From: sip1@ellis.uchicago.edu (Timothy F. Sipples)
Subject: Re: Some OS/2 2.0 Questions:
Reply-To: sip1@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: Dept. of Econ., Univ. of Chicago
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 17:23:23 GMT

In article <1992Apr9.111648@masg1.epfl.ch> lbdsun6.epfl.ch writes:
>In article <dano.702770542@srl06.cacs.usl.edu>, dano@usl.edu (Dan Stephenson) writes:
>|> 1) I have several BIG MSDOS games, such as Wing Commander II and Falcon
>|> 3.0.
>|>    How well will these work under the MSDOS for OS/2 2.0?
> I've tried Wing Commander II under a beta version of OS/2 2.0 without
> problems.

And Falcon 3.0 is listed on the applications list I posted recently.
Apparently works fine.

>|> 2) If I plan to get Stacker, willl it work with OS/2 2.0, or does OS/2
>|> 2.0 come
>|> with a hard disk compression utility.
> This question is becoming more and more popular. There is no way you could
> boot OS/2 on a stacker drive. That's for sure! You could (maybe) access
> a stacker drive using the VDMs (Virtual Dos Machines) under OS/2, but I have
> not tried this. Thus, DOS sessions and programs would see the drive but not
> OS/2 ones. Can anybody confirm this?

Stac is working on an OS/2 2.0 version which they say will go into
beta release this summer and will support both HPFS and FAT.

>|> 5) Windows applications will run _relly_ well on the OS/2 2.0 desktop??
> I haven't tried the GA yet! On an early beta Windows support was average.
> DOS support great!

On the OS/2 desktop you pay a performance penalty (since running OS/2
applications alongside Windows applications is by no means a trivial
exercise), but it is quite doable and, at least on my machine, far
from sluggish.  You can also run Windows applications on a separate
Windows desktop (just as you do under Windows itself).  Here you
sacrifice one desktop for speed.

>|> 6) I just read the OS/2 FAQ, and the Applets for OS/2 2.0 do not
>|> obviously conta
>|> in a Word Processor.  An 'enhanced text editor' is mentioned, though.
>|> But,
>|> if Windows applications are supported 'seamlessly' , then I guess I can
>|> keep usi
>|> ng Write, right?
> Right!

Write from Windows 3.0, yes.  Works fine.  Until Windows 3.1 support
is in place, however, don't use the version of Write from Windows 3.1.

>|> 7) Is there a 800 help line for OS/2 (2.0) ??
> Donno. I mean there must be...

Yes.  You get sixty days of free support from your first phone call.

>|> 8) If I eventually get a SoundBlaster Pro (etc) for my 386, will MSDOS
>|> games
>|> using it (under OS/2 2.0) use the sound card just fine?
> SoundBlaster is fine. SoundBlaster PRO caused occasional problems under the
> beta versions. This might be fixed in GA though...

The README file indicates that there are generally no problems.  One
exception: the DOS PARROT program that comes with SoundBlaster does
not work.

Most games seem to use the SoundBlaster just fine.

>|> 10) Can I have a bitmap (.bmp, like from Windows) as a 'wallpaper'?
> No sweat! You can have 'wallpapers' per folder.

I prefer the plain background myself.

OS/2 2.0 comes with two picture backgrounds: a lighthouse and an OS/2
logo bitmap.  (Hint to IBM: use one of these in store displays; tends
to attract attention; I know the chess pieces background does with
Windows.)

Speaking of chess, the chess applet has really matured.  Both play
over a network and play against the computer are supported.

>|> 11) With this HPFS thing, I can files called:
>|> my.term.paperduenextfriday.01
>|>     or something like that? What limit is there?
> Yes. You can even have: "My term paper - due next friday. (5th of April 92)"
> as a file name.

Up to 254 characters, _including_ the path to get there.
-- 
Timothy F. Sipples       Keeper of the OS/2 Frequently Asked Questions
sip1@ellis.uchicago.edu  List, available via anonymous ftp from
Dept. of Economics       128.123.35.151, directory pub/os2/faq, or via
Univ. of Chicago  60637  netmail from LISTSERV@BLEKUL11.BITNET.
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc