GEOS ROB: Good Evening, and welcome to another GEOS forum. I'm Rob Siegel, and I'll be taking your questions, comments, etc. tonight. Before I get to your questions and ideas, I'd like to make some opening announcements about our next few product releases. geoFile should be shipping in the next ten days to two weeks. It took us a little longer than we thought since we were finishing beta testing. I know it has been delayed, but I'm sure you would rather have a good product than one that was rushed out the door! Because of beta testing, geoCalc has also been delayed until mid May. Again, it would be better if the program could do everything as opposed to rushing it out the door! Deskpack 2 will not exist as previously mentioned. geoSpell will be sold sperately and geoChart is on temporary hold. We don't have a date yet for the release of geoSpell. For all of you 128 fans, GEOS 128 should be out by June 1. Some features include 80 column displays of geoWrite (you see the whole page!) and geoPaint (you see 1/5 of the paper instead of 1/14!). Both are really neat and are something all you 128 owners will die for! If you own the 64 version, you will be able to upgrade to the 128 version for a nominal fee. This will also be the policy for the rest of our GEOS products. Well, that's enough of my rambling, so on to your questions….
Questionwhat is GEOS?
Miss Chris: Good question!
GEOS ROB: GEOS is the new official operating system of the Commodore 64 and 128. It is a graphic…. inteface with icons and pull down menus, that only costs $59.95 ( as opposed to $2500 for a …. Macintosh). It has a word processor, a graphics editor and a number of follow on prodcuts as well.
QuestionHi, Rob
GEOS ROB: Hi all, and you to, Matt!
QuestionHI ROB ! I have a C-64 and a printer the and i have trouble getting it to print the printer is 1520
GEOS ROB: The 1520 is the Commodore plotter, and we don't support it at this time. We are looking… into seeing if we can write a driver for it, but have no date at this time.
QuestionWill Geos ever have the capability of printing multiple copies, instead of just one copy at a time?
GEOS ROB: You can currently do this with geoLaser, and we are going to see if we can add this to our … other features.
QuestionHow do I make a work Disk???
GEOS ROB: You make a copy of the backup that you made in the very beginning (because you followed the… manual, right?). You then delete the files you dont need on the disk–boot files, desk accessories, etc.
QuestionI have been having problems getting file s to print from geoWrite and geoPaint I have a Okimate 10 printer
GEOS ROB: Make sure you have the Oki 10 driver as the first driver on the boot disk, and the only one on… the work disk. This will guarantee that you are using the proper driver.
QuestionI purchased Writers Workshop. When I tried to double click acording to the instructions I got the message "Please reboot your system using the same GEOS disk that was first used to run geoWrite. How can I get geoWrite 2.0 to work?
GEOS ROB: This disk was used with another boot disk first. You need to return it and get a new one, or send it back to use with a letter and we will replace it.
QuestionRob, Have you decided what the "nominal fee" for the 64>128 GEOS upgrade will be?
GEOS ROB: Not yet, but it will be for around $10-$20. It will be for whatever cost and shipping is.
QuestionIs there a way to have your paintings print oout in a larger form ?
GEOS ROB: Not currently. We are looking into adding shrinking and enlarging, but this takes a lot of … memory and causes problems with distortion.
QuestionI've got a problem with GEOWRITE and int erface withmy Panasonic 1092 printer; an y suggestions.
GEOS ROB: Yes, you need to use the Epson FX80 driver. Make sure it is first on your boot disk and the only one on your work disk. You might want to make sure your interface is GEOS Compatible. You can.. send me E-Mail to ask.
QuestionHow does BSW view the apparent move by Commodore to introduce a lower cost Amiga 500. This could drastically decrease sales of the 128/64.
GEOS ROB: Well, I don't know what will happen to the 128, but the 64 seems like it will be here forever! I like the Amiga, it is a great computer and a lower priced one could be really neat. We, though, will continue to support the 64 and 128 lines.
QuestionIs there a 'quick reference' card that will cover the new menu commands entered from teh keyboard?
GEOS ROB: Not yet, but we may be adding it soon! Please do not send On Line Messages to the Speakers as they only hold up the proceedings.
QuestionMy computer says "Error Writing Disk" when I try to make a Work Disk. I have called Berkeley but no one can answer my question properly. What to do ?
GEOS ROB: Sounds like a bad disk. Send it back for a replacement.
Miss Chris: 79 questions pending folks!
GEOS ROB: Actually, try it on another system before you send it back. Make sure your drive does not need.. aligning.
Questionwill GEOS eventually or can it be … burned onto a cartridge?
GEOS ROB: We won't do it because cartridges aren't easily upgradeable. That's why we have stayed with… disk supported software.
