From: sip1@ellis.uchicago.edu (Timothy F. Sipples)
Subject: Re: <None>
Reply-To: sip1@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: Dept. of Econ., Univ. of Chicago
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 18:36:39 GMT

In article <1993Jan6.035204.2337@ccsvax.sfasu.edu> z_kupkams@ccsvax.sfasu.edu writes:
>	We have OS/2 2.1 Beta installed and running on a machine, and I must
>say it's WIN 3.1 support is very well done. Seamless Windows is very usable,
>Multimedia is included. It was quite suprising to run Microsoft's Cinemania
>in a Win OS/2 Session, from a Creative Labs CD Rom, with both CD info, and
>Sound coming through, the SB Pro OS/2 Driver.  For a Beta, this one is
>impressive. True there are bugs, and some things need to be worked out.

I agree -- very slick.  I'm typing from it right now.

I have a list of 40 bugs to report thus far, but there's nothing
catastrophic on the list.  (About half a dozen of those are really
suggestions.)

>Perhaps one of the best things I have heard from IBM, was when John Soyring was
>asked if OS/2 2.1 would be shipping in March, Since the Beta Program is
>sheduled to end Feb 28th. He replied, That they would not give a firm date, but
>Quality was more important.

Amen.

>Advocacy starts here. With the NT release drawing closer, what effect would a
>late ( and I speculate, a worst case scenario ) May - June Release of OS/2 2.1
>have if 2.1 really is Rock Solid, Better (faster, and  more stable) Windows 
>than Windows?

Timing counts for a lot.  Methinks that's the idea, to inspire an NT
v. OS/2 2.1 comparison.

>Imagine, you could run Microsoft's Full Motion Video Multimedia, while doing a
>Download, running a BBS, doing a Backup, etc....
>And It would be possible under OS/2, not Window 3.1, and maybe NT.

OS/2 2.1 has become more svelte -- it looks like they've trimmed
another megabyte off.  The 4 MB minimum is now realistic.  Win-OS/2
3.1 supports 386 enhanced mode.  I have no idea how they did this, but
it works great.  (I had two separate enhanced mode Win-OS/2 desktops
running the other day; amazing.)  (NT does not support enhanced mode,
nor does it support separate session capability, nor multiple
desktops, nor does it run in 4 MB.  You can't run Mathematica under
NT unless they update it; you can under Win-OS/2 3.1.)

>While on the Subject of NT vs OS/2, has anyone tried to run Dos games under NT?
>anything like Wing Commander II, F-15 Strike Eagle III, etc???

Good luck.

>While games may not seem like a reason to choose an OS, I wonder how many home
>users would choose OS/2 over NT( assuming home users would buy NT )?
>The Video game market is very large, and probably the Fastest Growing segment
>in personal computing. It could be a real Factor in Widespread acceptance of
>any OS outside of corporate use.
>BTW, any of the games mentioned above DO require a system that is already
>capable of running OS/2, if you enable all of the features.
>When I was at Condex, I tried Microsoft's Full Motion Video under Windows.
>Hey, It is a slick product. Just don't try to start Word for Win while it is
>running, It Chokes, coughs, and studders.
>IBM has a similar Multimedia Package, also very slick, and you can start Word
>for Win in a Win OS/2 session, with missing a beat.

That's without missing a beat.  :-)

It should also be noted that Win-OS/2 3.1 multimedia works great.
Win-OS/2 3.1 can now launch DOS sessions, and they are listed in the
unified OS/2 Window List.  Win-OS/2 3.1 can also restart itself (when,
for example, you add a sound card driver).

OS/2 2.1 beta also now understands PCMCIA adapters, Advanced Power
Management BIOSes, and is pen enabled.  (Question: Does anyone want to
continue calling this an OS that is just for servers?)

It has also added a slew of printers (Citizen PN48, more Panasonics,
HP LaserJet 4, Compaq Pagemarq, IBM inkjets, QMS 1700, full line of HP
DeskJets).  DPT SCSI support is now in the box.  So is SoundBlaster
support for MMPM/2 (and MMPM/2 itself).  There's a real manual in the
works (the beta CD-ROM comes with an online draft).  There's a new
applet (FAX/PM, for one page incoming and outgoing faxes with DOS,
Windows, and OS/2 programs).  The Win-OS/2 applets are all, by and
large, included.  (The major exception is Windows Terminal; OS/2 comes
with PM Terminal.)  If you have real Windows 3.1 on your hard disk
(say, if you're a software developer) there's a new setting which
keeps your Win-OS/2 and Windows Program Manager groups "in sync" --
any update in one is reflected in the other.  Seamless drivers are
provided for a large selection of SuperVGA adapters, right in the box.
(The drivers support 640x480, 800x600, and 1024x768 in 256 colors.)

-- 
Timothy F. Sipples      | Read the OS/2 FAQ List 2.0h, available from
sip1@ellis.uchicago.edu | 128.123.35.151, anonymous ftp, in /pub/os2/all/info
Dept. of Econ., Univ.   | /faq, or from LISTSERV@BLEKUL11.BITNET (send "HELP")
of Chicago, 60637       | [Read the List, THEN post to ONE OS/2 newsgroup.]