Re: Windows XP Kicks Apple II Emulators

[steve@dosius.zzn.com (Dosius)]

"Bryan Parkoff" <BParkoff@satx.rr.com> wrote in message news:<lc-cnRUqrsM7DtijXTWQkQ@giganews.com>...
> It seems to make Apple II Emulator programmers angry against Microsoft
> that Windows XP has prevented from any Apple II Emulator working.
> 
> For example:
> 720K floppy drive support is removed.
Is 1.44 MB support still there?

> BIOS Video routines such as VGA 320x200x256 is removed.
Does dreXP still support VESA?

> Some DirectX version support such as version 5-7 is removed.
> Some Sound routines such as original Sound Blaster (8-bit/16-bit) support is
> removed.
> Some Microsoft DLLs support is removed.
> Many more other reasons.

You could test Dapple ][ and see how well it runs (DOS/DPMI app with
VESA video) under dreXP.  I don't guarantee it though.

> 
>     It is how Microsoft makes us unhappy with Windows XP product.  It causes
> us to rework and reprogram Apple II Emulator in order to support Windows XP
> hardware including sound and display.  It is a lot of work for us because we
> have to rewrite Apple II routines to replace the old routines.

I know, and it's NP-annoying.

>     There must be another way to avoid too much work by reprogramming.  We
> need to separate Microsoft routines and Apple II routines, but they can't be
> mixed.  The Apple II routines are not necessary to be modified unless it is
> necessary to improve Apple II design.  It may not be easier for us to modify
> Microsoft routines unless we have to LEARN how to write Microsoft routines
> in order to support Apple II routines.

WINE. ;)

>     I believe that the old hardware continues to produce floppy drive and
> BIOS video (EGA/VGA) in all PC motherboards.  Mac OSX and Linux/Unix always
> keep the old hardware routines that we always are using for our Apple II
> Emulator programmings.
>     Please recommend me which is the best for all of us as Apple II Emulator
> programmings to keep old routines.  Should we continue using Windows 98
> and/or Linux/Unix so we can continue to support Apple II Emulator projects
> forever.

Personally I say yes.  I have always said dreXP was the most losing OS
ever written, and this just proves my point.

-uso.