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Location: GUIs > DeskMate > Tandy Personal DeskMate


Here is a much more detailed timeline of the DeskMate products. Thanks to Ron Gross for creating this!

DESKMATE DESKTOP PC VERSION TIME LINE
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DeskMate 1.0...............1984 (late-year) - Tandy 1000, 1000 SX. Original text-based version of DeskMate utilizing the proprietary Tandy keyboard with selected alternate scan codes.

DeskMate 1.x...............1985 (late-year) - Variants of DeskMate 1.0 written for the TRS-80 Model 4/4P/4D, Tandy 2000, and Tandy 1200 HD.

DeskMate II v.1.0..........1986 (early-year) - Tandy 3000 - Refinement of version 1.0, also fully revised for use with the IBM PC keyboard.

Personal DeskMate..........1986 (late-year) - Tandy 1000 EX - First graphical/configurable version. Introduced global "Accessories" and pull-down menus without the employment of Function Keys. Most of the program core resided in a single, large file.

Personal DeskMate 2........1987 (late-year) - Tandy 1000 HX, 1000 TX - Added a 3-voice Music program plus enhancements to the Paint program, including a separate "Canvas" screen with full 16-color capability. Function Keys were reinstated, with the program core now modularized.

Professional DeskMate......1987 (late-year) - Network/3Com compatible version of Personal DeskMate developed for the Tandy 1000 and 3000. Included an early "Electronic Mail" feature along with a new Draw program, but did not include the Music application. Later replaced by the "Workgroup Companion" add-on for selected versions of DeskMate 3.

DeskMate 3.00..............1988 - First DOS/PC compatible version. Introduced PC Link, a precursor to AOL, plus the use of the ESC key to exit applications. The Paint program had now been superseded by "Draw" due to its capacity for higher resolution with diverse video drivers.

DeskMate 3.01..............1988 - Tandy 1000 SL, Tandy 1000 TL. Basically v.3.00 with the inclusion of the Music and Sound programs, and featuring most of the DeskMate core in ROM. The uncustomary "Switch.exe" on disk was actually the equivalent of "Desk.exe."

DeskMate 3.02..............1988 (late-year) - Added "Press Enter to confirm exit" function for the DOS-compatible version. Also migrated to the 1000 SL/2 in a ROM-based version.

DeskMate 3.03..............1989 - Introduced a new Tutorial system, plus refined video drivers. Available as a DOS-compatible version, and also packaged with the 1000 TL/2. The 1000 TL/2 version included the Music and Sound programs with the DeskTop shell in ROM. Later ported to the ROM-based "business" model 2500 XL, omitting Music and Sound.

DeskMate 3.04..............1990 - Tandy 1000 RL, 1000 RL-HD - Included an early version of the Home Organizer software (also available separately), PC Link, plus the Music and Sound programs. Omitted the Filer and Worksheet programs, and featured the DeskTop shell in ROM.

DeskMate 3.05..............1990 - Final DOS/PC version, also packaged with the Tandy 2500 SX. Added support for expanded memory, a "blanker" screen saver, plus an enhanced clipboard with a multiple data entry and storage option. The main executable "Desk.exe" now permitted command line starting of individual applications and data files.

DeskMate 3.04.02...........1991 - Tandy 1000 RLX - The first version to utilize the DeskMate VGA video driver in an integrated package, although a variant of this driver had actually been available for the DOS-compatible versions beginning with v.3.00. Otherwise similar to the 1000 RL version, but now incorporating new, enhanced VGA graphics throughout the entire integrated Home Organizer software suite. Featured the DeskTop shell in ROM with hidden files.

DeskMate 3.04.03/3.04.04...1991 - Premium/Proprietary version for the 1000 RLX "B," 1000 RSX, and 2500 RSX - As with v.3.04.02, development began before PC/DOS-compatible v.3.05, but completed later due to customization and complexity. Included DAC-compatible Music and Sound, plus the new Print Companion and Automatic House programs. PC Link was replaced with AOL v.1.06, a DOS-based version built on the GeoWorks platform. The DeskTop permitted multiple configurations with direct recall (up to 12), and featured a special "Set Startup Application" function in lieu of the command line option offered in v.3.05. Versions 3.04.03 and 3.04.04 were visually and functionally identical, but architecturally very different. The former was included with the last 1000 RLX models, and featured the the DeskTop shell in ROM with hidden files. The latter "RSX" (386) version was entirely disk-based, although reliant upon custom BIOS calls with embedded resources.

DeskMate I ..................1984 (late) - Tandy 1000, 1000SX
"DeskMate"...................1985 (late) - special version written for the TRS-80 Model 4D.
DeskMate II..................1986 (early) - Tandy 3000 - basically version I written for IBM keyboard.
Personal DeskMate........1986 (late) - Tandy 1000EX - first graphical/configurable version.
Personal DeskMate 2.....1987 (late) - Tandy 1000HX, 1000TX - added Music program.
DeskMate 3.00..............1988 - First DOS/PC compatible version
DeskMate 3.01..............1988 - Tandy 1000TL, TL2. Included Sound & Music programs.
DeskMate 3.02..............1988 (late) - added "press enter to confirm exit" function for DOS version.
DeskMate 3.03..............1989 - Added PC Link, a precursor to AOL + other enhancements.
DeskMate 3.05..............1990 - Final PC version, added extended memory support.
DeskMate 3.04..............1991 - Proprietary version for 1000RSX, 2500RSX - development  began before v.3.05, but finished later due to customization and complexity. Included Sound, Music, Print Companion, and Automatic House programs. The DeskTop permitted multiple configurations,  and a special "start application" function.