Re: Apple //e desktops

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

Anonymous User <nobody@lobeda.jena.thur.de> wrote:

>GEOS wasn't the only program that offered a GUI desktop for the 8-bit
>Apples.  Kitchen Sink Software out of Ohio also offered one called System
>II.  While it may not have been as visually pleasing as GEOS, it DID allow
>point and click with a mouse, pulldown menus, drag-and-drop, and file
>utilities.
>
>I own a copy, but didn't find it to be worth making my default launcher
>(yes, it can be used for that.)  I keep it on my HD, other than pulling it
>up once in a while, it's not used much.
>
>I'm noteven sure if Kitchen Sink Software (and the owner Eric Bush) is
>still around.  Hopefully some of the Lost Classics folk will see this and
>maybe inquire about getting it and their other programs released as
>freeware.

I rather see GEOS released as freeware.  Unlike the other option,
GEOS is not just a launcher.  It is an operating system complete
with fonts, drivers, and consistent GUI.

GEOS is pushes a standard IIe a little.  A IIe with a ZipChip, a
3.5 or hard drive, and 512k to 1MB of memory makes a much
better GEOS platform than a 128k IIe with 5.25 drive.

Ironically, Apple IIGS units that are too underequipped to run
GS/OS are ideal for running GEOS.  Even ROM 00 IIGS units
will run GEOS flawlessly.

I would like to see GEOS released as freeware so that those
IIGS units not properly configured to run GS/OS can have an
OS to run other than ProDOS 8.  A computer designed to run
a mouse based environment like the IIGS should not be forced
to run ProDOS 8 or even (ick!) DOS 3.3!