From: dwl@watson.ibm.com (David W. Levine)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
Subject: Re: Questions on OS/2 compatibility
Date: 16 Apr 92 19:08:02 GMT
Reply-To: dwl@watson.ibm.com
Organization: IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM

In article <1992Apr14.211655.11968@fsg.com>, charley@fsg.com (Charley
Rich) writes:
|> Hello,
|> 
|> This is my first email to news.  I have just ordered my 'free' upgrade to
|> OS/2 2.0 and have a few compatibility questions.  Please send answers via
|> email, if possible.  Thanks in advance.
|> 
|> Equipment:
|> 
|> Gateway 386/33 with 4MB 
|> 120 MB disk
|> Microsoft serial mouse
|> Diamond SpeedStart SVGA card with 1MB(800x600 mode)
|> NEC 2A monitor.
|> HP LaserJet II Plus
|> 
|> Software:
|> 
|> Windows 3.0a with Norton Desktop for Windows, ATM for Windows
|> Word, Excel, Quicken(all windows versions), plus various educational
|> software such as Mixed-up Mother Goose, Playhouse, Treehouse, Kid-Pix,
|> New PrintShop, etc.
|> 
|> 
|> 1)  Will Norton for Windows work under OS/2?
|> 
	Yes

|> 2)  Will OS/2 support my SVGA card(it uses the TSENG 4000 chipset)?

Yes. You can use TSENG's 1.2 drivers today and they will be releasing
driver for seamless windows in the near future.

|> 
|> 3)  Will ATM fonts for Windows work on OS/2? (I know OS/2 uses ATM)
|> 
Yes, but you need the correct afm description files.

|> 4)  IBM told me that I need 35MB of disk
|> 	a) Is that true?

	Yes, if you install every single option.

|> 	b) Can I subtract out my current disk usage for DOS and Windows
|> 	   and end up with a much lower number?
You can remove your current DOS and windows software to recover that space
|> 
|> 5)  Has anyone tried Multimedia under OS/2?  I would like to purchase a
|>     sound card(as soon as there is one with a 16bit interface to CD
|>     available) and also a CD-ROM player.  Will MultiMedia extensions 
|>     for Windows work under OS/2?

Yes.

|> 
|> 6)  Will my children's game software, listed above,(all DOS based) run 
|>     reasonably(or at all)?

Yes. You probably want to run graphics intensive stuff full screne, not in
a window.
|> 
|> 7)  Can I expect reasonable performance in general, using OS/2 with my 
|>     hardware? (My current performance with Windows/Norton has been 
|>     acceptable)

You should have reasonable performance execpt possibly when starting large
applications, or when you move from one large application to another.
4mb works fine on OS/2, but you do end up doing some paging as things
get started. 2mb more would smooth things out a bit.

|> 
|> 8)  Is there a reason to use Dual Boot?(Is it even possible?)
|> 

Yes, it works. The only time I use it is to run one or two VCPI based
programs. 

|> I have considerable experience using OS/2 1.3 with LAN Manager/LAN Server 
|> at work and really like the operating system.  It would be nice to be
|> able to use a robust operating system at home, as well.
|> 
|> 
|> Thanks again,

Your welcome.
|> 
|> Charley Rich
|> 
|> charley@fsg.com
|> 
|> -- 
|> Charley Rich 			email:	charley@fsg.com
|> Fusion Systems Group			uupsi!fsg!charley
|> New York, NY 10007		phones:	212-285-8001 (work)


David W. Levine      -- IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center
dwl@watson.ibm.com   -- (914) 784-7427 

My Opinions, IBM's hardware. --