9.2 TOS Historical

Atari TOS Historical

All comments welcome - and many thanks to all those who have contributed so far!

Liam P., cöowner of the European Jird Mountain. Have some. Go on, you know you want to. Please? [http://members.aol.com/liamproven if you must]

Historical versions

OS: TOS (The Operating System) 1.00

Vendor: Atari
Version: 1.00
Machines: 260/520ST
Comments: Initial release. Fairly buggy; only used for compatibility with older programs. Desk accessories must be named DESKn.ACC. Loaded from disk, so also known as "RAM TOS" or "Disk TOS".

 

OS: TOS 1.2

Vendor: Atari
Version: 1.00
Machines: 520/1040ST
Comments: First ROM release. Updated GEMDOS and AES. AKA "Old TOS", "ROM TOS".

 

OS: TOS

Vendor: Atari
Version: 1.2 (later renumbered 1.02)
Machines: 520/1040ST/STF/SFM/STFM, Mega ST 2 and 4
Comments: First ROM-only version. Bug fixes; support for DMA/Blitter and real-time clock chips. AKA "Blitter TOS", "Mega TOS".

 

OS: TOS 1.09

Vendor: Atari
Version: "1.09"
Machines: 520/1040ST/STF/SFM/STFM, Mega ST 2 and 4
Comments: Incorrectly-reported number for UK version of 1.2.

 

OS: TOS 1.4

Vendor: Atari
Version: 1.4 (later 1.04)
Machines: 520/1040STFM, Mega ST 1/2/4, Stacy
Comments: Most common version of TOS; last version to run on pre-STe machines; most compatible with games. More bug fixes (e.g. archive attribute works); improved hard-disk handling and performance. Faster disk copy; file move function; copy preserves date/time stamps; folder renaming; auto-run of GEM apps at startup; larger screen support; file "fastload" flag for faster startup; improved file selector; DOS-compatible disk format; keyboard reset. AKA "Rainbow TOS" because of animated colour Atari "Fuji" logo in desktop "About" dialog box.

 

OS: TOS 1.6

Vendor: Atari
Version: 1.6
Machine: 1040STE
Comments: As 1.(0)4 plus support for the enhanced STe. (Up to 4,096 colours; 8-bit stereo DMA sound; light-gun/paddle; external Genlock; hardware scrolling; etc.) Mouse support in "show file to screen" function; 4-bit colour values; disk boot-up delay. Bug fixes. AKA "STE TOS".

 

OS: TOS 1.62

Vendor: Atari
Version: 1.62
Machine: 1040STE
Comments: As 1.6 plus bug-fixes, including of 1.6's failure to save selection of medium resolution correctly in DESKTOP.INF.

 

OS: TOS 2.02, 2.05, 2.06

Vendor: Atari
Versions: 2.02, 2.05, 2.06
Machine: Mega STE
Comments: Last version of Atari TOS for the 68000 line. Many bug fixes. Atari logo display at boot-up; automatic cold boot memory test; support for 1.4MB diskettes, 6ms step rate, better media-change detection. "NewDesk" desktop gains features from Gribnif's NeoDesk, including: definable keyboard shortcuts; install programs/files/folders as icons on desktop; install all available drives with one operation; automatic fitting of icons to window; configurable desktop and window colours, file and device icons; single-operation copy/move and rename; windows scrollable while files selected; "select all" command; programs startable with function keys; bypass program autostart by holding down Control key; enter special characters with Alt-[numeric keypad] combinations; file search function; file masks support; multiple desktop configurations; directory list printing; unsorted view; resolution change with Alt-[number]; 7 windows allowed; bring-window-to-top function. Friendliest and most stable version, but loses compatibility by fixing bugs and changing undocumented features from v1.(0)4 that were used by older software. Preferred choice for serious ST use. Version 2.05 incorporated features from TOS 3.05 to harmonise the two. AKA "Mega STE TOS".

 

OS: TOS 2.08

Vendor: Atari
Version: 2.08
Machine: STbook
Comments: ?

