From: eclipse@netcom.com (Brian McCullough)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos
Subject: Re: The Future....
Date: 22 Jul 92 08:36:38 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest)

: 
: Do you know any more details?  Is this just (?) a bundling of GEOS/DR-DOS or
: somthing completely new?  If it's a by-product of a connection of Geoworks,
: will it be compatible with GEOS.  If it is, It would be a great boost, If it

First and foremost, I DON'T KNOW FROM NUTTIN'!  This message and the one
previous to it are to be understood as CONJECTURE ONLY!

My past message was based on the following items.  First, the rumors 
(yeah, I know.  I'm from the USA and we spell or words funny:)

RUMOR ONLY
==========

	1.  Digital Research, Inc., (now Novell, DRI Division) is said
	to be working on its own next-generation OS.  This is nothing
	new; DRI preannounced in early spring that they would have
	something out before the end of the year (!) -- but new rumor
	adds that some sort of windowing GUI will be included.

	It is in DRI's best interest to make the attempt, of course, 
	since it is apparent that Microsoft will go out of its way
	to do them harm.  The sudden appearance of a compatibility
	bug in Windows 3.1 just prior to release, and the subsequent
	embarrassment caused DRI -- whom MS refused to provide with 
	betas -- is evidence of that.

	(Is this the first time a bug has been used to squash humans?
	:)

FACT
====

	1.  It is a matter of some record that GeoWorks has been in
	close contact with DRI to make certain that compatibility is
	maintained.

	2.  In the mailing-list group preceding this newsgroup, a 
	GeoWorks employee actively encouraged readers to use DR-DOS,
	and stated that to be the attitude of most GeoWorkers.
	(I don't know who it was, but this is too sweeping a statement
	to suspect John of having said it.)

	3.  The most recent GeoWorks Pro release goes quite some
	distance beyond ensuring compatibility with the DR-DOS task
    	switcher TaskMAX.  In fact, GeoWorks Pro interfaces with
	TaskMAX in ways nobody else outside of DRI knew were available.
	You can add, delete, and rename tasks from the Express menu,
	plus viewing current operating statistics returned by TaskMAX;
	AND, in addition, DR-DOS tasks are listed side-by-side with Geos
	tasks on the active task section of the Express menu.

	It makes a person wonder what other tidbits have been swapped, and
 	why.

  	Sidelong comment:  note well attitudinal difference between MS	
	and GeoWorks.

QUESTIONS / CONJECTURES
======================= 

	If DRI and GW are working together so closely, and DRI needs a good
 	GUI fast, why not let nature take its course?
: 
: GEM used to be excellent, but DR just mangled it with Insufficent support,
: Multiple, different (slightly incompatable) versions, and general
: mis-managment.
:

Agreed ... but now, GEM has languished so long that it would be impossible
to catch it up in time technologically.
 
:
 
See above.

: 
: Lastly, can John (Our man on the inside :-) )  say anything? (without breaking
: secrecy, etc.)  Even if it s a catogorical denial, It would at least stop the
: rumour.

Again, this is CONJECTURE ONLY, a nice game of What If.  But even if it were  
so, we would get a categorical denial right now.  So, that means nothing.
Nor does a vaguely positive answer; we'll have to sit tight and see.

Parting shot:  What would a Geos users' group call itself?  The National
GeoGraphical Society?  Or even (shudder) Microsoft Widows?


-- 
Brian C. McCullough                                eclipse@netcom.com
Opinions ventured here are those of myself only.

"No tangled skein of stars can ward, I trow,
Who first hath set his tryst with Tristero."  (from memory; apologies to
M. Pynchon if it is misworded)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos