From: sip1@ellis.uchicago.edu (Timothy F. Sipples)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
Subject: Re: Benefits of OS/2?
Date: 12 Apr 92 20:19:15 GMT
Reply-To: sip1@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: Dept. of Econ., Univ. of Chicago

In article <4107@sumax.seattleu.edu> khamer@sumax.seattleu.edu (Little Kenny Hamer) writes:
>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.

A wonderful last sentence!

>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.

Well, you've got a machine that can more than handle OS/2 2.0.  I have
a question about the tape drive, though.  What brand/model?

OS/2 offers:
	-  Multithreading.  Programs which support it will appear to
be more responsive, because things like printing, repaginating, etc.,
will occur in a separate thread, in the "background."
	- Long file names/HPFS.  HPFS is a new (at least to some
people), advanced disk format which can dramatically speed up disk
access, especially on large volumes, and reduce fragmentation.  HPFS
also supports long filenames (for programs which support it), so you
can get around the "8 dot 3" limit cleanly.
	-  Enhanced DOS session support.  A DOS session with 730K free
conventional memory (after mouse and network drivers); ability to boot
several different versions of DOS and run them simultaneously; ability
to customize the device driver set/TSR set associated with each DOS
session (extremely convenient); ability to run DOS programs with more
virtual memory available (XMS, DPMI, and EMS); ability to more
precisely tune DOS settings/parameters.
	-  Improved applet set.  OS/2 2.0 genuinely comes with applets
that people can actually use.  Includes a real programmer's editor, a
reasonably featured terminal emulation/communications program, a
limited spreadsheet, limited database, a huge stack of "personal
productivity" applets, chess (with play against someone over a network
or against the computer), and more.
	- Genuine Adobe Type Manager.  The standard in typeface
rendering technology is built into OS/2 2.0 -- no service bureau woes.
Available for both OS/2 and Windows programs.  Provides access to the
largest selection of typefaces (Adobe Type 1); fully compatible with
Postscript printers.
	-  Full interapplication protection.  An errant application will
not typically bring down the entire system.  Applies to DOS, Windows,
and OS/2 programs.
	-  The Workplace Shell.  This highly configurable GUI is
probably the best for any personal computer.  I like to think of it as
more Mac-like than the Mac.  Infoworld says it "puts Windows to
shame."  But if you don't like the new paradigm, it can be configured
to resemble Windows or OS/2 1.3.
	-  Access to OS/2 applications.  Believe it or not, OS/2
applications are available in great numbers today, and a large number
of interesting 32-bit applications is coming in the next several
months.  Including OS/2-only applications, like N/Joy (a complete
object-oriented spreadsheet, database, and graphics package).  What
does 32-bit mean?  It means you get your work done about 40% faster.
	-  Free Corrective Service Diskettes.  IBM periodically issues
Corrective Service Diskettes at no charge.  These update the product
to incorporate enhancements and bug fixes.
	-  Toll free technical support.  This free support lasts for
60 days and extends from the first telephone call.
	-  Compatibility guarantee.  If OS/2 2.0 fails to work on your
machine, and IBM can't make it work, your purchase price is completely
refunded.
	-  BBS Support.  Will cost no more than a toll call (and
possible less; the details are subject to change).

>"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?

Yes.  A single DOS application will typically run faster under OS/2
2.0 (full screen) because of the speedier disk I/O.

Word 1.1a is available for Presentation Manager.  Not 32-bit, however.

OS/2 2.0 has a feature called the Boot Manager (it also preserves Dual
Boot).  In other words, you can configure your system so that if you
wish to preserve a native DOS environment on your hard disk (for, say,
VCPI DOS applications) you can do so.  A menu will come up, prompting
you for the operating system you wish to use (DOS, OS/2, Unix, etc).
The menu can be configured to time out and boot into a default
operating system as well.  OS/2 is no longer the operating system that
hogs all your hard disk.  In short, you have an awful lot of
flexibility in how you configure your system.

>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 used to think so too.  I was one of the most neanderthal users --
I'll say.  But soon you start doing things like printing and twiddling
your thumbs; or trying to download in the background and getting
frustrated.  Or UnZIPping a particularly large archive and wondering
if there isn't more to life.

Just because OS/2 2.0 really does multitask doesn't mean you have to
go crazy.  I rarely do.  But I have better things to do than wait for
the machine to finish downloading a file, finish printing, finish
formatting a floppy disk, or finish UnZIPping a file.  Pretty soon you
end up having four things going on at once and you wonder how you
could have ever lived without it.

But multitasking isn't just at that level.  When you use most common
applications you can benefit from something called multithreading.
For example, do you really have to wait for a drawing program to
redraw the entire image before you save the file?  Or add color?  Or
another picture element?  If those operations could take place on the
computer's time (rather than yours), you can keep moving and work
faster.

How about loading a particularly large application?  Or file?
Wouldn't it be nice to start work on the top of the document while the
rest of it is loading?

>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.

You're right.  Technical superiority is meaningless -- unless you can
still do what you always did before.  OS/2 2.0 is pretty darn backward
compatible.

T.F.S.
-- 
Timothy F. Sipples       Keeper of the OS/2 Frequently Asked Questions
sip1@ellis.uchicago.edu  List, available via anonymous ftp from
Dept. of Economics       128.123.35.151, directory pub/os2/faq, or via
Univ. of Chicago  60637  netmail from LISTSERV@BLEKUL11.BITNET.
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc