By Scott Dubler
OS/2 is a stand-alone operating system that was originally developed by both Microsoft and IBM to replace DOS. When Microsoft Windows became popular, Microsoft abandoned the OS/2 project and left it to IBM. Since then, DOS and Windows have flourished while OS/2 is used by only a small minority of PC users. With the introduction of OS/2 Warp version 3.0, IBM hopes to gain a larger share of the operating system market. Unlike DOS and Windows, Warp is a preemptive multitasking, 32 bit, object oriented environment. When Windows or a Macintosh multitask, the program operating in the foreground gets most of the processorÕs time, regardless of whether it needs it or not. In preemptive multitasking, the operating system allocates processor time to a program as it needs it, whether it is in the foreground or the background. The preemptive multitasking environment also provides superior crash protection because all the programs are isolated in their own section of memory.
The object oriented interface is similar to a Macintosh. It uses folders, files, and a desktop metaphor. Theoretically, 32 bit code should run faster than 16 bit code. Unfortunately, a quick comparison of Ami Pro for Windows and Ami Pro for OS/2 shows that this is not true. Ami Pro for Windows in emulation ran faster than Ami Pro for OS/2. How efficiently the program is written is obviously more important than the number of bits it is written in.
Since most programs are written for DOS, Warp contains a Virtual DOS Machine (VDM). The VDM may be the most impressive aspect of Warp. It can emulate DOS almost perfectly while running at close to the same speed as real DOS. Anyone with Microsoft Windows or Windows for Workgroups can install Win-OS/2 support. This allows a user to load Windows code into the VDM. Unfortunately, there is a 25-50% reduction in speed when emulating Windows.
Warp allows a user to run DOS and Windows programs either in full-screen or in a window. if a user runs them in a window, it is possible to run Windows, DOS and OS/2 programs side by side.
IBM bundled a software bonus pack with Warp. The pack consists of Internet, video conferencing, video editing, modem, and fax software. It also includes IBM Works, an integrated application with word processing, spreadsheet, and many other capabilities.
The minimum requirements for Warp are an 80386 processor, four megabytes of RAM, and a 40 megabyte hard drive. However, to exploit the features of OS/2 and for decent performance, an 80486 with eight megabytes of RAM and a large hard drive are recommended.
Although IBM is now aiming Warp at home use, it is still an operating system for the power user. WarpÕs object oriented interface is sometimes needlessly complex. Also, many DOS and Windows programs need to be fine-tuned using dozens of special settings and this can be daunting for a beginner. Even though Warp is a tremendous improvement over OS/2 for Windows, it is still an operating system for power users and for corporate use. OS/2 is technically far superior to DOS and Windows, but there is not much incentive for someone who just uses a computer for word processing to switch. However, if someone wants or needs an advanced operating system that is also compatible with both DOS and Windows, OS/2 Warp is a terrific product.
From pg. 8+ of The Moment, 7 Dec. 1994