Questionhow do I get my fonts to work with my Geowrite???Do I have to transfer them to my work disk….Please Help!
GEOS ROB: Yes, fonts are accessed from the Font pull down menu. You should see the fonts appear on the screen as you select them. They need to be on the disk you are using.
QuestionWhat assembler can I use with your guide to assemble the listings in it?
GEOS ROB: We have an in-house assemler, but we are working on a program called geoProgrammer which will be a compbination debugger/assmebler for GEOS.
QuestionWhen will the librarys be updated?
GEOS ROB: They are updated every two weeks or so, and we done early last week.
QuestionIs it true that you can now use a Apple LaserWriter printer with GEOS
GEOS ROB: Yes you can! In fact, one is behind me printing with GEOS right now. The program is called geoLaser, and it is on the Writer's Workshop package with geoWrite 2.0 and a Text Grabber, for bringing non-geoWrite word processing files.. into GEOS.
QuestionWhat is the statis of a geoProgrammer and what features will it have?
GEOS ROB: It is just in development stages and is being worked on now. No release date yet.
QuestionWhen will the C128 version of Geos be released and where can I get it?
GEOS ROB: It will be out by June 1, and it will be avaiable through all places that carry GEOS.
QuestionIs there a way the go to the top or bottom of a page without using the mouse to position the cursor
GEOS ROB: Not at this time. I will pass that on as a suggestion, tho.
QuestionRob, can you write beside a picture that has been pasted to geowrite
GEOS ROB: Not at this time, but if you add text while it is in geoPaint, you can cut it out and paste it .. in.
QuestionDoes the Writers Workshop support the NLQ on the Seikosha SP-1000VC?
GEOS ROB: Absolutely!
QuestionWill GEOS ever make a faster driver for the 1526 printer!!!
GEOS ROB: No. We got a non-graphics printer to do graphics! That was hard enough!
QuestionI am having a problem on the DESKPACK I disk, with the G.G. routine: It freezes when I try to transcribe a Print Shop graphic, giving an error in $1DB7, and I have to do an elaborate process with Newsroom graphics. What could the prob- lem be?
GEOS ROB: A bad copy of the program or a bad disk. If all copies of the program do this, return it for… replacement.
QuestionWill there ever be a music generator for Geos???!
GEOS ROB: We have no immediate plans, but it might happen sometime in the future…
QuestionWill the 128 version of Geos have a .. printer module for the MPS-802?
GEOS ROB: Yes, just like we support it now with the 1526 driver here in the Q-Link library.
QuestionIs GEOS V1.3 available to owners of GEOS V1.2? If so, how do we get it?
GEOS ROB: Yes, you can send us $5 and we will send you an upgrade disk.
QuestionDoes GEOS support a lot of different printers?
GEOS ROB: Over 70!
QuestionIs a new version of geoPaint being realeased like writer's workshop
GEOS ROB: We have no immediate plans, but it will might happen. We have discussed it.
QuestionHow's come when in GEOS paint I go to fill the picture with the fill command and it overflows into the whole thing which inturn screws it up…
GEOS ROB: Well, the fill pattern fills a closed area. If you have a whole in something, it fills the… whole screen. Just hit UNDO when it does this and the fill will go away.
QuestionAre any games currenly planned for use with the GEOS operating system?
GEOS ROB: Not yet, but there is Blackjack on the Deskpack, and a user wrote Yahtzee which is in the User… Applications section of the GEOS Software Library.
QuestionWhen is geopublish going on sale?
GEOS ROB: We have no date set yet, but it won't be until mid-summer at the VERY earliest.
Questionis there a such thing as GeoTerm I have heard of it, but never really knew if it was true.
GEOS ROB: One does not exist currently, but there have been many requests for one…
Miss Chris: 45 guests; 89 questions pending. 😀
QuestionCan you comment on the 1764 and GEOS?
GEOS ROB: Well, when it is released, we will support it. It will give 256 extra K, so it will speed up GEOS by a factor of 4 or 5. When you consider we already speed up the 1541 5 to 7 times faster than normal, with a RAM disk you are working at 25 times faster than a regular system.
QuestionMy Geowrite refuses to print. All I ever get is "Error Reading Disc". I've checked everything out. All looks OK Any suggestions? It used to work, then it quit one day and hasn't worked since.
GEOS ROB: You don't have your printer drivers set right. Make your desired printer driver the first one… on the boot disk and the only one on the work disk. This will help. Also read the GEOS News… section about Selecting the Proper driver.
QuestionI have been trying to get the 1764 expander but have found no one that carries it. Is it out on the market ?
