Saturday 13 August 2016

We can include GEOS with the MEGA65

Just a very quick but super exciting note to say that we have received permission to include GEOS with the MEGA65, provided that we do not charge any extra for doing so.  Since we are creating our software suite as open-source, this is no problem at all for us, and means that we can potentially use GEOS to make the MEGA65 configuration menus etc using GEOS, which would make them look nice, and probably be much quicker to write as well.

10 comments:

  1. Will GEOS be redesigned to exploit the new hardware power and allow for higher resolution in GEOS and more COLOR? Can GEOS be integrated and part of Mega65 permanently and not some external program in a disk? I was thinking of having GEOS like Amiga be the main kernal OS but in the menu of GEO it says switch to BASIC and after a couple of second pause it enters into the famous C65 basic and from c65 basic you can switch to c64 mode basic and run c65/c64 basic games and apps and the main GEOS run GEOS games and apps.

    What do you think of that?

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    Replies
    1. Hello,

      All of these things are still up in the air a bit. It will probably still boot to BASIC by default, but it might be something like if you wiggle the mouse during boot, it will boot into GEOS instead. Also, any menus on boot, e.g., from pressing special keys during boot, will likely enter into a GEOS based configuration menu/program.

      Of course, even if GEOS were "just" an external program on a disk, we can still have the Hypervisor auto-insert that disk and start GEOS with some simple keyboard short-cut.

      As for using extra resolutions and colour etc, this is something that I know Ralph is keen to implement, as am I. There are some complications in achieving this, but they are not insurmountable.

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  2. I agre, I think default boot shound be in Basic 10. Instead, pressing the C= key (or any other combinations) should go on a screen menu' whith shortcuts to C64 mode default spped, C64 turbo speed, Geos and do on...

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  3. The entire M65-project is getting 5% more exciting with every new post you guys publish, and running an _official_ release of GEOS in 2016 is just mind blowing! What's next - getting Quantum Link up and running again? ^_^

    If you don't mind me asking, would I be right assuming the plan is to include GEOS on a physical disk in the box?

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    Replies
    1. Glad you are enjoying the ride as much as we are :)

      Yes, we believe that a GEOS-enabled operating system will ship standard with the MEGA65.

      Paul.

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  4. I guess it would be possible to have a default option by choise ?

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    1. Everything is open-source, so you would be free to change what you wish. That said, you are also right in that it probably wouldn't be too hard for us to provide a config option to pick what you want to happen on boot.

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  5. The Mega65 is laughable expensive trash nobody cares about it.

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    1. Many people surely cares about it, so it's already a false statement from you, my friend. Also, why do you read this blog post and take your time to do it, and even comment it? You're laughable ... If you really don't care, you wouldn't read the posts and wouldn't write anything. That's so simple. Grow up.

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  6. Its nice MEGA65 is growing. I loved GEOS, but looking at todays world, it would be nice if e.g. GEOS Write could export to at least Rich Text Format, making it usable. Ah, that "Poor Mans Mac" :D

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