 

OS: TOS 3.01, 3.05, 3.06

Vendor: Atari
Version: 3.01, 3.05, 3.06
Machine: TT only
Comments: Similar to 2.0x but adapted for 68030 machines, including higher resolutions and fast RAM support. Adds GTP program support (GEM-Takes-Parameters), XCONTROL panel accessory, individual colouring of all window elements. Bug-fixes. ROM size grows from 256KB to 512KB. AKA "TT TOS".

 

OS: TOS 4.00, 4.01, 4.02, 4.04

Vendor: Atari
Version: 4.00, 4.01, 4.02, 4.04
Machine: Falcon
Comments: New version for the Falcon. 68030 only. Adds support for DSP, 16MHz blitter and video overlay. New v3.40 AES (last single-tasking version, but MiNT/MultiTOS-multitasking-aware) supports: hierarchical and pop-up menus; 3D window and dialog objects (later modified to to use more compatible ob_state flags instead of extended type); 256-colour "animated" icons; soft-loaded fonts; inter-app drag&drop; background window manipulation; extensible filesystems. New CPX module for international localisation configuration. V4.04 was the last official Atari version of TOS. AKA "3D TOS".

 

OS: TOS 7.04

Vendor: CENTEK
Version: 7.04
Machine: CENTurbo 2 Falcon only
Comments: Patched TOS 4.04 version for the Falcon. Allowed to run Atari software on CT2 hardware

 

OS: TOS 4.92, 4.98

Vendor: none (developed by Atari)
Version: 4.92, 4.98
Machine: Never officially released; distribution illegal
Comments: Bug-ridden internal developer version, but sometimes offered for download. Would have become TOS 5.0, "Falcon TOS".

 

OS component: MiNT (MiNT is Not (later, "Now") TOS)

Vendor: Atari
Version: 1.09 (last Atari version of MiNT)
Machine(s): All STs and compatibles
Comments: BSD Unix-based pre-emptive multitasking/multiuser kernel originally developed by Eric R. Smith. Replaces GEMDOS - provides process/memory management, filesystem I/O etc.; requires AES, VDI and desktop.

 

OS: MultiTOS

Vendor: Atari
Version: 1.04 (1.08 in unreleased beta)
Machine(s): Falcon (but runs on all STs and compatibles)
Comments: Official Atari version. Extension to TOS 4: MiNT kernel + (very slow) multitasking v4.1 AES (AKA "MultiAES".) Runs on 68000, but requires 68030 for memory protection.

 

OS: Kaos TOS

Vendor: Andreas Kromke
Version: 1.04
Machine: All STs and compatibles
Comments: Early single-tasking GEM-compatible TOS replacement. Faster and less bug-ridden, but incompatible with TT and Falcon (maybe also STE). Supplied with own desktop, KaosDesk. Development stopped after release of TOS 2.06.

 

OS: MultiGEM

Vendor: Maxor
Version: ***?***
Machine: All STs and compatibles
Comments: Co-operative multitasking GEM extension (c.f. Geneva). Two versions were available. Development stopped after release of MultiTOS and MagiC.

 

Current versions; under active development:

 

OS: TOS 4.07

Vendor: Milan Computer GmbH
Version: 4.07 (website reports 4.5) [as at Oct 1999]
Machine: Milan only
Comments: Debugged version of Atari TOS supplied with Milan ST-compatibles. Adds MagiC-compatible extended objects (e.g. crossbuttons, checkbuttons, frames).
Website: http://www.milan-computer.de/

 

OS component: FreeMiNT

Version: 1.15.4 beta [as at Oct 1999]
Vendor: Free GPL software
Machine: All STs and compatibles
Comments: Open source version of MiNT, released by Atari after withdrawal from ST market
Website: http://www.cs.uni-magdeburg.de/ fnaumann/mint/ (source code)
ftp://ftp.stochastik.rwth-aachen.de/pub/atari/sparemint/ (SpareMiNT home)

 

OS component: N.AES

Version: 2.0 [as at Oct 1999]
Vendor: Woller Computer Systeme Berlin
Machine: All STs and compatibles
Comments: Commercial replacement for Atari v4.1AES. Runs on MiNT. Currently most useful AES for MiNT.
Website: http://www.woller.com/

 