GEOS ROB: N'yet!
QuestionHow would I go about getting a GEO- program published? I have written a music processor which can use files from other music programs and I am looking for a software house. Can you suggest 1
GEOS ROB: Send it to us, we'll look it over….
QuestionI just purchased 4 GEOS packages, and I some how forgot to purchase GEOS 1.2. Do I HAVE to orderit, or is there some way I can get these to run?
GEOS ROB: You need to have GEOS to use all of the follow on products! If you want to order GEOS….. you can do it here on Q-Link or send $59.95 + $2.50 s/h to: Berkeley Softworks 1820 Franklin St. Suite 29 Oakland, CA 94612
Miss Chris: Or check out the Q-Link Store in The Mall!
GEOS ROB: Or buy it in the GEOS Forum under buying products! It will give you the same result, and the… price is chea@er here. ~cheaper 🙂 ::blushing::
QuestionWhy has there been no other companies writing GEOS software yet?
GEOS ROB: There are some companies currently working on some stuff, but I don't know about any dates yet.
QuestionI wrecked my master disk – can I get a replacement – and how?
GEOS ROB: Yes, send your disk and $5 + $2 s/h to BSW and we will replace it. Send it to the address on … the manual.
QuestionWhat features does geoPublish have?
GEOS ROB: geoPublish will allow you to position graphics and text anywhere on a page. It will make deskTop publishing a snap!
QuestionAre there any printer drivers NOW which use the RS232 interface?
GEOS ROB: Yes, the Apple Scribe, Imagewriter, Imagewriter II, the Apple Laser Writer, etc.
Miss Chris: 33 guests; 76 questions pending. 😀
GEOS ROB: home
QuestionWhen will GEOSPELL be out and will it work with the 128 version?
GEOS ROB: We don't have a date yet, but it will work also with the 128 version.
Questionbeyond GeoFile and GeoCalc what other programs is BSW planning?
GEOS ROB: Well, there is geoSpell, geoPublish, the 128 line, geoProgrammer, and maybe geoBasic.
QuestionWell the mouse work with GEOS on the 64
GEOS ROB: Absolutely!
QuestionDo you think a GEOS like product will be produced by another company
GEOS ROB: No, but some people might start programming in the GEOS environment…
QuestionI have a copy of the geos programmers manual but is there any way to get a copy of the source code?
GEOS ROB: Ask GEOS TECH on the programming boards….
QuestionIs Geowrite 2.0 available to owners of Geowrite 1.3 without buying Writer's Workshop?
GEOS ROB: No. It is only available on the Writer's Wokshop pacakage.
QuestionHow many programmers do you have at Berkley?
GEOS ROB: Too many! 🙂 Actually, I don't know, but we are a small company.
Comment20 min. to have one question answered is not ever cheap.
GEOS ROB: Your questions go into a holding Que, and are answered in order received. If you don't want to.. wait, you can ask your question and download a copy of the transcript in the GEOS Forum.
QuestionI have a programming question that I have posted in the Geos Forum … Do CIAs trigger standard ints or … do all come from VIC-II? How about alarm clock?
GEOS ROB: You'll have to ask GEOS TECH on the programming boards. I only do marketing and customer service here at BSW
CommentI like GEOS, but heck, If I want something to Emulate a Mac, I will buy one.
GEOS ROB: If you want to spend $2500.00 feel free. If you want to spend $55, buy GEOS. And it isn't just a Mac, it does many different things. At half the cost!
QuestionWill the C128 version work with the 1541
GEOS ROB: Yes, but it won't be double sided like the 1571 will be.
QuestionHow do I clear a full page or two of document in geo-Write?
GEOS ROB: Go to the page after and hit the del key. It will prompt you from there.
QuestionWhen do you expect the possible geoProgramer program to be available, by mid to late summer or fall mabe?
GEOS ROB: Sounds good! ( I really don't know, we don't have a date!)
QuestionWhat will the standing price of GEOS-128 be?
GEOS ROB: This hasn't been determined yet, but it will be close to current prices.
Comment25 min. is even worst than20 min tell Miss Chris to take a Break for a while so someone else can ask questions there is only two people here
GEOS ROB: Chris doesn't ask questions, she just sits here and helps me if I need it. Everyone else in the auditorium asks questions…. This is the last question I will take tonight. Our heater is broken here and it is 88 degrees here at work. If I didn't get to your question, post it in the GEOS Forum!
Questionwill there be a GeoPaint 2.0?
GEOS ROB: Eventually, yes, but we don't have any date or plans for it (immediate, that is). Well, thanks for coming, and if you need anything, ask it on the GEOS Message Boards!