HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 92 15:58:45 CST
From: gthome@ausvm1.VNET.IBM.COM
Subject: Re: OS/2 Speed and manuals (and a comment)
Reply-To: gthome@ausvm1.VNET.IBM.COM
Organization: IBM - Austin
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not those of IBM
News-Software: UReply 2.0
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc

In <7482@obdient.chi.il.us> Dan Bremner writes:
>Keywords: win3.0 win3.1 speed manuals
>
>In article <1992Apr11.023452.9995@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU> timbol@cory.Berkeley.EDU (Mike Timbol) writes:
>>
>>Oh, something marginally related that you all might want to be aware of...
>>
>>This doesn't apply to everybody, but I've heard many *MANY* people
>>insult Microsoft and Windows on this group and in comp.windows.ms
>>(Micro$oft, Microshaft, Mafiasoft, Windoze, etc...).  While many
>>people may be unhappy with Microsoft and Windows, it does NOT help
>>win people over to the OS/2 camp unless they are already unhappy
>>with Windows.  Personally, I think Windows is pretty good (hasn't
>>ever crashed on me), but I'm interested in OS/2 because it sounds
>>BETTER.  Anyway, just thought you might want to know.
>
>Well said, Mike.  I've been following various threads in this group for
>a few weeks now, and I agree.  I use both Win 3.0 and the Mac (as well
>as DOS, Unix, AOS/VS...) and I think the Mac's interface is miles ahead
>of MS Windows, which is one of the reasons I'm interested in trying OS/2
>after hearing so many good things about it.  However, that doesn't mean
>I hate Microsoft or Windows.  If you are trying to advocate OS/2 as an
>OS that is worth using, it's great to point out its strengths, and even
>focus on its advantages over the DOS/Windows combo, but name-calling
>and sarcasm don't prove much.  (Even though it *is* fun sometimes :-) ).
>
>[off my soapbox now]
>
>I do have a question for you OS/2 gurus, though:  I'm looking at possibly
>purchasing a new system soon, and I was wondering if anyone has experience
>with and/or knows of any problems with OS/2 and the ATI Ultra 8514/A video
>card.  It looks like a good graphics accelerator, but I don't want to buy
>it and then have compatibility problems.  Similar question regarding
>those new 50 MHZ 486 DX2 "clock-doubler" chips.  Anything I should be
>prepared for?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>Dan
>
Dan,

I use the IBM 8514/A adapter and I love it.  Of course, the ATI card should
be compatible, right ???   I must admit I have seen few SVGA cards and
cannot really comment on them or how the 8514 stacks up next to them.

Gerry Thome
IBM - Austin
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
From: rcain@netcom.com (Robert Cain)
Subject: Sarcasty Symbol Cascade
Date: Thu, 09 Apr 92 06:55:01 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 

:-X
-- 
Bob Cain    rcain@netcom.com   408-358-2007

"There are some strings.  They're just not attached."
                                                    Victoria Roberts
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
From: harris@garfield.catt.ncsu.edu (Michael Harris)
Subject: Re: Best way to install on a FAT system
Organization: North Carolina State University
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1992 03:06:19 GMT

Your choice of file system is heavily dependent upon your personal preference.
My choice of HPFS is based upon one thing and one thing only.  Long File Names.

Deleting things is usually faster too.  I can delete a bunch of files from
an HPFS disk in almost no time at all.  Deleting the same number of files
from a FAT disk takes a much longer time.
______________________________________________________________________________
     Michael Harris - harris@catt.ncsu.edu or harris@carvm3.vnet.ibm.com
 Vice-President, Computer and Technologies Theme Program, NC State University
(My opinions are my own and do not represent those of NCSU or IBM Corporation)
From: edg@Ingres.COM (Ed Goldman)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
Subject: Yet More OS/2 2.0 Questions
Date: 17 Apr 92 17:20:53 GMT
Reply-To: edg@Ingres.COM (Ed Goldman)
Distribution: na
Organization: Ask Computer Systems Inc., Ingres Division, Alameda CA 94501

Wow!  This newsgroups sure gets a lot of volume.  Can't keep up with all of
it so I apologize in advance if I'm asking redundant stuff ...

