Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!hplabs!hp-pcd!hplsla!davidr
From: davidr@hplsla.HP.COM (David M. Reed)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Looking for CHEAP multitasking...
Message-ID: <5190024@hplsla.HP.COM>
Date: 22 Jun 89 16:39:29 GMT
References: <5591@rpi.edu>
Organization: HP Lake Stevens, WA
Lines: 22

Of course, I highly recommend DESQview.  I have not used it specifically
like you describe.  I do know people who have a BBS running a background
window continuously answering the phone while they do their normal PC
functions in other windows.  I have run an ftp server for my system in a
background window that responded to requests for file system access from 
other systems while I have me editor, command shell, and other windows
running.

I thoroughly love DESQview and often wonder how people can be really 
productive without.  It provides true multi-tasking inexpensively.  However,
if you want to run 2 or more big programs at the same time without the
slow "swap-to-disc" process, then you need Expanded memory.  I recommend
an AST board (such as the RAMPage board) with at least 1 MByte of RAM.
I use a RAMPage board with 2 MBytes of RAM.  It certainly is far better 
than needing the 4+ MBytes and special programs and other software expense
of UN*X or OS/2 (the former being my second choice if you want real overall
functionality).  DESQview runs MOST current DOS software without problem.

Stay away from MS-Windows (even the 386 version) for it does not have real
multi-tasking, does not properly run a lot of DOS programs, and is not
easy to use (in my opinion).  An alternative to DESQview is OmniView from
SunnyHill Software.