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10.PNE
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Text File
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1987-04-22
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5KB
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105 lines
TOS 2.06 EXPLAINED
******************
BY WILLIAM MORRISON
*******************
Have you ever wondered about this new TOS 2.06 that is in all the
magazines at the moment. Is it really any good?, Is it worth £60?, and is
it better to have the latest Tos, or a bigger memory?.
Well, here I am to answer all your questions. Yes it is very good, and
yes it is worth £60, and yes it is better to have a up-to-date operating
system than a larger memory.
Oddly enough, until my computer broke last month, and had to be sent away
for its holiday. I had not thought much about a new Tos, and I had
already upgraded to 4meg, and could not see what was so good about the
latest desktop.
First of all, if you don't have a mouse then this latest desktop is a bit
of a problem. This is because the alternate key is used to rename files
during a copy, but it is also used to move the mouse pointer with the
cursor keys, which leads to problems.
However, if you have a mouse, or quick fingers, then this is the business.
But why is it better than the extra memory?, simple really. You only need
the extra memory on a few occasions, and for most things you can get by
without it. But you use the desktop all the time.
Another pointer, is that it can cost £40 ish for a replacement desktop in
software form. This takes up room, and takes time to load into the
computer, so you are better off having the new Tos if you can afford it.
If people write in, showing an interest, we might put some pictures on
disk, showing the benefits of the new desktop. But the main benefit is an
easier life whilst working on the desktop.
Of course, most programs out now, will not take advantage of the new
features, so do not expect wild improvements in your wp prog etc...
But there are lots of gains when you are copying files for one disk to
another.
You can also have the desktop and window as different colours, and can
select new icons, and even rename them from the desktop. At the moment
you are limited to 7 new icons - or is it seven in all? - but there is a
resource file accompanying the TOS that gives you access to around 100
extra icons - that's just a guess, as I have not counted them - so you are
spoilt for choice.
Other gains:
Windows can be opened and closed at the press of a key.
You can open a new window when you open a folder, if you want to.
You can rename folders.
You can rename and copy or move and rename, or mix and match.
You can keep the old system date on the copied file if you want to. So
you know when the file was last worked on even if you move it to another
disk.
Folders and programmes can not only be coloured, but have pictures on them
as well. A paint brush for a paint programme for example. This is done
via the resource file, rather than the new tos, but even so it is rather
nice.
f course there are some disadvantages. Some programs and games no longer
work. Some of my desktop accessories tell me there are files missing when
they are in fact there. Sometimes the program works anyway, and sometimes
not.
But this is that same with an increased memory. I almost cried,
after the increase in memory, when I found out that Dungeon Master would
no longer load saved games. And now I find out that even more games will
not work.
If anyone wants a list of games/programmes that will and wont work, then
write in, and we might include it on a future disk - unless you want it
quickly, and then send me a stamped addressed envelope and I will see what
I can do - but this is limited to games that I have, or can test.
I can tell you right now that STOS does not like the new system, but it
can be fixed, otherwise I could not have wrote this months tutorial. On
the same token, you are able to fix quite a few of the compiled programs
that have been written in Stos.
As far as I can tell Stos will work as normal, but does not like changes
in directories, and this goes for other programs as well. I was a bit
disappointed to find out that Populous 1 would not work, because I was
going to buy it, and First samurai, and Lotus Turbo Charge 2 wont work
either - although Lotus 1 will work - all in all I have lost about 9 games
from 100, and a half dozen serious programmes from the Public Domain.
So things, are not too bad are they? I could send the games back for an
update, and no doubt will for the newer games. But in the most part, i am
more than happy with everything.
William