Based on what I've been reading here, I want to give OS/2 a try.  My main
reason for wanting to try OS/2 is to have a *good* DOS application 
multitasker in which I generally run MIDI, Games and Communications.  I now
run DesqView which is OK, but really doesn't run everything as seamlessly
as I'd like.

My system consists of:

386-40 AMI BIOS
8 Meg RAM
C drive = 120 Meg unpartitioned about 90 Meg Used
D Drive = 210 Meg unpartitioned.  Completely unused.
MPU401 compatible MIDI board (uses IRQ 3, I think.  Just left default setting).
Soundblaster (IRQ 7).  No Printer.
Orchid Prodesigner II

I'd like to be able to boot either DOS or OS/2, so from what I've read here
I'll need a boot manager partition.

My main questions are:

o What would you recommend for configuration( particularly the disk )?

o I've got 90 Meg of DOS stuff on my C drive which I basically want to leave
  intact.  Is it going to be painfull dealing with this in order install/
  configure disks for OS/2?

o In DOS windows, how much memory will applications see as free conventional
  memory?  Does OS/2 handle the EMS calls from DOS apps?

o Any other advice ...?

Thanks in Adv.  Please email as I can't seem to catch up to the end of this
newgroup.

-edg-
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
From: sip1@ellis.uchicago.edu (Timothy F. Sipples)
Subject: Re: Can OS/2 V2.0 GA be installed from drive B?
Reply-To: sip1@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: Dept. of Econ., Univ. of Chicago
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 05:41:27 GMT

In article <29E4E830.96EE@tct.com> jtt@tct.com (John Tombs) writes:
>The subject says it all.

No.
-- 
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
From: burton@asdsun.larc.nasa.gov (John Burton)
Subject: Re: hardware cache and OS/2
Organization: NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA  USA
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 16:53:54 GMT

In article <1992Apr16.141940.6282@sun3.vlsi.waterloo.edu> pundsack@vlsi.waterloo.edu (Mark Pundsack) writes:
>In article <1574@vall.dsv.su.se> harald@vall.dsv.su.se (Harald Fragner) writes:
>>fell@sol.UVic.CA (Stuart Fell) writes:
>>
>>: I am curious, how will having a small, a large, or no hardware cache on a
>>: 40 MHz 386 will affect OS/2.  I currently have a 64K hardware cache (that
>>: I can disable if necessary), but I have the option of expanding that up to
>>: 256K.  Will this increase/decrease my performance of OS/2???
>>
>>Unless your cache is really braindead: A small cache is faster than no 
>>cache, a large cache is faster than a small cache. However with normal
>>speed RAM, at 40 MHz there should be a huge difference between no cache
>>and a 64K cache, while the difference between a 64K and a 256K cache
>>should be hardly noticeable.
>>/Harald
>
>What about having a 64K motherboard cache AND a 64K SCSI cache?  Do
>the two partially cancel each other out?
>
>What about a 64K SCSI cache AND smartdrive or an HPFS cache?  Would
>the 64K cache be redundant except to speed up new transfers by not
>requiring the CPU?
>
>Mark Pundsack

Ummm...I think you are getting a few things confused here...
The original post was refering to a 64K motherboard cache. What this
is is 64KB of VERY FAST ram that sits between the regular ram and
the CPU so that instructions and data are fed to the CPU at the
CPU speed. This allows slower regular memory to be used without
a performance hit. A 64K SCSI cache, smartdrive, and HPFS cache
all refer to a disk cache which basically gets a large block of
data efficiently from the disk, and then sends just the data requested
to the program. The concept is the same, but they are totally
different beasts...

