Cross posted from comp.os.geos:
From : MBOY1
To   : ALL
Subj : Multitasking with GEOS on a hp100LX...
Conf : 193 - comp.os.geos                    Private   : NO
From: mboy1@aol.com (MBoy1)
Much to my (delighted) surprise, I have successfully coaxed my hp100LX
palmtop pc into running Ensemble 2.01- I had heard rumors that it had
been done on the 200LX (and now I believe it). The trick was to switch
out the hp system manager (which is always running) before launching
GEOS.  Also needed are a (minimum) 10MB PCMCIA flash disk and the hp
connectivity software (with accompanying null modem cable). The hp
won't run the Ensemble setup program, but you can install it on the
desktop, configure it for the palmtop, and then transfer it over to the
flashdisk (disk A:\ on the hp) using the hp connectivity software.
Once the transfer is done, you no longer need the hp connect software,
as you can now link with Ensemble's connect feature (which is much
nicer).  I must confess, this setup works so well that my OmniGo lust
has been somewhat sated. In fairness, though, the above setup probably
costs a lot more than an Omnigo would (happily, my palmtop was given to
me, flashdisk and all, when a good friend of mine upgraded to a 200LX),
but it does deliver what the OmniGo only teases at- full connectivity
with the GEOS desktop, GeoWrite (spell checking, Thesaurus), GeoCalc
(256x8046 instead of 64x64), GeoDex, GeoPlanner, BookReader; you get
the idea. As for performance, GEOS is a tad sluggish on the palmtop,
but tolerable. Also, the lack of a mouse is not nearly as much of a
problem as I had expected. There are key combinations for most common
functions, and for those occasional situations where you must point and
click, GEOS provides a 'keyboard' mouse driver that lets you move the
mouse pointer around with the arrow keys (this is actually more
workable than it sounds) and allows you to click,drag and drop when
needed.  So I can (and do) use most of the apps and games that come
with Ensemble (like AOL, I'm posting this from my palmtop, hooked up
through the external modem I use with my desktop). I even installed
some screen savers- they are completely unnecessary, but fun to watch.
The only apps I didn't install were GeoDraw (which would work, but
would be too cumbersome to use without a real mouse) and GeoFile (which
can be very memory intensive).  And of course, since GEOS is a
"preemptive, multi-threaded, multi-tasking OS," it allows me to carry
on a game of solitaire while I'm on-line sending this. ;)
Anyway, if anyone is interested in more details, just e-mail me (or
continue this thread).  I'm particularly excited because I use Ensemble
almost exclusively on my desktop at home, and now I can literally carry
a minature version of my desktop around with me, wherever I go.  It's
been said before, but once again I have to say: GEOS is truly amazing
software!
Glen
 //\\//\\           You are what               Glen Rapoza   |D
//\\\\//       you pretend to be.          mboy1@aol.co
|D \\// ||         (Kurt Vonnegut)           ("Manteca-Boy")
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