8-bit programs. 

Desktop publishing: GraphicWriter III 2.0
Telecommunications: Spectrum
Programming: The "Orca" series of languages
Text Editing: ShadowWrite/Hermes
Multimedia: HyperCard IIgs and HyperStudio
Music: SoundSmith, synthLAB, Music Composer
Painting: Platinum Paint, DreamGrafix
Integrated: AppleWorks GS
Animation: Animasia 3D
Unix-like shell: GNO/ME

What it doesn't have is a _really_ good word processor (the Macros of
AppleWorks, the feature list of Medley, the speed of Teach) nor a GS/OS
database, other than the one in AppleWorks GS, nor a good drawing/CAD
program. The GS cannot be a server on a LocalTalk network. And, although
Brian Gillespie has been working hard on this particular lack, I feel the
need for a lot of missing XCMDs and XFCNs for HyperCard IIgs.

It doesn't have a web browser or email client or newsreader that uses
TCP/IP, either, but those seem to be on its way to being remedied. It also
has no way to convert a Macintosh colour PICT into a GS PICT, and I doubt
that that will ever be remedied.

-Gareth