SMART HANDS ESCAPADES

[Mandrake]

I thought people might get a kick out of this.

I have installed Commodore OS 3 on my Toughbook that I use for everything, including work. Which includes using serial connection to console into network switches, Adtran VOIP controllers, etc.
On occasion, there are advanced troubleshooting/configuration needs where I will call tier 3 support, and they will remote in via Teams. I will share my screen and they will use my PuTTY connection to access the device. Typically referred to as Smart Hands support... I'm smart enough to make the connection, but don't have the advanced smarts for the Cisco/Fortinet live configs.

Of course, this most recent connection my buddy Eric in support was like "What the heck am I looking at? ..."

We got a 'move along fellas' from the boss for taking too long 'exploring' after we'd already finished. He's downloading it today. To be honest, I think Adam (his boss who was likely monitoring Eric's machine remotely) will be doing so as well! LOL

Have a good one all!

[coolDude]

What a great story for Commodore OS (COS)!
Your buddy downloading COS and trying is awesome!
My first time using COS, I was like "WOW!" the screens are graphical, so cool. I can see why when someone sees COS for the first time would be like "what is that?".

What else have you tried on COS?

I have been increasing my screen time with COS v3.0 for the last few days.

Thank you for sharing your story.

[Mandrake]

I've mainly been installing the apps I need for work, customizing the dock with the launchers I want, etc. (Like Chrome, Teams, PuTTY, and webApp links for Outlook, Sharepoint, and other work apps - and the few I use constantly I put on the dock)

Been having a ton of fun with the nostalgia of not just the retro aspect of C64, etc. itself, but also just the 3D Cube and "Beryl-type" effects I used to have all done up on my old installs of linux.

I"ve also just been exploring the endless amount of content they included. I went ahead and opened up the new Commodore BASIC to give it a try - much more modern, no line numbers type of language. Just wrote a few little prints, inputs, for/next loops, etc. fun test programs, and kinda looked over file operations but didn't actually have time to try and write anything yet.

Still very familiar. Kind of reminds me of a combination of BASIC and scripting. I look forward to the manual getting more completed. I'm also interested to know if the Sound implementation is just music and sampling (from the looks of the manual so far) or if we'll get to have synth emulation built in and such.
Might be interesting to somehow hook SonicPi into the mix... although that could probably be handled using triggers with the current system I just don't know yet. I've got a LONG way to go before I even have the time to enjoy messing with all of it!

At least having it on my Toughbook, I now have it with me all the time, everywhere I go and can tinker whenever I do get downtime. Just FYI for anyone that might read this - it works out of the box better than any distro I've tried with the Toughbook... Touchscreen is accurate and snappy, the poor excuse for a touchpad works and isn't jittery (which it is on everything else I've tried), wi-fi, 4G LTE modem connection, ALL of it just works. SO nice! Just in case it matters - mine is the CF-31 MK5.

[LeoNigro]

Hi Mandrake,

I'm so glad you're enjoying the experience.
We still have people out there, saying we should do something like this, little realising it is actually done.
And there are lots of plans for the future, and its stories like this that motivate me to get there faster.
Lots of plans for BASIC too and other features.

[Mandrake]

Bro it's so good. I keep finding awesome stuff every time I get a little time here and there. Just tonight I got to playing Endless Sky. Talk about bringing back memories! I haven't played that in a couple years or so and had forgotten about it. It's nice to see all the original and more recent games in the lists!

I honestly forgot how great 3D cube is. Internet / web apps on one side, Open docs on another, Console connections on another, etc. Just flipping around to what I need in real time while I work, rather than endless min/maxing windows or sorting.

There's a few naysayers I've seen on places like distrowatch or whatever, but the idea of a futureproof OS for more modern hardware? - this is it.

Have a good one!

Oh yeah... I looked on the site and on the forums - you guys have a dono button anywhere I'm missing for COS? Later!

[LeoNigro]

Thanks dude. No "dono" button required.
I'm guessing you may be an Australian like me Mando.

Yeah, there are few critics who don't like all the effects and sounds, or even the size of the distro, and I will be including settings to turn all these things on and off to your preference and even optionally install things resulting in a far smaller distro if that's what you want.
Personally, I would find the result boring, coming from a love of Workbench hacks, but to each his own.
But of course, when I eventually do that, they'll just find something else to nitpick on.

Critics even pick on the Commodore emulators not working without ROMs when it is impossible to legally include them for free.
Even though COS automates at least the 8-bit ROM download for free.
And even though I went to the added difficulty of including open source C64 and Amiga system ROMs which unfortunately aren't 100% to at least provide some of the experience out of the box.
I'm starting to think I should make ROM download a separate mandatory prompt even though it is explained in the Welcome wizard.