From: jmalloy@itsmail1.hamilton.edu (Joseph T. Malloy)
Subject: Re: DOS 6 Beta Looks for OS/2!!!!!!!!
Organization: Hamilton College - Clinton, NY
Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1993 04:46:42 GMT

In article <rhoward.726024793@matd> rhoward@matd.gatech.edu (Robert L. Howard) writes:
>jmalloy@itsmail1.hamilton.edu (Joseph T. Malloy) writes:
>
>>In article <1993Jan02.094926.14462@donau.et.tudelft.nl> linstee@dutecaj.et.tudelft.nl (Erik van Linstee) writes:
>>>>>
>>>>>- OS/2 Detected! Due to the size of OS/2 you may wish to delete your OS/2 
>>>>>files before installing DOS 6.0 -
>
>>>If DOS is advanced enough to detect the presence of potential
>>>disk hoggers (what does it do? Keep a database?) it should
>>>certainly be smart enough to tell if there is room enough.
>>>If it finds too little room, it should just say so, ....
>:
>>                There are a number of people, believe it or not, who try
>>OS/2 2.0 and decide it's not for them 
>:
>>                                                 Microsoft has already
>>had a package deal out in the marketplace for PS/1 (and other True Blue
>>machines) that are/might be equipped with OS/2 (DOS 5 and Windows 3.1
>>for a 'package' price).  This wording (which doesn't quite ring true, as
>>far I as can determine, but who knows?) might just be to alert someone
>>to make a decision: keep OS/2 or not?
>
>But there is where the (alleged) FUD comes in.  Why should this 
>person have to make a decision at all?  If there is enough disk
>space then fine, keep quiet.  If not, let me know BUT don't go
>presuming to tell me what to remove.

My point is that those who might be installing DOS and Windows as a
replacement for OS/2 (i.e., they've purchased the upgrade pack I spoke
about with the express intention of replacing OS/2) are given a warning.
Others have pointed out that if one uses the disk compression program
that is apparently included in MS-DOS 6.0, it would not be available to
the new DOS user under OS/2.  

I guess I find it awfully hard to believe that Microsoft really thinks
they could change any minds with this sort of warning (even if it
appears in the form given above, which I doubt).  How many rabid OS/2
users are going to bother with DOS 6.0?  Darn few, I suspect.  How many
corporate users (for whom OS decisions are corporate, not personal)
would even seen the message?  As a result, either Microsoft is being
incredibly pig-headed and stupid (a possibility, I suppose) or the
message, however it is really worded, is a fair warning (especially for
those who don't leave enough room on their boot partition for a complete
MS-DOS 6.0 installation, which is larger than DOS 5, I gather, since the
help files are on-line).  At any rate, whether MS or IBM, I don't assume
conspiracy first.  I give 'em the benefit of the doubt until such time
as proved otherwise.  But that's not a popular idead around here!

>If I decide that OS/2 is not for me, I should also be able to decide
>if it is more convenient to leave on the hard drive or trash it.
>
>Before folks scream about anti-Microsoft sentiment how many of
>you would be pleased if when installing Lotus 123 (say you want
>to just try it out or something) you got a message...
>
>Microsoft Excel detected!  You should delete this before proceeding.
>
>I would be mad enough to package those disks right back up and
>return the software.  NO VENDOR has the right to tell me what
>is good for my computer...
>
>Robert
>--
>| Robert L. Howard              |   Georgia Tech Research Institute     |
>| robert.howard@matd.gatech.edu |   MATD Laboratory                     |
>| (404) 528-7165                |   Atlanta, Georgia  30332             |

Joseph T. Malloy / WB2RBA
Associate Professor of German
Hamilton College, Clinton, NY
jmalloy@hamilton.edu
CIS: 76060,444
BIX/WIX: jmalloy
AOL: jtmalloy

Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.advocacy