John
Organization: European Academic Research Network
Date: Friday, 17 Apr 1992 14:35:31 GMT
From: Turgut Kalfaoglu <TURGUT@FRMOP11.BITNET>
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
Subject: WPS Wish List #1
 <1992Apr16.210704.2884@watson.ibm.com>


Here is what I'd like to see with OS/2 2.1 (or 6.308?):

   -> If I select several items, then go into "Settings", I'd like
      to see a single settings page, and if I change an option, it
      should change for all items that I selected.
       I selected today 4 windows apps, and then entered settings,
      and had to change the same Dos Settings in all four - it was
      tedious.

   -> Something like 'Settings Template'. So that I can have a set
      of settings that I can reuse with several applications.

Finally, a question:

   I used MIGRATE to create 'Other DOS  programs' folder. Now, how can I
   delete this folder, delete the icons within, WITHOUT deleting the
   EXE files themselves?  I noticed that MIGRATE does not create shadows
   of the items. If I delete the folder, will the EXE files get wiped
   too? Actually, I guess not, but just wanted to make sure..

Really Finally, a comment:

   GA release is the best release of all the betas. It's really rock solid,
   I was doing some terrifying things today (many DOS boxes, Windows in
   PM, lots of paging) and nothing went wrong!  Thanks, IBM!!
Organization: University of Central Florida--Computer Services
Date: Thursday, 16 Apr 1992 22:43:48 EST
From: Michael Brunetti <MICHAELB@UCF1VM.BITNET>
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
Subject: HELP!! Access Denied!

I just installed OS/2 2.0 and now I am denied access to ALL .EXE and .COM
files on only my C: partition.  I am using FAT not HPFS and am on a 486/33 with
8 megs of RAM and a 210meg IDE.  Everything else is working fine, I just can't
run, copy, or move any of the above mentioned files.  This only happens on the
C: partition, the D: and E: partitions are accessable.  Any help would be great
ly appreciated!!!!
                           Extremely grateful,

                                   Mike
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
From: mcdonald@aries.scs.uiuc.edu (Doug McDonald)
Subject: Re: Trident... The saga continues...
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 13:45:25 GMT


>In article <1992Apr12.162849.12199@midway.uchicago.edu> sip1@midway.uchicago.edu writes:
 [OS/2 runs DOS VGA graphics in a Super VGA window]
>>
>>The exception, of course, is trying to run a program which uses 256
>>colors on a 16 color desktop.  OS/2 2.0 makes a valliant effort to
>>dither the colors and run the program, but the results aren't always
>>aesthetically appealing.
>>-- 

Windows 3.1 "runs" 16 color VGA graphics programs in a window also.

However, my tests indicate that neither Windows or OS/2 runs them
**correctly**. The colors get all screwed up - in particular,
most of my programs remap the color palette dynamically in or do
do animation or smooth screen swapping - an example is my VGA version
of Ephem available on c.scs.uiuc.edu. The colors blink on and
off at random - incorrectly. Apparently Windows and OS/2 are not letting 
the program change the color palette. 


So, in essence, this feature is mostly useless. You can't even cut and paste
and get the right colors.

Note: OS/2 claims are based on tests using the last beta.

Doug McDonald
From: chandoni@husc8.harvard.edu (Part of the Problem)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
Subject: Ethernet NDIS drivers for 2.0
Date: 17 Apr 92 19:24:28 GMT
Organization: Harvard University Science Center

Does anybody have a list of what companies are planning to provide
NDIS drivers for 2.0?  SMC (who now controls Western Digital
cards) say they are NOT planning to release updated NDIS
drivers at this time (as of 4/17).  This seems like a major
problem, since WD cards are probably the most popular ethernet
cards out today.

Do old (1.3) NDIS drivers work with GA?  They don't with my
beta (6.177) and TCP/IP 1.2.

