🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <8712150439.AA21683@macs.UUCP> mgb@macs.UUCP (Michael Branton) writes
>
> I recently downloaded a copy of "desk" from a fido board. Desk is a appoint-
>ment calender - rolodex - clock program with a very nice window interface 
>that use the rainbow graphics board. When you run the program, there is a 
>brief notice that refers to an "MSDOS graphics library 3.00 25 Apr 85." Does
>anybody know anything about this library, especially where to get it ? If the
>desk program is any example, it may be a very nice set of routines to have
>around.  Should you be in posession of same, and willing to e-mail them or
>post them to the net, I would be most appreciative. 
>
> 
>(ps- if you'd like a copy of desk ( I only have the executable ), I'll be happy
>      to uuencode it and mail it.)
>
>  -mgb
>
>  ...ihnp4!codas!ki4pv!macs!mgb      : UUCP


   DESK is a great demo program.  It shows some of the features that the
   fabled MS-Windows for the Rainbow is supposed to have.  Be warned,
   though, DESK is not fully debugged.  There seems to be a problem when
   expanding the appointment database.  Its pointers and some data gets
   corrupted.  I have a friend who has tracked down the bug.  I used the
   program only as a demo.

   The source to DESK cannot be found.  However, the graphics interface
   library can be found on the HitchHiker's Guide BBS in the Graphics
   Area.  Phone 1-315-589-7361.  The library is called MSGDL.ARC and
   it contains CI-C86 and 8088-assembly routines for driving the Rainbow's
   graphics board.  It's written by DEC UK.  Look closely at the date
   that's in the above message: 25 April 1985!!!  Look closely at the
   sources and you'll see dates like late 1984!  1984!  Sheesh!  DEC
   has been sitting on this for so long, it really pains me to think
   about it.  
   
   Enough requests and I'll post it to the net.  I'll also post DESK
   if I get enough responses for the demo.  It's been posted before,
   though.

   A question to collectors:  I wonder if anyone has old copies of Byte
   or maybe even old DEC PC related magazines that would show early ads
   for Microsoft's Windows.  Rumor has it that the machine pictured in
   the early ads was a DEC Rainbow.  The reason:  the only machine at
   the time that could display Windows properly.  Windows, by the way,
   does exist for the Rainbow, somewhere.  More rumors later.

   Other old time news:  Turbo Pascal was originally designed on the
   DEC Rainbow and even Peter Norton's own FATHER owns a DEC Rainbow.
   Of course, everyone knows, Douglas Adams (HitchHiker's Guide to
   Galaxy, et everything else) owns a Rainbow (may no longer, though)
   and did his early manuscripts on it.

   Another rumor... Even I am doing my current editorials and reviews
   for the DEC Microletter on the Rainbow as well as a novel!

   Enjoy,
   Alan


   Alan I. Vymetalik  @  {allegra,seismo}!rochester!ritcv!iav1917
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