CompuServe Messages

In essence, yes, we are making our own operation system, called MMOS (Multimedia Multitasking Operation System). The MMOS microkernel will sit on top of MS-DOS and will work in the 32-bit protected mode. This means that our software does not inherit most of the problems associated with MS-DOS based programs. As you may know, most MS-DOS programs have a 640KB memory limitation and can only access additional memory by using Extended Memory (XMS) or Expanded Memory (EMS). There are also tricks to gain additional main memory by accessing the High Memory Area (HMA) and the Upper Memory Block (UMB). If this sounds like gobledegook, its because it is! However, the 32-bit protected mode, treats all memory exactly the same. If your system has 8MB of RAM, our software will see it as 8MB of system RAM. No more, no less. Since the EMS and XMS memory types are controlled by software (EMM386.EXE program in MS-DOS), MMOS, will operate approximately 5-10% faster because it utilizes the CPU hardware to control memory. MMOS compliments MS-DOS by adding our multimedia environment, including our propriatary GUI (Graphic User Interface) which we call HumanTouch, our EXes (drivers for audio/video peripherals), the Player (the actual performance engine) and light-duty multi-tasking (management and performance of peripherals by EXes). Our software has the ability to "switch" to the standard MS-DOS mode to do input/output functions (i.e. retrieve a background or animation), then switch back to the 32-bit protected mode for performance. I believe many users will develop their presentations on desktop machines and then have them performed on PC notebooks or laptops. As you have surmised, many multimedia or presentation programs that currently operate in the Microsoft Windows environment, are "calibrated" to perform on a Pentium based machine. Right now, Pentium based notebooks and laptops are few and far between, and for that matter, are very expensive (approx. $6,000+ USD). The "mainstream" laptops contains mostly 25 MHz 486DX and its clock doubled cousins. Far short of the power of the Pentium. This means possibly less than stellar performing presentations. People are not willing to drag around a full desktop system to meetings, but they'll have to until Pentium laptops and notebooks become more affordable. Scala MultiMedia MM100 is designed to give you the power and performance of the Pentium, except running on a 486DX (Alternate analogy: Power of a V-12 Engine in a V-6). In fact, our software will do things that the Microsoft Windows environment will not allow you to do, like playback of double-buffered animations. Our software will give you performance, high-impact presentations that you normally expect out of your Amiga not on a PC. Certainly there are some things that the PC cannot do that the Amiga can (REAL multitasking OS and asynchronous hardware). Then again, if you throw a brute-force 100 MHz Pentium behind it, hang on to your hats! I hope this long-winded explanation helps and is hopeful. ;-} Regards, John Chang