The Hitchhiker's Guide To OS/2 - Issue 8

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The Hitchhikers Guide To OS/2

• About The Guide
• Read Me Please
• Here and Now
• SoftViews
• OS/2 Tips
• Trivia Question
• How to Submit

About The Guide

The Hitchhiker's Guide To OS/2
Issue #8
Published On 9/16/94

This guide is meant to give a concise report on current OS/2 events. Any and all contents are solely my opinion or the opinion of the noted author. Read on and I hope you enjoy another issue of the HitchHiker's Guide To OS/2.

Any Comments Regarding The Guide can be directed to:

Steve Dudas
sdudas@austin.onu.edu

Special Thanks go to Dr. V. Phaniraj for letting me know that wp2ipf/2 exists.

In you haven't guessed that is what this is done with.
Thanks to Kim Kruse Hansen for the great job he has done with this application.

Copies of the HHGOS2 will be available for anonymous ftp from ftp-os2.cdrom.com.
look in /pub/incoming/hhgos2_#.zip
every other Saturday for a new release or look in /pub/os2/2_x/info/newsltr/hhgos2_#.zip For back issues.
The .zip file will contain both a .txt and the .inf version of the HHGOS2.
Read Me Please

The HHGOS2 is BACK! I must say I am very excited about re- starting it. My 3 month "vacation" is over and its back to the what I care about. I say "vacation" because I worked as an EE techy for 70 hours / week, thus I had no time to write the HHGOS2.

Welcome back and thank you for your continued support, as always any and all responsible comments may be directed to me at, sdudas@austin.onu.edu (Internet E-mail).

Steve Dudas
sdudas@austin.onu.edu

Here and Now

It's been a very busy summer for all you OS/2ers out there!!

1. MicroSoft finally gave the Chicago project a name, Windows 95. 95 apparently refers to the year the OS will be released. It looks as though OS/2 will have no competition for a long long time.
2. Borland is having a special on BC++ for OS/2 until Sept. 30, 1994. BC++ Ver. 1.5 can be had for $199 by calling 1-800- 645-4559. There is also a possibilty that BC++ may be packaged with certain future versions of OS/2 to promote development.
   
3. 3COM is still having a special on 3COM NICs. 2 for $100. Call 1-800-NET-3COM for more info.
   
4. A PC-Mag "Building the Ultimate PC" choose OS/2 as the OS of choice! Way to go IBM!
   
5. IBM is doing a major shift in PC direct channel marketing. The PS/1 and Valuepoint lines are being phased out in favor of single more cohesive line. IBM also announced that they are dissolving the Ambra corporation.
   
6. SMP OS/2 support was released this summer. The SMP package can handle from 2 to 16 CPUs, is MPS 1.1 compliant, and is completely transparent to your software as well as any other computer.
   
7. Just a note: I saw an ad for a "Windows Workstation". I wonder if that ad was supposed to be next to the Far Side on the comics page.
   
8. MicroSoft is attempting to introduce a new keyboard with 3 windows keys on it. They claim that this will greatly enhance Windows 95. How about F1-F12? Well maybe I can sell some RAM and buy that keyboard. After all Windows 95 will only need 4 megs of RAM to run, right? Try again MS.
   

SoftViews

First a bit of old business. Right before my vacation IBM sent me a copy of IBM CAD/3X to review for the HHGOS2. To be completely fair and give CAD/3X the review it deserves, this review will be held off until the next issue.

This weeks review goes to WARP II BETA!

The warp II beta has many new features and enhancement. I will try to sum them up so you can brag to your friends. Also note that the final release of OS/2 ?3.0? is scheduled for Mid Oct.

New Features:

1. Launch Bar that greatly simplifies starting frequently used apps.
2. Bonus Software Pack which includes software such as HyperAccess, IBM(FootPrint) Works, Internet Access Kit, and apparently there is also a WEB explorer similar to Mosaic being considered for inclusion.

Enhancements:

1. Runs comfortably in 4 megs of RAM for basic operation.
2. Video and Printer sub-system go fully 32-bit, which speed both up nicely.
   
3. Drivers Drivers and more Drivers. 7 disks of video drivers! The WarpII comes with drivers that are better than drivers downloadable from ftp-os2.cdrom.com. IBM really came through on this one.
   
4. MMPM/2 has many new features including support for more sound cards a now plays files in the .FLI and DIVE standards.
   

Overall this update will be worth every penny! I can't wait to install it. I am posting the readme from WARP II to my ftp site for all those who want a taste of it.

(This list is NOT comprehensive, they just did too much so d/l the readme if you like)

ftp to 140.228.70.8 Login: anonymous

filename: readme.wrp

OS/2 Tips

This weeks tip is Channel OS/2 on the Internet Relay Chat system (IRC). If you have internet access or access to IRC through some other service, channel OS/2 provides 24 hour / 7 Day a week online OS/2 Q and A.

I have even been know to show up once in awhile :) I hope to see you there!

Trivia Question

What Corporation pioneered the Winchester drive design?
BTW: Most every hardrive ever made is based on this technology.

How To Submit an Article

Please Include the following Information in all submissions.

1. Your full name
2. email-address
   
3. Date article was completed on.
   
4. A ONE sentence summary of the article.
   
5. Articles must be in a zipped file. The text should be contained in a single ASCII text file. All graphics should be in the .bmp format and may be in 256 colors. About 300 x 300 is a good size.
   
6. To make arrangements for any submissions contact sdudas@austin.onu.edu
   

** I am unable to return any copies of articles sent to me **