This version of PocketDOS is still in development at a low priority. So far we have received an indication of interest from less than 100 potential users in the last 4 years. Typically this would indicate we could expect 5-10 license sales. Given the large amount of man-hours this port would take to complete it is certainly not worth our while to prioritise this development (even for 100 license sales).
At present PocketDOS is quite Windows-centric. It is our (long term) aim to remove any type of platform dependency from PocketDOS and so PocketDOS for EPOC32 represents an opportunity for us to further this aim. For this reason we are doing it on our own time, and whereas it is reasonable to expect an EPOC32 version at some point, it is not something which we are willing or able to produce in any given time frame. We did intend to spend more time on this (platform-independent) version of PocketDOS in the first half of this year, but have been spending this time on developing PocketDOS for (Microsoft) SmartPhones, which in comparison has attracted the interest of more than 700 potential users in the comparitively short time period since we announced the intention to produce such a version.
When the EPOC32 version of PocketDOS is eventually completed, it will have the same feature-set as the Windows CE version, as it will be (largely) built from the same source code.
Thank you for your continued patience. _________________ PocketDOS - Adds DOS compatibility to your Pocket Computer.
http://www.pocketdos.com
Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Posts: 5 Location: Nottinghamshire, UK
Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 3:42 am Post subject: Microsoft smartphones is an obscure platform!
It's a bit annoying that the Pocket DOS people reckon there's no demand for an EPOC version.
Mobile phones based on the Microsoft Smartphone platform is a ludicrous thing to be concentrating on first as it is an obscure platform compared to EPOC.
I don't think the PSION took off too well in the States, but currently the Symbian alliance is part owned by the majority of the important mobile phone manufacturers.
Currently on the Symbian site there are over 40 different devices from manufacturers such as NOKIA, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Siemens, Panasonic, Sendo, and Foma.
All of these run the Symbian OS and would be instantly open to running Pocket DOS with only slight tweaks on each device once the initial EPOC port has been done.
I'm sure that if Pocket DOS was announced on Symbian, then the demand would far outweigh the demand on obsure microsoft mobile platforms!
What makes you believe that there is a (significant) demand for an EPOC version of PocketDOS? We have seen no evidence to support this.
It would indeed be ludicrous for us to develop a version of PocketDOS especially for Microsoft SmartPhones given the (very) limited demand for DOS on a cellphone of any type, and the small market share that these (Microsoft) phones do have. However, being that Microsoft SmartPhones run Windows CE, it was fairly simple for us to port the Windows CE version of PocketDOS to that platform.
The key factor here is the amount of work required to complete a particular port as measured against the potential sales that such a port would bring. The only justification that we can use at this point for doing an EPOC port at all, is that the work would be a long-term investment in making PocketDOS more easily ported to other platforms. We certainly have no interest in supporting Microsoft products over products from other companies. However, there really does not appear to be enough demand for PocketDOS for EPOC to make it financially viable in its own right.
Thank you for your interest. _________________ PocketDOS - Adds DOS compatibility to your Pocket Computer.
http://www.pocketdos.com
What makes you believe that there is a (significant) demand for an EPOC version of PocketDOS? We have seen no evidence to support this.
It would indeed be ludicrous for us to develop a version of PocketDOS especially for Microsoft SmartPhones given the (very) limited demand for DOS on a cellphone of any type, and the small market share that these (Microsoft) phones do have. However, being that Microsoft SmartPhones run Windows CE, it was fairly simple for us to port the Windows CE version of PocketDOS to that platform.
The key factor here is the amount of work required to complete a particular port as measured against the potential sales that such a port would bring. The only justification that we can use at this point for doing an EPOC port at all, is that the work would be a long-term investment in making PocketDOS more easily ported to other platforms. We certainly have no interest in supporting Microsoft products over products from other companies. However, there really does not appear to be enough demand for PocketDOS for EPOC to make it financially viable in its own right.
Thank you for your interest.
Is this a polite way of saying the project's been shelved, or do we still have a possible timescale for this?
We do intend to develop a version of PocketDOS for EPOC32. We cannot put timescales on when this may be available at this stage. However, this version will be the focus of our development efforts for the coming months.
Thank you for your continued patience. _________________ PocketDOS - Adds DOS compatibility to your Pocket Computer.
http://www.pocketdos.com
Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2005 3:49 pm Post subject: Hmm
Yeah, I sent numerous email back in 2002/03 to you guys about this and didnt even get a response. You have missed the boat guys. I dont know about nokias, but I no longer own my psion. I and several other people who I work with and used to use psions all wanted a copy. So with regards to your 'estimate' we would already have made up almost 10 copies!
Do everyone a favor, dont put 'coming soon' (First seen in 2001) if there is no activity on a project.
Added: Oh I noticed your EPOC32/Symbian port is no longer listed, what a surprise.
This version of PocketDOS is being worked on. It is listed on the website as "Available soon", and it will be. We are working on a major update of PocketDOS for Windows devices and intend to release the Symbian version at the same time.
Thank you for your patience. _________________ PocketDOS - Adds DOS compatibility to your Pocket Computer.
http://www.pocketdos.com
Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 9:50 pm Post subject: Epoc Version
I just stumbled upon this possibility and hope that the Dec. 5th message from Pocketdos means that the Epoc32 version will soon be available. I agree with those who have urged that there's a bigger market than Pocketdos has assumed on the basis of queries. To lodge a query, one would need to have learned of this possibility and this site - and I have stumbled upon it after a year or more of wishing for a DOS emulator for my Psion Netbook. Is there some way that you can notify us once you've finished the development?
We are currently working on a new version of PocketDOS which will be available for EPOC32/Symbian as well as Windows CE/Windows Mobile. As with all PocketDOS releases, we will announce the new release here, as well as the comp.sys.handhelds, comp.sys.palmtops, microsoft.public.* Usenet news groups. Typically enthusiast sites pick these announcements up and publish them on their own websites too.
Thank you for your interest. _________________ PocketDOS - Adds DOS compatibility to your Pocket Computer.
http://www.pocketdos.com
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