From: coulman@cs.Usask.CA (Randy Coulman)
Subject: Questions from a soon-to-be OS/2 user
Reply-To: coulman@cs.Usask.CA
Organization: University of Saskatchewan
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 21:48:47 GMT

I know that some of these questions may be FAQ's, but I haven't seen
definitive answers for them.  As well not all of these questions are
directly OS/2 related, but I feel that OS/2 may have some bearing on the
answers which is why I'm posting here.

I am in the process of putting together a list of requirements for a machine I
want to buy, so I can price it out.  I will be running OS/2 on this machine.
I do some consulting/contracting part-time, so I want to be able to write 
software for Windows, DOS and OS/2.  The machine will have a FAX/modem and 
will be my "FAX machine" as well as my computer, so I will be leaving it on 
all the time.  This is what I've got as a draft.  I'm not looking for 
comments on the configuration, unless something is obviously not going to 
work for OS/2:

Hardware:
---------
486 (either DX-33 or DX2-66)
8MB RAM (more likely 16)
ATI Graphics Ultra (maybe Pro - maybe Gateway's local-bus version of the Pro)
17" Nanao F550i monitor
200MB HardDrive (maybe 340) - should I go IDE or SCSI?  (see below)
Adaptec 1542B SCSI card
CD-ROM Drive (I have no idea what kind - I have seen the list of SCSI drives
              that work with OS/2, so I'll work from there)
Tape Drive with Software (Again, no idea what kind.  I'm not sure what the
                          best option is)
UPS (I'd prefer it wasn't a standby system)
FAX/Modem (14.4K modem, 9600 FAX - will be Gateway's TelePath if I buy from
           them)
I currently have an Epson LX-800 printer that I can't yet afford to upgrade to
a laser printer.

Hardware questions:

Would I be able to run a SCSI hard drive and the CD-ROM off of one Adaptec
card?  If not, can I get an IDE hard drive and the Adaptec to peacefully
co-exist?

What are the best two or three backup programs (I will be using HPFS, from
everything I've heard about it)?  What tape drives work with that software?
Do the tape drives run off of the SCSI controller, the floppy controller, or
something else?  If I have a choice, which will give me the best throughput?

Has any one seen a recent (< 1yr old) review of UPS's anywhere?  If not,
what's good and what's not?  I've been looking (briefly) at American Power
Conversion's (APC) units.  Are they any good?  What's the difference between
their two lines (Back-UPS and ?????-UPS)?

What do I want to keep in mind when looking at CD-ROM drives (a pointer to a
recent article is fine)?

Software:
---------
A C++ compiler for developing for DOS, Windows and OS/2.
Possibly a Lisp environment for prototyping (and development).
FAX software.
Modem software.

Software questions:

I'm aware of the two GNU ports for OS/2.  I think I have a handle on their
differences.  Do I need some sort of developer's kit to write graphically
oriented OS/2 programs with either of the products, or are there libraries
included that provide those facilities?  Can I use them to write DOS/Windows
programs, or do I need to get something else for that?  The DOS programs may
need to run on 8086/8088/80286 machines.

What is a good, relatively inexpensive Lisp environment?  I prefer Common
LISP, not Scheme.

What FAX software works under OS/2?  Or is a Windows-based package sufficient?
How about communications software for the modem?  If I buy from Gateway, they
throw in WinFax Pro, Crosstalk and QModem, or something like that.


Again, sorry if these are FAQ's, or don't totally belong here.  Perhaps it
would be best to send me e-mail, but I read this group so I will see posted
replies.  I will post a summary when the replies stop coming.

Thanks,
Randy

-- 
Randy A. Coulman                |       ARIES Laboratory
                                |       Department of Computational Science
coulman@cs.Usask.ca             |       University of Saskatchewan
                                |       Saskatoon, SK   S7N 0W0             
From: bobo@hpcvra.cv.hp.com (Bob O'Donnell)
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 00:30:01 GMT
Subject: CD-ROM Drives, Adapters and Software
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co., Corvallis, OR, USA