SMS2 was designed with a fundamental understanding modern hardware. 
It was built to multitask as a first principle. It is tiny, efficient,
reliable and easy to use. Advanced computing concepts have been built
in at a fundamental level.

  In order that the average QDOS user can have access to SMS2 it has
been implemented on the Atari range of computers with a user interface
that provides a stepping stone to the future by supporting the most
advanced QDOS programs.

  As might be imagined SMS2 has to have a user environment. Most PC and
mini operating systems have user environments that are exceptionally
hostile from a system point of view. The only other operating system that is
remotely like this SMS2 is QDOS with the Pointer Environment. The adoption
of the extended QDOS user evironment provides QDOS users with a
reasonably familiar computing system that is also a stepping stone to the
future.

  SMS2 is a complete ready to use computing environment supplied in ROM.
It needs no configuration or startup procedure. It will be supplied with an
integrated graphic user interface (an advanced Pointer Environment), a
networking system, a set of access programs (QPAC2) and (as a set of
options) an improved "Super Basic" system known as SBASIC2.

  There are many people who believe that SMS2 is the most advanced
operating system in the world, so apart from the obvious characteristic of
allowing the QDOS user to explore the world of advanced computing
systems on some of the cheapest hardware, it allows the QDOS user to
migrate to a future environment that will have no equal.

By including a fully configured advanced GUI (that no other can match)
multitasking and all its ramifications become obvious, meaningfull, useful,
even pleasurable. The SMS2 user interface allows the user to explore the
complexities of advanced computing without creating difficulties. Background
drawing, real-time moving and resizing of windows, and visual
communication with partially hidden jobs will be possible.

  SMS2 was developed on the Atari range of computers because they use a
very fine processor (the same as in the QL, only faster) and because they
are cheap and simple. SMS2 does not need vast amounts of complex
hardware just to enable it to function. It turns an ordinary games computer
(the STe) into a workstation.

  The following input/output facilities are fully supported as standard:

  * Serial and parallel ports.
  * Floppy discs and SCSI hard discs (including removables).
  * Ram disc.
  * Key board and mouse
  * Standard Atari mono high resolution display (600x400 pixels)
  * High resolution 4 colour display (mega STes and TTs 1000x900 pixels)
  * MIDI ports either for networking or for use as MIDI.

It must be understood that, although networking is supported via a
device that was never intended for such a purpose, the user can very
easily do things on an SMS2 network that are either impossible or extremely
difficult to do on classic systems. The SMS2 network allows the average
user to explore the joys of networking.

  SMS2 provides as standard the following capabilities:-

  * Advanced multitasking that is easy to use.
  * Response times better than the fastest real-time systems.
  * High performance windowing.
  * A very high degree of modularity.
  * The ability for jobs to share this modularity.
  * Memory resident for reliability and performance.
  * Efficient inter-process communications.
  * Easy to program. etc. etc.


  The future:
  Ora is a long term project that will provide advanced computing
environments that are easy to use. This is, of course, claimed by all system
suppliers but without arguing, at great length, that our system is whiter
than white or better than best. The only way you will be able to experience
this exciting future is to buy a copy of SMS2. To encourage the doubtful
the system has been made exceptionally affordable:

  Firstly it was developed on a range of computers, the simplest of which
can be purchased second hand for less than 150.00 pounds (in England),
including the monitor.

  Secondly SMS2 will be available on ROM for prices that start at 99
pounds (?)

  As far as we know Ora and thus SMS2 is unique in the world of
computing. It is a powerful system that actually works on readily affordable
hardware. Purchasing a copy of SMS2 provides the only path, at present, to
a future world of understandable high performance computing. The owner of
SMS2 becomes part of a growing number of users who are becoming more
knowledgeable of the advantages of Ora technology.
  It is planned that, in the near future SMS2 will be made available to the
Atari ST user. It is quite probable that the name SMS2 will not be used as
this has no significance for this market but this is of no importance, a
wider market will be good news for SMS2 users and software suppliers. At
present the largest problem for QDOS users is a lack of competitive
applications software. This is a direct result of the small number of people
actually using QDOS. Given time and a bit of interest the Ora project will
change this.


  Addendum.

   Despite its name, it must be made clear that SMSQ is not part of, or a
derivative of the Ora project. SMS2 is not SMSQ or vice versa. SMSQ is a
QDOS clone, it's purpose is to mimic the QL as accurately as possible.

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