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| Click here to select a new forum. | | TOPS Emulation? | Posted by: pl212 on 2024-09-13 17:30:06
There is a thread from a while back here -- initially about an obscure terminal console add-on, but eventually discussing the TOPS protocol as a whole.
For reference, this is about the Transcendental Operating System -- TOPS, originally from Centram Systems West, then SUN, and then I think finally Sitka.
As the Wikipedia article notes, TOPS was only really used between 1985-1991; System 7's Personal File Sharing wiped it out. However, it was popular due to its relative low cost, cross-platform support (with a PC LocalTalk card), and ability to function without a dedicated file server.
Why should we care about TOPS today? Besides the the fact that it was a pretty important part of early Macintosh networking culture, it also happens to be the only way certain obscure handheld devices -- such as PenPoint -- can print or share files. I'm curious if anyone has ever thought about emulating it in modern code, similar to Netatalk? | Posted by: Nixontheknight on 2024-09-13 17:31:20
PenPoint Do you mean the PenLite? | Posted by: pl212 on 2024-09-13 17:36:02
Actually PenPoint devices -- these were the brainchild of Jerry Kaplan and Mitch Kapor, chronicled in Kaplan's 1995 book Startup. People were working on it from about 87 to 93; it was actually the operating system of the first IBM ThinkPad! | Posted by: robin-fo on 2024-09-13 22:40:38
I'm curious if anyone has ever thought about emulating it in modern code, similar to Netatalk? I once thought about it.. If you give me the protocol reference, it would certainly be doable 😉 | | 1 |
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