DeskMate
Encyclopedia
DeskMate was a software application that provided an operating environment that competed with early versions of Microsoft Windows
. It originally was made for Tandy's TRS-DOS
Operating System and for their TRS-80
line of computers, but eventually shifted to PC, where it was developed using C
and Assembly
. Like Windows (and other competitors from the time, such as GEM
), it was not a full operating system, requiring a separate Disk operating system
in order to function. Although the initial PC ports would only run on Tandy's PCs (such as the Tandy 1000
), the introduction of the true PC
-compatible computers such as the Tandy 3000 resulted in the software later being made available for other compatibles.
and did not work correctly on non-Tandy computers. This was mainly due to the use of the function key
s - as most non-Tandy PCs either did not come with an F12 button or with one that did not act in the same way as a Tandy F12 function key.
was made up of text. The applications that made up the suite were:
The programs all fit on a 360K floppy disk
. With careful manipulation, it was possible to isolate the individual applications and remove the others, placing them on separate floppies to be swapped when required. DeskMate was still required, as the individual programs could not be accessed directly.
The core parts of DeskMate (and DOS) were shipped in ROM on certain Tandy 1000s, allowing the computer to boot into DeskMate within a few seconds.
This was the first version of DeskMate that allowed for a run-time version that could be distributed with applications. This allowed users to use DeskMate applications on their PC's even if they did not have DeskMate installed.
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
. It originally was made for Tandy's TRS-DOS
TRS-DOS
TRS-DOS was the operating system for the Tandy TRS-80 line of 8-bit Zilog Z80 microcomputers that were sold through Radio Shack through the late 1970s and early 1980s. Tandy's manuals recommended that it be pronounced triss-doss...
Operating System and for their TRS-80
TRS-80
TRS-80 was Tandy Corporation's desktop microcomputer model line, sold through Tandy's Radio Shack stores in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The first units, ordered unseen, were delivered in November 1977, and rolled out to the stores the third week of December. The line won popularity with...
line of computers, but eventually shifted to PC, where it was developed using C
C (programming language)
C is a general-purpose computer programming language developed between 1969 and 1973 by Dennis Ritchie at the Bell Telephone Laboratories for use with the Unix operating system....
and Assembly
Assembly language
An assembly language is a low-level programming language for computers, microprocessors, microcontrollers, and other programmable devices. It implements a symbolic representation of the machine codes and other constants needed to program a given CPU architecture...
. Like Windows (and other competitors from the time, such as GEM
Graphical Environment Manager
GEM was a windowing system created by Digital Research, Inc. for use with the CP/M operating system on the Intel 8088 and Motorola 68000 microprocessors...
), it was not a full operating system, requiring a separate Disk operating system
Disk operating system
Disk Operating System and disk operating system , most often abbreviated as DOS, refers to an operating system software used in most computers that provides the abstraction and management of secondary storage devices and the information on them...
in order to function. Although the initial PC ports would only run on Tandy's PCs (such as the Tandy 1000
Tandy 1000
The Tandy 1000 was the first in a line of more-or-less IBM PC compatible home computer systems produced by the Tandy Corporation for sale in its Radio Shack chain of stores.-Overview:...
), the introduction of the true PC
IBM PC compatible
IBM PC compatible computers are those generally similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT. Such computers used to be referred to as PC clones, or IBM clones since they almost exactly duplicated all the significant features of the PC architecture, facilitated by various manufacturers' ability to...
-compatible computers such as the Tandy 3000 resulted in the software later being made available for other compatibles.
DeskMate 1.0
DeskMate version 1.0 was included with the original Tandy 1000Tandy 1000
The Tandy 1000 was the first in a line of more-or-less IBM PC compatible home computer systems produced by the Tandy Corporation for sale in its Radio Shack chain of stores.-Overview:...
and did not work correctly on non-Tandy computers. This was mainly due to the use of the function key
Function key
A function key is a key on a computer or terminal keyboard which can be programmed so as to cause an operating system command interpreter or application program to perform certain actions...
s - as most non-Tandy PCs either did not come with an F12 button or with one that did not act in the same way as a Tandy F12 function key.
DeskMate 2
By the time Personal DeskMate was released with the Tandy 1000 EX, it was a GUI that acted as a portal for many other office productivity applications. The DeskMate application would run on top of MS-DOS. The user interfaceUser interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
was made up of text. The applications that made up the suite were:
- a basic word processor ("Text")
- a spreadsheet ("Worksheet")
- a calendar
- a basic database program ("Filer")
The programs all fit on a 360K floppy disk
Floppy disk
A floppy disk is a disk storage medium composed of a disk of thin and flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular plastic carrier lined with fabric that removes dust particles...
. With careful manipulation, it was possible to isolate the individual applications and remove the others, placing them on separate floppies to be swapped when required. DeskMate was still required, as the individual programs could not be accessed directly.
DeskMate 3
DeskMate 3 added a number of interesting basic applications:- a drawing program ("Draw")
- a simple digital audio editing program ("Sound")
- a simple music program ("Music") which could play music with wavetable instruments created in Sound used the 3-channel Tandy DAC, which provided 22kHz 16-bit audio.
- an online service ("PC LinkAOLAOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
")
The core parts of DeskMate (and DOS) were shipped in ROM on certain Tandy 1000s, allowing the computer to boot into DeskMate within a few seconds.
This was the first version of DeskMate that allowed for a run-time version that could be distributed with applications. This allowed users to use DeskMate applications on their PC's even if they did not have DeskMate installed.