JMC
-- 
chandoni@husc9.harvard.edu    | I will not yell fire in a crowded classroom
John-Marc Chandonia           | I will not yell fire in a crowded classroom
Graduate Biophysics Program   | I will not yell fire in a crowded classroom 
Harvard University            | I will not yell fire ...
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
From: Andrew Bros <bros@convex.COM>
Subject: Re: A few questions...
Originator: bros@mikey.convex.com
Reply-To: bros@convex.COM (Andrew Bros)
Organization: Convex Computer Corporation, Richardson, TX
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 16:44:27 GMT
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

In article <1992Apr13.025046.4534@samba.oit.unc.edu> j_virkki@upr2.clu.net writes:
>Still, I have a few doubts. Mainly, I'd like to know whether OS/2's interface
>is mostly gui-type (a la Windows), or just shell's-in-windows (a la X-win.)?

  From what I've seen, it's the former.  You can get shells in windows
and do most things from there, if you like.

>I am not really interested in having anything like ms-windows, where I'd
>have to "launch" programs by double-clicking with a mouse, etc. On the
>other hand, I'd really love to have an environment similar to X on my PC.

  This is going to be the normal way of starting up applications.

>So, can I set up OS/2 so after it boots I get simply (say) 3 windows on
>my screen, each with a shell (all this defined in whatever would be the
>equivalent of .xinitrc). Then just move into one of the windows, type, say
>"wp" and have Word Perfect come up and run there; move to another window
>and run BC++, etc, etc... Or, would I have to put up with some GUI thing?

  You can do this if you want.  Actually, though, most of the programs
you start up are going to be GUI too, so you'd probably only need one
command window.  Or you could start up the applications directly.

  I'm a Unix/X person myself, but I don't believe that GUIs are
inherently evil.  Some are designed so that everything you do must be
done with a mouse, while others take more open attitude.  Of the major
personal computer GUIs I'm familiar with, OS/2 is the most usable to
me.
-- 
Andrew Bros				bros@convex.com
Technical Assistance Center		Convex Computer Corporation
Hacker's Dictionary:  DOS: Dain-bramaged Operating System
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
Subject: Re: Trashed OS2.INI file
From: jstewart@desire.wright.edu
Date: 6 Apr 92 23:43:44 EST
Organization: Wright State University 

In article <1992Apr3.012009.18423@ampex.com>, cjensen@ampex.com (Colin Jensen) writes:
> In article <1992Apr02.012708.1564@rose.uucp> bill.dehaan@rose.uucp (bill dehaan) writes:
>>Yes. What I do is back up  the system files during the actual OS/2  boot
>>procedure. Makes it impossible to forget. Create a directory \BACKUP  on
>>your  OS/2  disk  (or  any  other  disk,  for that matter) and place the
>>following files at the BOTTOM of your config.sys file:
>>
>>    CALL=C:\OS2\XCOPY.EXE C:\BACKUP\004.ZIP  C:\BACKUP\005.ZIP
>>    CALL=C:\OS2\XCOPY.EXE C:\BACKUP\003.ZIP  C:\BACKUP\004.ZIP
>>    CALL=C:\OS2\XCOPY.EXE C:\BACKUP\002.ZIP  C:\BACKUP\003.ZIP
>>    CALL=C:\OS2\XCOPY.EXE C:\BACKUP\001.ZIP  C:\BACKUP\002.ZIP
>>    CALL=C:\OS2\XCOPY.EXE C:\BACKUP\000.ZIP  C:\BACKUP\001.ZIP
>>    CALL=C:\OS2\INSTALL\PKZIP2.EXE -A C:\BACKUP\000.ZIP C:\*.SYS
>>    CALL=C:\OS2\INSTALL\PKZIP2.EXE -A C:\BACKUP\000.ZIP C:\*.BAT
>>    CALL=C:\OS2\INSTALL\PKZIP2.EXE -A C:\BACKUP\000.ZIP C:\*.INI
>>    CALL=C:\OS2\INSTALL\PKZIP2.EXE -A C:\BACKUP\000.ZIP C:\OS2\*.INI
>>
>>This presumes your OS/2 installation is on C:, of course. It adds  about
>>another 30 seconds to the boot process (like, you're gonna notice),  but
>>well worth it in terms of security.
> 
> The two commands:
>     CALL=C:\...\zoo.exe unP+q ini.zoo C:\*.SYS C:\*.BAT C:\*.INI C:\OS2\*.INI
>     CALL=C:\...\zoo.exe glAq=8 ini.zoo
> Although more cryptic, will probably be a lot faster.
> 
> The "8" in the second line tells zoo how many generations of files to keep.
> Change it as you see fit.
> 
> Also, these commands only store the 8 most recent *versions* of each file.  
> They will simply pass over any files that haven't been changed - saving that
> much more time on every boot.  [Yes - 30 seconds matters to me :-)]
> 
> Another point: pkzip is not free.
> -- 
> Colin Jensen (cjensen@ampex.com)

