Apple SOS
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| Apple SOS | |
| Company/ developer |
Apple Computer, Inc. |
|---|---|
| OS family | SOS |
| Source model | Closed source |
| Latest stable release | 1.3 / 1982 |
| Update method | Manual |
| Supported platforms | Apple /// |
| Kernel type | Monolithic kernel |
| Default user interface | Full screen text mode |
| License | Apple Software License Agreement |
| Working state | Historic |
SOS (pronounced /ˈsɔːs/),[1] given the meaning Sophisticated Operating System at release,[2] was the computer operating system released in 1980 that was used by the ill-fated Apple III computer. Despite the failure of the Apple III, SOS was a very forward-thinking personal-computer operating system in many ways and its features influenced the design of ProDOS that was later released to replace Apple DOS on the Apple II family computers. The SOS file system also heavily influenced the design of the Macintosh Hierarchical File System.
The main interaction with SOS was through the Apple /// System Utilities program. The System Utilities program had three main sections: the Device handling commands section, the File handling commands section, and the System Configuration Program (SCP). The additional benefit of SOS over older Apple DOS versions was the ability to use device drivers to support devices such as hard disk drives and RAM drives in addition to 5.25-inch floppy disk drives.
In spite of SOS's advantages, it wasn't natively backward compatible with DOS 3.2 and DOS 3.3, which most Apple II software used at the time — though the Apple III itself was designed to be mostly backward-compatible with the Apple II Plus in hardware, users had to boot Apple DOS from a separate disk to use Apple II series software, losing the advantages of SOS. Many average computer users also weren't ready in 1980 for an operating system with the capabilities and flexible configuration options that SOS offered, especially combined with the Apple III's bad reputation due to poor engineering and its high retail price near $4,000 (£2,420).[3] In addition, SOS was not friendly to software developers even though having a variety of software available was crucial for the computer's success; developer David Fradin noted that "SOS was not really usable for programming until early '83."[3]
The IBM PC, released in 1981 at a lower price than the Apple III, sealed the fate of both the computer and its operating system.
[edit] References
- ^ Don, Reed (1982). Apple III SOS Reference Manual, Volume 1: How SOS Works (PDF). Apple Computer, Inc.. Retrieved on 2007-12-08. “This manual describes SOS (pronounced "sauce"), the Sophisticated Operating System of the Apple III.”
- ^ Apple III. Encyclopedia of Apple Computers. Retrieved on 2007-12-08. “The project was code named "Sarah" after the daughter of Chief Engineer Wendell Sander. The III's OS was called "Sarah's Operating System" before it was reverse engineered to its more formal Apple Sophisticated Operating System (better known as SOS).”
- ^ a b Ottalini, David (August 2005). The Apple /// FAQ File (V5.1). Washington Apple Pi Users Group. Retrieved on 2007-12-08.
[edit] External links
- Washington Apple Pi - Apple /// Resources
- The Apple /// FAQ File V5.1 — discusses Apple III and SOS history as well as basic information about the system
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