============================================================================== MultiTOS Disk ............. 2 disk by Atari Corp. HD Install ....... Yes for Atari ST/STe/TT030/Falcon030 Minimum Memory ... 2 Meg Suggested Retail ...... $ 59.95 Supports: ........ N/A STeve's Price ......... $ 54.95 Rating ........... Cool You Save .............. $ 5.00 Controller ....... Mouse/Joystick STeve's Item Number ... # 23581-A Monitor .......... Color/Mono ============================================================================== Pre-emptive Multitasking... """"""""""""""""""""""""""" "Efficient, preemptive multitasking environment for use with Atari Computer" MultiTOS provides your Atari computer with multitasking, the ability to run more than one application at a time. Since your computer spends much of its time waiting for user input, multitasking makes more efficient use of processing power. When one application -- say, your word processor -- is waiting for input the rest of your computer's attention can be turned to other tasks... MultiTOS FEATURES: """""""""""""""""" [-->] Run multiple applications at the same time. [ ] [-->] Efficient and reliable. [ ] [-->] Provides true preemptive multitasking, not just task switching. [ ] [-->] Adaptive prioritization assigns more processor power where it's needed. [ ] [-->] Memory protection ensures system integrity. [ ] [-->] Operating environment can be easily configured by user. [ ] [-->] Unlimited number of desk accessories can be run simultaneously. Limited [ ] only by memory... Easy installation program included. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| NEXT TITLE ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| --------------------------------- """""""""" --------------------------------- ============================================================================== Mag!X v2.x Disk .............. 1 disk Behne N Behne Software HD Install ........ Yes Atari ST/STe/TT030 Double-sided Drive req. Suggested Retail ...... $ 119.95 Minimum Memory .... 1 Meg STeve's Price ......... $ 99.95 Rating ............ Excellent You Save .............. $ 20.00 Contoller ......... Mouse STeve's Item Number ... # 23831-A Monitor ........... Color/Mono ============================================================================== Introduction... """"""""""""""" Whenever a new computer is introduced nowadays (and it does not have to be a 'compatible'), the manufacturer cannot afford to release it without providing some degree of multitasking. No operating systems for any computers are being developed without the ability to run several programs at once. There are many uses for multitasking, starting with the ability to keep both a word-processor and a graphics program in memory so that the user can build up documents without quitting the programs. Another use involves getting one program to carry out time-consuming tasks like printing or even rendering a picture while the user gets on with writing a text. The original GEM concept implemented in the Atari ST was a single tasking operating system with some primitive elements of cooperative Multitasking. Mag!X (which stands for "Multi-Application Graphics Interface Extension") replaces this with it's own high-speed operating system, giving the Atari ST STe and TT030 series all the advantages of pre-empitve Multitasking. Mag!X's pre-emptive multitasking allows the user to start several programs, switch between them at will and , while another program is calculating in the back- ground, carry on working with yet another in the foreground. In contrast to other solutions, the primary objective during the deve- lopment of Mag!X was to implement this without any pay-off in speed. You don't have to buy a new 66Mhz computer system to enjoy the benefits of 'Real' multitasking - your Atari ST running at 8Mhz is quite capable of running Mag!x v2.0 FEATURES OF MAG!X """"""""""""""""" The following list is just a brief selection of possibilities offered by Mag!X. It's scope can only be realized after reading the handbook thoroughly. [-->] Pre-emptive multitasking with up to 16 programs. If you use all six accessory slots, you can still keep 10 programs (including the desktop) in memory. [-->] Up to 64 windows opened at the same time [-->] Comfortable operation by way of a completely, new graphics user- interface. This allows rapid and simple switching between different program-menus [-->] Help for programmers to track down errors and a Program Manager for 'freezing' or removing deadlocked applications from memory. [-->] Extended dialog functions, additional systems calls for flying- dialogs, keyboard shortcuts within dialogs, pop-up menus etc. [-->] Close compatibility with TOS, critical programs can be run in single tasking mode. Compatible with accelerator-boards and graphic add-ons. [-->] Drastically improved operational security which prevents 'Dirty' programs from influencing others. After such a program has crashed, Mag!X cleans up the system so that other programs will very probably remain functional! [-->] Newly developed desktop MagxDESK with user-defined icons and extensive functions. [-->] Programs have drastically increased speed of execution in comparison with the original system. HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS """"""""""""""""""""" Mag!X will run on any of the following Atari computers: ST, Mega ST, STe, Mega STe and TT030. A Falcon030 version is currently being developed. TOS must be in ROM. A hard drive is not essential, but is highly recommended because of the grave limitations is speed and capacity of floppy disks. Theoretically, Mag!X will run with only 512K or RAM, but at least 2 MB is recommentded for useful working environment..