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GEOS. Why Bother?
Bruce Thomas

Over the years I have heard a lot of people voice their opinion about GEOS. This Operating System (O.S.) for the Commodore 64 and 128 has a tendency to make people curse. Some swear by it and others just swear at it.

Some people tried GEOS and saw the promising potential that this Graphical User Interface (GUI) had for an 8-bit computer with little memory and slow serial peripherals. Other people tried V1.x versions of GEOS and were turned off by crashes, lack of features, poor performance or other real or imagined flaws.

Whatever the reasons people have, there are some who use GEOS and some who don't. I would like to suggest to those who don't that they try GEOS again. In the years since GEOS first appeared many things have changed for Commodore users that make GEOS a better system.

New Version, more support

For starters, Berkeley SoftWorks (BSW, now GeoWorks) introduced GEOS V2.0 for the 64 in the summer of 1988. This version offered a more stable environment than previous versions plus it added a lot more features. The included applications were upgraded to offer more standard features that users expected. Applications that were previously sold separately were bundled with the core O.S. package. Third-party support really took off with some excellent software becoming available. And support for newer, faster hardware, like the RAM Expansion units and 1581 disk drives, was added.

This last point is one where things have really changed. Where we once had 256 KB RAM units we can now get units from CMD that hold 16 MBs of RAM (64 times as much). Where we were once limited to 165 KB of disk storage (tough to use a 99 KB application on) we can now put 1.6 MBs on a floppy. Where we were once hampered by the 1 MHz operation of the computer we can now use GEOS at 20 MHz and really be productive. Add the new Wheels upgrade and you can use all of your '90's hardware to its full capability.

Programs exist that allow users to create boot disks on any storage device they may have, thereby gaining speed and capacity nevermind the peace of mind that your original is safe.

Better Output

One aspect of GEOS that deserved the criticism it received was the output quality. Despite having unprecedented control over the page content and layout the material didn't transfer to the printed page with acceptable quality.

Again, improvements have arrived in the form of multi-strike and interpolating drivers. Additionally, the Perfect Print LQ system combines custom drivers with specially designed fonts for higher quality. The arrival of 24-pin printers provided some quality improvement as well.

The best output possible (unmatched for resolution and print speed) from GEOS comes when a PostScript equipped Laser Printer is used. While it has been possible to use these devices for over 10 years now the prohibitive cost has prevented most people from owning one. Nowadays, used Lasers are readily available at minimal cost so more GEOS users should start using one.

Not only are Lasers easier to afford but there is a lot of help available to make them easier to use. Dale Sidebottom sells the Laser Lovers Disk containing a history of PostScript printing from Commodore computers plus info on programming PostScript to push GEOS further.

In addition, a collaborative effort between myself, Dale and Gaelyne Gasson resulted in the formation of an Internet mailing list to support Commodore Only PostScript (COPS) printing. This list provides a forum for discussion on the use of PostScript along with help for users trying to learn the intricacies of geoPublish (a complex program that showcases the best GEOS has to offer). To join the COPS list send a message to cops-request@videocam.net.au with the word 'subscribe' in the subject field.

Use GEOS, Impress your Boss

All of these things combine to make GEOS a better system and one that offers a lot to a home user. There is one reason, far more compelling than any of these, which justifies my suggestion that you try GEOS again.

The world is becoming more and more dependent on computers and the dominant method of interaction with these machines is via a point and click interface. Who hasn't heard of Windows or MacIntosh computers? These systems are prevalent in the business world and any experience you can get will improve your value to your employer.

So how does this relate to a C-64 user? Read on.

The name Harold Stevens should be familiar to a lot of people. He has written numerous articles in various publications about his experiences with GEOS. Harold is a perfect example of a Commodore GEOS user making an impact in the world of 'real' computers.

The newspaper Harold works at recently got a great design program called Quark Express to run on their Macintosh's. Here is what Harold posted to the comp.sys.cbm newsgroup:

<quote>

Well, I just completed the front page of my newspaper on the new Apple Macintosh Power PC computer installed at the newspaper I work for, using Quark Xpress V 4.0. What freaked everybody out was that I never had a prior training on either a Mac or Quark Xpress (a desktop publishing system for Mac or IBM-PC).

I just sat down, typed in my stories, pasted them up electronically on the screen, edited them and printed them out on the 1200 dpi laser printer. When everybody asked where did I learn how to use Quark Xpress, I simply told them on my C-64 using geoPublish. Just about everything is identical and if Berkeley Softworks had continued upgrading geoPublish it would have been a program comparable to what Quark Xpress or Pagemaker is now.

And the best part of the whole thing is that I don't have to be trained when the rest of the editorial department gets their Macs. :)

Oh, the power of the lowly C-64.

--Harold
<end quote>

As you can see, Harold has turned his use of GEOS into a tangible work benefit. While I don't expect that everyone who uses GEOS will end up working at a newspaper and using an advanced design program, I do believe that the experience can be beneficial in many ways.

A tool is a tool is a...

We have had at least one C-64 in our house since November of 1983. In all of that time my children have grown up using the computer for games and schoolwork (I am the only one who uses the Commodore for Internet activities). Since the original interface was a command line environment my children are comfortable with one. They have also all used GEOS and are comfortable in a GUI environment.

Since they know what can be done with a computer they have no qualms about using a Mac or a PC. Their ability to see the machinery as a tool without the bias that some users carry, will serve them well throughout their lives. Just as Harold was able to sit down and use a new program on a new computer, so will my children and, for that matter, anyone with a little experience and an open mind.

If you have been leary of using GEOS maybe it is time you tried it. Your future may depend on it.

Until next time, enGEOy your Commodore.