*BSD News Article 4792


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From: harp@netcom.com (Gregory O. Harp)
Subject: Re: Free software and the future of support for Diamond products
Message-ID: <d0sncm+.harp@netcom.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 92 02:03:32 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Keywords: Diamond, free-software
References: <1992Sep6.210159.18607@cbnewsj.cb.att.com> <lalqmgINNa96@needmore.cs.utexas.edu> <1992Sep7.133347.4433@cbnewsj.cb.att.com> <1992Sep08.093300.898@kithrup.COM>
Lines: 22

sef@kithrup.COM (Sean Eric Fagan) writes:

>In article <1992Sep7.133347.4433@cbnewsj.cb.att.com> dwex@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (david.e.wexelblat) writes:
>>1) Calling BIOS from a multitasking OS is trick, dangerous, and impossible
>>   for those of us running SVR3/4

>An interesting way to get around all of those:  set up a v86 process that
>calls the BIOS routines for you.  It can be done, and I've seen it (not for
>the card in question, however), although I don't recall enough to make any
>claims about performance.

Yuck. ;)

However, that does allow for compatibility with several boards.  For
example, a VESA version of the X server could be released (I think.
Perhaps that's pushing it a bit far...).

So, how's the hate-mail campaign going with Diamond? ;)
-- 
-----------------Greg-Harp----------------harp@netcom.com------------------
  Love me, love my ferrets.               "Break out of the mold before
  Or at least love my ferrets. ;)          the mold sets in" -- B52's