	The most fail-proof idea I've come up with is to put a call=C:\os2\cmd
in the config.sys...just type exit to boot and other-wise you can fix
anything... I'm going to try soon to write a prog to call just before this prog
to kill the cmd interpreter after 30 secs...so it'll still auto boot:)

					John Stewart

Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
From: rbaldwin@galaxy.afit.af.mil (Rusty O. Baldwin)
Subject: Has anyone got OS/2 upgrade through the mail yet ??
Summary: Title says it all
Keywords: os/2, upgrade
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 92 00:47:03 GMT
Organization: Air Force Institute of Technology

As I eagerly await the arrival of OS/2 Version 2.0, I keep seeing
reports of OS/2 Version 2.0 being installed by various folks. 
I have only one question.  Have any of you (or anyone) received the
upgrade through the mail from IBM (read -  is IBM shipping yet?).  I sent
in my upgrade form March 31.  I know IBM said 4-6 weeks but the anticipation
is killing me.

Hating DOS 5.0 more and more, always hated Windows, and hoping the 
additional 4 Meg of memory arrives before OS/2....

Rusty Baldwin
blackbird.afit.af.mil
From: olender@rodrigo.cs.colostate.edu (Kurt Olender)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
Subject: Re: Offer to Overseas--I'll help you upgrade for free
Date: 7 Apr 92 16:47:37 GMT
Organization: Colorado State Univ. Computer Science Dept.

Michael Lanham writes:

   ... details excluded ...
   I will do this with no monetary incentive on my behalf--I want OS/2 to
   succeed!!!  So e-mail me and let me know.  

   United States Users !!!!--why don't some more people take this same tack? It
   will help IBM, is legal, is ethical, and it helps fellow OS/2 wanna bes get
   their software! 

There is one downside to this.  Foreign users may be locked into US upgrades
for OS/2 2.1, 2.2, etc, in the future.  Will IBM Germany upgrade a US OS/2 2.0
for a German 2.1 in the future?
From: varmint@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Samir Varma)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
Subject: Mathematica 2.0 under OS/2 2.0---Information
Date: 9 Apr 92 23:00:36 GMT
Reply-To: varmint@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Samir Varma)
Organization: Center for Particle Physics, University of Texas
Originator: varmint@huey.cc.utexas.edu


After the OS/2 demo here in Austin, I had the chance to talk to one of the
Austin OS/2 team.  He kindly consented to find out from WRI about whether
Mathematica would run under Windows.  The latest is that release 2.1 of 
Mathematica due out in 3-6 months will include OS/2 compatibility.  

This really is a new IBM and I'm really impressed.  Go IBM!!! Down with
Mickeysoft!

Samir Varma
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
From: larrys@watson.ibm.com (Larry Salomon, Jr.)
Subject: Re: First Impressions
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 21:59:27 GMT
News-Software: NewsKit 1.2 - LaMail
Reply-To: larrys@watson.ibm.com
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: IBM Research

In <1992Apr16.193514.6502@news.larc.nasa.gov>, mdw@hojo.larc.nasa.gov (Mike Weisenborn) writes:
>
>Well, I finally got it!
>
>And I love it!  OS/2 2.0 is great!  I installed it on my plain old 386/33
>(8MB) in less than one hour with no hassles.  Well, actually, there was
>one minor hassle: I had the wrong disk size (don't ask) and I had to go buy
>a pin-edge converter so I could make my 3 1/2 drive a:.  But no hassles
>other than that.
>
>The system is FAST, stable, and a joy to use.

Considering how skeptical I was becoming (after seeing the last 10 drops
before GA), I am QUITE pleased with the resulting product, despite it's
buglets.

>I do have a couple of questions (don't we all?).  I sincerely hope that these
>have not been asked and answered but it is impossible to keep up with a
>group that sees over 100 messages per day.  I read as much as I can but
>I don't recall seeing these questions.  Besides, these questions need to be
>asked frequently so they can go in the FAQ, right? :-)
>
>When you pick arrange on the desktop it arranges all the icons on the screen.
>Is there any way to arrange just some of the icons, or to lock some icons in
>place?   How about gridding the placement?  This is definitely a nit-pick.

Agreed.

>Does anyone else have trouble moving an icon 'just a little bit'?  If you
>move it over just a few pixels then WPS thinks you are trying to drop it
>onto itself and it ends up going right back where it was.  Another nitpick.
>And this one would definitely benefit by gridding the placement of icons.

Very troublesome for me too!  I'm a real perfectionist; my icons have to
be exactly lined up, etc..

>Can you change the default font size for DOS and OS/2 windowed sessions?

Yes.  Under the system menu (press and release the Alt key), select "Font
size...".

>This is a small warning:  if you choose a lockup password that has a space
>in it you will be frustrated.  Pressing space on the lock screen brings up
>the help window no matter what you do.  ALT-3 ALT-2 (on the numeric keypad) work
>s.  OK, maybe that is obvious but it could save someone some trouble.

That's because pushbuttons allow the space bar (in addition to the Enter
key) to act as a selection.  If you press TAB to give the desktop the
focus, you can use space in the normal fashion.

Cheers,
Larry Salomon, Jr. (aka 'Q')            LARRYS@YKTVMV.BITNET
OS/2 Applications and Tools             larrys@watson.ibm.com
IBM T.J. Watson Research Center         larrys@ibmman.watson.ibm.com
Yorktown Heights, NY                    larrys@ibmman2.watson.ibm.com

Disclaimer:  The statements and/or opinions stated above are strictly my
own and do not reflect the views of my employer.  Additionally, I have a
reputation for being obnoxious, so don't take any personal attacks too
seriously.
From: adhir@cygnus.umd.edu (Alok Dhir)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
Subject: Re: Trident... The saga continues...
Date: 13 Apr 92 17:05:19 GMT

> 
> Note: OS/2 claims are based on tests using the last beta.
> 
> Doug McDonald

So many of these messages are blasting OS/2 for being this and that and
crashing here and there and not doing the other thing.  And then they
tag them with a stupid note like the one above.

GET THE REAL (GA) VERSION BEFORE YOU TRASH IT.

						- Al
From: rdippold@cancun.qualcomm.com (Ron Dippold)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
Subject: Re: AMI BIOS
Date: 6 Apr 92 20:50:06 GMT
Article-I.D.: cancun.rdippold.702593406
Organization: Qualcomm, Inc., San Diego, CA

Ke-Wei Ma <km4c+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>Excerpts from netnews.comp.os.os2.misc: 3-Apr-92 Re: AMI BIOS by Peter
>Hawkins@titan.ucc. 
>> another thng i like to add is: if my older BIOS works, does it make sense to
>> get a new one? my bios is dated Dec 1989.... and it works with 1.3.

>    Thats nothing.  My AMI bios is date July 1991 and works with 1.3 and
>not 2.0 LA 6.177h.

I've got a March '90 AMI BIOS.  It works fine with GA.
-- 
The reason that every major university maintains a department of psychology
is that it is cheaper to do this than to institutionalize all those people.
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc