From: khamer@sumax.seattleu.edu (Little Kenny Hamer)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
Subject: Benefits of OS/2?
Date: 12 Apr 92 18:55:07 GMT
Organization: Seattle University, Seattle WA


Okay, Okay.  The bullshit has been flying fast and furious since Win3.1
came out on monday +/-delta.  I am a happy, satisfied win 3.1 user who
wishes to investigate OS/2 as a way of being even more happy and satisfied.
However, Info has been difficult to acquire without associated flames.  Or b.s.
Please, if you feel compelled to correct any info in this post, do so politely
and precisely.  Most of it is from my perceptions, anyway, so has no inplied 
special truth to it.

Item 1.  OS/2 is technically superior to windows 3.1.
         
     There is little doubt in my mind about that, although for its size it damn
well ought to be.  Win does not truly multitask.  But aside from that, what
does OS/2 offer (technically).  I have an intel-based 486-25 with 16Mb of ram,
240Mb of storage, a tape drive, and a 1024 x 768 x 256 card and monitor.

"I can use my processor to its fullest capacity"
     what does this mean.  does it mean OS/2 will allow me to run MATLAB
     using all of the processor power?  probably not.  I don't want to buy 
new 32-bit programs, and I seriously doubt that word for windows will ever 
come out in OS/2 version :)  I am very attached to that program.  I know OS/2
will run it too, but will it run it better (defined as 50% + faster, I don't 
care about 1-2% increases in speed.)
      I don't care about multitasking (more on this later), but can I use my 
processor for one currently existing dos program under OS/2 and see any 
speed increases?

Item 2: Mutitasking

      This does seem to be the battle cry these days.  Sorry, I must be a 
neanderthal, but I do not really multitask.  Nor does anyone I have ever seen
(at least on a personal computer...  ).  People keep multiple apps open at
a time, but few actually *use* tham at the same time.  By way of example:

       (Figuratively)                

     DOS:  Each time you want to change what you are working on, you must clean
           Up your Desk, Put everything away, and start over.

     WIN:  (The way I use it)  Work on one thing at at time, but your desk has
           everything strewn all over it in a nice, comfy manner.  Easy to
           switch from task to task.

     OS/2:  Everything all over your desk, and you are doing several tasks 
            at once.

I do not work in the final manner, nor in the first example.  Therfore, 
"multitasking" on my PC holds no appeal, as I already work the way I wish.  
OS/2 can do that too, but I want it to do something *more* than what I can do 
under win.  Formatting in the background holds no appeal, since I rarely if
ever need to format new floppies.  I download at 30something Kbaud on another
computer, can't beat that multitasking :)

And, no, the pure fact of technical superiority does not move me.  I have been
using computers for 16 years, and if I had bought into every technically 
superior product that has come out between then and now I would be broke.  I 
do not have the money to be pointing the way towards the future for the 
computer community.

So, what does OS/2 have for me?  

-Ken Hamer

khamer@sumax.seattleu.edu