GeoWorks to Use Datalight’s ROM-DOS with GEOS
From the Original Pages
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GeoWorks, developer of the GEOS systems software, has announced that it will use Datalight’s ROM-DOS 5.0 as part of its operating system components. GEOS is the real-time, multithreaded, graphical operating environment that will be used in the Casio/Tandy Zoomer handheld, pen-based consumer computing device (CCD) to be released later this year.
ROM-DOS, which is the smallest MSDOS-compatible DOS available, will reside in background behind GEOS. ROM-DOS has a 38K kernel and 25K command processor, allowing it to easily fit into a 64K ROM.
Microsoft’s MSDOS, by comparison, has a 70K kernel and 47K command processor. Additionally, ROM-DOS provides special features specifically targeted for small systems development, including booting from Flash memory, mini-BIOS, and a ROM-disk Build utility.
More important for low-cost consumer-level products, Datalight’s ROM-DOS sells for $6.00 per object copy versus Microsoft’s $30.00 per object copy in quantities of 5,000 or more.
Contact:
Datalight
307 North Olympic Ave.
Suite 201
Arlington, WA 98323
206-435-8086
Transcribed from Pen-Based Computing, Volume 3, Number 2 — April 1993. Page 11.