X: I am a new member on this list, I joined because I have been thinking
X: about buying the geos SDK - it's not too expensive.
X: But learning another API takes time, and I wonder if geos is destined
X: to be a major player.
Being a non-GEOS-programmer, I have my personal doubts. The SDK is not for
sissies, and GEOS is not VB. This in a nutshell answers your question on
"major player". I'm sure they can get some nice stuff onto machines, but
"widespread appeal" is doubtful.
X: Looks like the Pilot is doing well, while geos is found on the
X: zoomer, omnigo and some other devices - none of them seem to be major
X: players (in my opinion).
Spot on! Even the HW manufacturers don't support it properly. It's all some
toy stuff that the big guys are playing with to see if there's anything to
make out of it.
As long as GEOS programming is a nightmare, as long as there are no visual
tools, and as long as Geoworks has this "attitude" towards those who
want to make them succeed, they will have smartest, yet most-unknown OS in the
market.
X: Also, coming from Windows SDK programming, how difficult is it to
X: write geos apps?
It's OO and it's different - that's all I can say. I have the SDk and have
looked at plenty of code. I can make sense out of some of it, but memory
allocation belongs to stone age I think. Think Java! The SDK has no printed
docs (they don't exist!), and has some idiosyncracies built-in, too. You
should have a second PC for debugging, and a CD-ROM plus Borland C++ (and
_only_ BC++!!)
Don't get me wrong; I try to sell Ensemble here in Africa, but this is a
difficult task given the previous (and current) marketing dilettantism at
Geoworks. That's another force to take into account. They focus on smart
phones and CCDs, and toys such as the OG, Zoomer, Zaurus, etc. are only
intermediary products that will disappear from the market as soon as there's
something better - and that will happen sooner rather than later.
The problems with GEOS are multifold:
a) not easy
b) not visual
c) not accepted
d) no(t) Java
e) no (current) market
f) no marketing
g) developer doesn't support desktop anymore
h) no TCP/IP on the desktop
Eventually it's f) that kills it!
FYI, there is (to my knowledge) not a SINGLE GEOS developer in the world who
makes _money_ out of writing _and_ marketing applications. Most do it for
love. Geoworks? Look at their balance sheet and be the judge. Think about it.
I actually think that those programming for the Omnigo, etc. are wasting
their precious time. There's probably still more money in the GEOS desktop
market than in the PDA market.
In closing, I think it's a shame because the foundation is far superior to
Windows, but there are no adequate tools and there's no decent marketing. A
lethal combination.
Just my 0.02.
Helmar
- - THE CANOPUS MARKETING CORPORATION
- - 8 Airlie Place, Constantia 7800, South Africa
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