Wow! This was my first impression when I set eyes on this new 'DOS'(Disk Operating System). DOS-MOD comes in a very attractive plastic case with a double-sided disk containing 'DOS-MOD' on one side of the disk and a tutorial on the other. Actually the tutorial is very helpful to anyone that is interested in finding out about programming, making this tutorial worth the price of the disk.
    The first thing that really impressed me was the full use of the screen when accessing the new DOS(DOS-MOD). Instead of just using four lines like ATARI's 2.0 DOS, DOS-MOD uses the whole ATARI screen, all 22 lines, making it very easy to remember what you did four lines before. When I couldn't remember what I did four lines ago I would have to go and look back at the directory to find out what I had deleted. Also many times in the old ATARI DOS(see I'm already calling it old) I would hit return by mistake wiping out all the history that I had on the screen, This problem was also fixed in DOS-MOD. Instead of just typing return for the MENU one must type a 0.
    For all of you ATARians that don't have the new OSB-ROM, I recommend that you get it because there are a few features that you won't be able to use unless you have it. One of these is the Dup-Resident feature which allows the entire DOS to remain in memory, similar to the earlier version of ATARI DOS(1979), It does take 5513 Bytes, but for those who access the DOS alot, isn't time worth some memory? If you're not sure whether or not you have the OSA or OSB-ROM, DOS-MOD will tell you when you boot up. Another thing that will save time is the ability of doing everything on one line. For example; if you wanted to know what was on your disk you just need to type in A *.* return instead of A (return,return). You can also do the same thing with any command by just writing it out on the same line.
    Three new commands are also added to the menu in DOS-MOD. They are P-RUN PROGRAM, Q-COMMAND FILE, and R-READ/STORE MEMORY. The first enables you to RUN a program at a given hex-address, The second being the Command File which I don't know how I programmed without. By using # or $ it is possible to have no input after a question or input telling yes or no. For example; I could copy GAME1 to GAME2 by:
#
C GAME1,GAME2/Q
Y
By doing this I don't have to respond to the computer whether or not I want to copy GAME1 to GAME2. Or I could have instead of using a '#' put a '$', meaning I would have to respond to the computer's question. Richard Bennett says that to remember the two, just think that a computer would respond to numbers(#) and a human to dollars($). The last new command is READ/STORE MEMORY. This allows one to store new values of bytes, The 'R' command is only available if you have the OSB-ROM. This new command is used to examine and change bytes in memory. Hex notation is used throughout, for addresses and byte values. The 'R' command will display the given address followed by the contents of the eight bytes of data and that location in memory. The data is displayed in both hex and ATASCII.
    Two more new features that are offered in this new DOS:One is called the "HELLO" File and second, a MEMORY MAP. The "HELLO" File will automatically be executed(as a command file), when you boot-up a disk or press SYSTEM-RESET. You can make a HELLO file to set or clear flags. You can also make a HELLO file to display the disk name, say, or special messages or instructions, when the disk on which it resides is booted up. This can be very useful to keep track of what is on each disk. The second feature is a Memory map with the Binary Load "L" command. This feature allows you to see what areas of memory are being loaded.
    One more thing about this program, is that the people at ECLIPSE SOFTWARE are very friendly and willing to help you with any problem that you come across with DOS-MOD. The only thing that I didn't like about DDS-MOD, was that I had to change all of my disks over.
    DDS-MOD is available on single or double density from: