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What's OS2?
Name: jeff Date: November 5, 1999 at 13:43:02 Pacific
Comment:
Hello I know that OS2 is made by IBM I know hte original one is made by Microshaft But beyond that... never seen it, never touched it... besides the GUI how is it different from Windows? Does it have its own format or does it use FAT32? Just curious
Name: Bryan Lafleur Date: November 6, 1999 at 19:32:54 Pacific
Reply:
OS/2's desktop is similiar to the Macintosh ones(so I've heard). OS/2 does not use FAT32, it uses HPFS (High Performance File System). HPFS is better than FAT32 in many ways. It is fragmentation resistant, it automatically includes 1K on each file for updates. It is naturally virus resistant (since most people who don't REALLY care what's going on in thier computer use Windows) hence most virus writers concentrate on DOS (or FAT32) systems. Because its not based on DOS, which was made for computers when they only had 20MEG of HDD space. It's not all that well known because of the deal Bill Gates made with computer manufacturers a while back.The deal almost gaurantees that any computer you buy will have Windows on it. Even computers that are sent directly from IBM will have Windows on it. Check out the latest PCWorld, one OS/2 user(editor of OS/2 Connect magazine) ordered a PC direct from IBM and asked them to pre-load OS/2(IBM's own OS) and he was told they can't do that,they'd still have to pay for the Windows software. Of course because of that support and COMMERCIAL software is hard to find...I have a collection of quite a few OS/2 supprt web sites if you want to look at them.
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Response Number 2
Name: Bryan Lafleur Date: November 6, 1999 at 19:34:18 Pacific
Reply:
OS/2's desktop is similiar to the Macintosh ones(so I've heard). OS/2 does not use FAT32, it uses HPFS (High Performance File System). HPFS is better than FAT32 in many ways. It is fragmentation resistant, it automatically includes 1K on each file for updates. It is naturally virus resistant (since most people who don't REALLY care what's going on in thier computer use Windows) hence most virus writers concentrate on DOS (or FAT32) systems. Because its not based on DOS, which was made for computers when they only had 20MEG of HDD space,it's MUCH more stable. It's not all that well known because of the deal Bill Gates made with computer manufacturers a while back.The deal almost gaurantees that any computer you buy will have Windows on it. Even computers that are sent directly from IBM will have Windows on it. Check out the latest PCWorld, one OS/2 user(editor of OS/2 Connect magazine) ordered a PC direct from IBM and asked them to pre-load OS/2(IBM's own OS) and he was told they can't do that,they'd still have to pay for the Windows software. Of course because of that support and COMMERCIAL software is hard to find...I have a collection of quite a few OS/2 supprt web sites if you want to look at them.
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Response Number 3
Name: nihil Date: November 12, 1999 at 20:28:52 Pacific
Reply:
OS/2 is a decent OS. Warp 4 runs a little slow on 200 MHZ but the speed you lose is made up by the stability. It uses HPFS format. A slight lack of software for everyday use and games is another minor problem but is being taken care of by a group of intrepid programers who are creating Odin a Win 32 emulator or something of that nature.
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Response Number 4
Name: Andy B Date: December 1, 1999 at 02:14:12 Pacific
Reply:
Odin is not a WIN32 emulator - what it does is map the WIN32 API to corresponding OS/2 API. Have a look at www.netlabs.org/odin
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Response Number 5
Name: Jan Date: December 1, 1999 at 12:09:41 Pacific
Reply:
OS/2 is a magnificently reliable OS. The variety of available programs is not big, although I have everything I need. (Netscape, PMMail, InJoy Dialer, Staroffice etc.) The only thing I miss is the occasional good game. Other than that I can't really complain, there just isn't much to choose from. I think os2.about.com has a couple of links to sites w/ info for beginners and the "Not Very Nice At All OS/2 Page" has some of those links as well, I think, I just haven't got the link handy.
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Response Number 6
Name: Andreas Date: December 2, 1999 at 06:07:11 Pacific
Reply:
OS/2 is the most reliable OS I have ever used. More importantly, most of the applications are written in a way that they run flawlessly under the OS, not like the countless windows programs that bring your computer to an unexpected halt. It is not true that the program choice in OS/2 is small. In fact it is quite big, but it just appears to be small compared to the mountain of useless and unstable software written for Windows. Everthing you need is On-line at e.g. www.bmtmicro.com or wwww.indelibleblue.com. Check it out. For Software review and more links check out www.os2ss.com.
OS/2 is a multitasking,multithreading operating system;made by a "decent" company,IBM which had the screws put to it by Bill Gates,et al.As far as a lack of gaming applications are concerned,you can use Boot Manager to install more than one operating system on your computer.You can go to the "Cal State University of Northridge" Computer Swapmeet and purchase a bogus copy of Win 95 to run their games,if you're that desperate.
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Response Number 8
Name: Jim Date: December 7, 1999 at 14:46:30 Pacific
Reply:
You Know what? OS/2 SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get Windows 95/98/2000,or,if your desperite enough for OS/2, you may even like,DON,DON,DON, Windows 3.1!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Response Number 9
Name: Chris Date: December 7, 1999 at 16:56:02 Pacific
Reply:
Excuse me??? OS/2 is a superiour OS. The fact is the WinWhatever OSs are the ones that suck. Have you ever used Warp 4?? I dual boot OS/2 and Linux, both of which blow Windows away.
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Response Number 10
Name: SkyWizard Date: January 19, 2000 at 15:29:57 Pacific
Summary: Kinda confused about this OS. How many versions were released? What's the latest one? Can you run Win98 apps on the latest one? How much does it cost and where can I get it? ...
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