From: sip1@ellis.uchicago.edu (Timothy F. Sipples)
Subject: Re: Some suggestions for OS/2
Reply-To: sip1@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: Dept. of Econ., Univ. of Chicago
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 02:15:06 GMT

In article <gershon.715476775@husc10> gershon@husc10.harvard.edu (Ethan Gershon) writes:
>multiple desktops with and without logins to allow multiple users to
>use the same system etc... (kind of like XEROX's "Rooms for Windows")

OS/2 2.0 already has this feature (without logins).  You can set up
multiple work areas (desktops).

>ability to change the basic appearance of windows: e.g. move where scroll
>bars and scroll buttons appear. add buttons, remove buttons, move minimize
>buttons. add a close button (instead of double-clicking on upper left button)
>and a bigger resize area like on the mac's lower right corner of windows.

Interesting.

>give out a good "make bootable diskette/disk" program as an applet. I
>still haven't entirely figured this out.

I think the IBM employee written SE20BOOT program that just floated
across comp.binaries.os2 might do the trick for you.

>include an optional pull down menu system for the desktop (like toolchest
>for X or (I think) rocket launcher for the Mac) that allows you to pull
>down a list of applications or other functions and execute a selection from
>them.

Already there, really.  Click both buttons simultaneously while
pointing at the desktop and you get the Window List.  Click mouse
button two on the desktop and you get the system menu, which you can
customize (select Open -> Settings to do so).  You can add
applications to the bottom of the list, for example.

>MB2 pop-up menu for marked text like in CUA demo

Can you elaborate?

>a printer driver for fax boards that allows drag-and-drop of a document
>for faxing, etc.

Already available from third parties, notably in the form of PMFax
(a.k.a. FaxIt a.k.a. BitFAX for OS/2).

>definately use standard dialogs throughout (this is part of what makes
>the mac so good)

Getting there, although on a system with backward compatibility it
takes a bit of time to move everything over.  The hooks are all there.

>5.25" disk drives should have 5.25" disks as icons (NOT 3.5" ones)

I think someone figured out how to change the icon, but I don't
remember the details.  Does anyone recall where that information is
located?

>a basic collection of icons (including those that are used by the system)
>for OS/2 and DOS programs and functions

Definitely available from BBSes, ftp-os2.nmsu.edu (via anonymous ftp),
and the like, but I see your point.  It comes down to a question of
whether the disk space is worth it.  Some people love icons; others
don't bother.  I tend to fall into the second camp (despite having
written an icon attaching utility).

>icon converter for Win->OS/2 included with system

Well, there are ways to convert your icons without such a utility
already, but it isn't pretty (basically a graphics cut/paste into the
Icon Editor).  I see your point.

>a few "pre-fab" desktop arrangements (including placement of icons) as
>suggestions to people

Interesting.

>a mac-like trashcan

Maybe IBM will change over when the Shredder becomes like a real
trashcan, i.e. when you can retrieve things from it.  Right now
shredder is an appropriate metaphor (although UnDelete from the
command line does do the trick, assuming you have the UnDelete feature
enabled).

>an X-like option for using a third mouse button for pasting marked text

Interesting.

>X-like versions of windowed DOS and OS/2 prompts with long scroll back
>buffer (instead of just one screen worth of information).

You get some of the same effect with MODE CO80,102, per the FAQ List,
but I certainly see your point.

>a "push window" and "pop window" (like on some X systems) that moves a
>window to the bottom and top of a stack of windows respectively

Interesting.

-- 
Timothy F. Sipples      | The OS/2 FREQ. ASKED QUESTIONS LIST is avail. from
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