From: gt0040a@prism.gatech.EDU (Thomas Michael Sorensen)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
Subject: Re: Some questions about OS/2......
Date: 17 Apr 92 20:03:13 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology

In <1992Apr15.023800.67016@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu> ry01@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (ROBERT YUNG) writes:

>1) Does it have a disk cache? I currently use Super-pckwik. Can I use that? If
>not, will there be an update?

Yes, and the caches are better than any DOS cache.

>2) Can I have a CLI box on screen so I can do simple stuff like "copy *.xyz"
>without having to click like crazy?

Yes, having small DOS or OS/2 boxes (the latter is better) is quite easy.

>3) Does DOS boxes support ANSI?

If you load ANSI.SYS.

>4) Is there a screen blanker? Will the one with Super-Pckwik work?

Yes, albeit extremely crude. No, Super PCK will not work, although After Dark
will. There's also Deskpic- a blanker made for OS/2.

>5) How do I unfrag HSFS drives?

HPFS. And you don't- they defrag themselves during normal operation.

>6) Can I resize windows without resizing the application? ie: I want to only

Yes. In fact with non-OS/2 apps this is what will ALWAYS happen. Also, you
can only do this with text based DOS apps. Graphical DOS apps are either one
size or full screen.

>7) Do Dos boxes support UMB?

Yes.

>8) If a DOS/WINDOW program crashes, how do I quit it?

Several ways- either double click on the programs icon in the top left corner
of its box, or pop up the window list (Ctrl-ESC) and either hit Delete or
open its options (right mouse button) and select close.

>9) Can I enlarge an application on screen? Like a magnifying glass. Great for
>Ultima Underworld if possible! Just have the playing field on screen.

What, you mean full screen? Yes. If you mean just a certain portion full-screen,
no. UW only uses 1/4 of your screen for a good reason.

>10) Is there an icon editor?

Yes.

>11) What's the average size of the swap file? Or what's the swap-file size
>ratio with memory amount?

Approximitely 10 megs-the amount of RAM you have. Give or take a couple megs.
Obviously it'll also grow as you start opening RAM hogs.

>12) What's MS's C-2 protection? How's it better?

It isn't "MS's" protection. C2 is computer security specification by the DoD.
Has to do with deleted files, encryption, etc. As a single user, however, you
probably won't need it. (FYI- Norton's WipeFile w/ the /G option complies to
the C2 specification).

>14) Mouse support in Dos windows?

Yes. Just click or move around the window normally.

>15) Can I run different resolution programs in different windows? If yes, then
>if I had OS2 in 1024X758, I can run any program as long as their resolution is
>equal or less. Right?

Right, although you won't be able to resize the window.

>16) Multi/Ulti-media support?

You can use Windows multimedia extensions with OS/2. It [OS/2] also has full
CD-ROM support. Direct support for multimedia is forthcoming.

>17) Dos games work? [TOP PRIORITY :-) ]

Perfectly.

>19) Cool hologram like Dos 5's? BTW, how's the box?

The box looks nice. No hologram- you get stickers instead. And does it really
make *ANY* difference?

>20) Manuals????? REAL ONES I MEAN. Not online ones. I hate reading manuals
>from the screen!

Yes, there are full manuals.

>21) Any plans for icon name wrapping like in 3.1??? I guess they should since
>3.1 compatibility is coming.

You can have icon names be as many lines as you so wish- you specify where
the break.

>22) Will the $50 upgrade from Windows offer end? Is yes, when? And hhow much
>would it be then???

Yes, 120 days from April 1st.

>23) Can I diskcopy in ONE pass now????

Yes.

>24) Is it too buggy to get know???

No. Windows is too buggy. OS/2 is rock solid.

>25) Is there an easy and quick way to switch between full screen DOS or
>Windows? [For those with small screens :-( ]

Alt-Home.

>26) How's IBM's big-fix policy? Free maintainence disks?

Call up the NSC BBS or Compuserve and download the CSD's (Corrective Service
Diskettes). They may also show up on FTP sites or other BBS's...
            Tom Sorensen

-- 
Tom Sorensen              gt0040a@prism.gatech.edu
Georgia Tech 
And no, I don't like this .signature.