OS component: Geneva

Version: 006 [as at Oct 1999]
Vendor: Gribnif
Machine: All STs and compatibles
Comments: Commercial multitasking replacement for Atari v4.1AES. Runs on MiNT or TOS. Works best with multitasking-aware desktop such as NeoDesk, but can be used without desktop via extended file selector. Adds keyboard control to GEM menus and dialogs; GEM.CNF startup script; dynamic loading/unloading of desk accessories;
Website: http://www4.pair.com/gribnif/

 

OS component: NVDI

Version: 5.03 [as at Nov 1999]
Vendor: Behne & Behne Systemsoftware GbR
Machine: All STs and compatibles
Comments: Commercial replacement VDI. Works with MiNT, MagiC, TOS. Much faster; provides TrueType and Speedo vector font support when used with graphics accelerators. Commonly used for professional ST work. On clones with special graphics hardware (such as Milan's S3 card), calls ROM VDI graphics driver.
Website: http://www.nvdi.de/

 

OS component: oAESis

Version: 0.90 [as at Oct 1999]
Vendor: Free GPL software
Machine(s): All STs and compatibles
Comments: As-yet unfinished project to create a free AES for FreeMiNT.
Website: http://www.nocrew.org/osis/oaesis/

 

OS: MultiOS

Version: 1.2 [as at Oct 1999]
Vendor: Milan Computer
Machine: Milan only
Comments: Bundle comprising FreeMiNT kernel, N.AES and N.Thing desktop; uses TOS 4.5 VDI.
Website: http://www.milan-computer.de/

 

OS: MagiC (formerly MagX) 2.0, 6.10

Version: 6.10 [as at Oct 1999]
Vendor: Application Systems Heidelberg
Machine: All STs and compatibles; under emulation on Windows and MacOS
Comments: Commercial TOS-compatible reverse-engineered OS for ST/TT/Falcon & compatibles. Replaces GEMDOS, VDI, and AES. Has own desktop (MagXdesk) but also works with other replacements. Supports both pre-emptive and co-operative multitasking, long filenames, large disks. Adds some GEM/2 functions but does not support all functions of 3.40 and 4.1 AES.
Website: http://www.application-systems.de/magic/

 

OS Component: Jinnee

Version: 2.01 (as at Nov 1999)
Vendor: Application Systems Heidelberg
Machine: All STs and compatibles
Comments: Replacement desktop. Runs on TOS and MagiC. Borrows features from MacOS 8 (such as spring folders and pop-up windows) and Windows Explorer. Supports: placing icons on the desktop; symbolic links; long file names; hotkeys for applications, even from within other apps; association by file-type or wildcards; dynamic loading of desk accessories; desktop sticky-notes; file undelete from the trashcan; intelligent window placement; selection of files by typing the first few characters of the name; selectable desktop backgrounds and sound effects.
Website: http://www.application-systems.de/jinnee/

 

OS Component: NeoDesk

Version: 4
Vendor: Gribnif
Machine: All STs and compatibles
Comments: Replacement desktop for TOS. Supports multitasking if used with Geneva, but does not require it. Adds: program groups; background file copy/move, disk formatting; menu bars within windows; operation of the desktop within a window or as a desk accessory; command-line interface and macro language; recoverable trashcan; control panel; screen savers; icon editor with Windows .ICO import; desktop notes; file clipboard (holds files in RAM); directory sorting; desktop background patterns and wallpapers; split windows with multiple views; colours/fonts/icons selectable on a per-window basis; non-modal dialogs;
Website: http://www4.pair.com/gribnif/neodesk.htm

 

OS Component: Thing

Version: 1.27e
Vendor: Thomas Binder
Machine: All STs and compatibles
Comments: Replacement desktop. Adds: 3D look; file cut/copy/paste; case-sensitive sort; apply button for settings changes; contextual menus; removable media eject option; TrueColour support.
Website: http://www.cix.co.uk/ inactive/inactive/software/thng120.htm

 

OS Component: Gemini

Version: 1.A
Vendor: Stefan Eissing
Machine: All STs and compatibles
Comments: Replacement desktop ("Venus") tightly integrated with a console-window CLI ("Mupfel", a version of UNIX ksh). ***More info needed!***
Website: http://user.tninet.se/ gcc561r/desktops/gemini.html
Website: http://www.muenster.de/ reschke/soft_e.html

 

Other replacement desktops - info wanted:
* Ease
* Teradesk