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From: nelson_p@apollo.HP.COM (Peter Nelson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Why use MS-window ?
Message-ID: <4aba851b.20b6d@apollo.HP.COM>
Date: 31 May 90 22:24:00 GMT
Sender: root@apollo.HP.COM
Distribution: usa
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Apollo Division - Chelmsford, MA
Lines: 34





From: derekho@microsoft.UUCP (Derek HOIEM)

>Now if I'm using a 386 or 386SX with Windows in protected mode (enhanced),
>it will timeslice even between DOS applications.  For example I could be
>editing in WordPerfect,  recalulating in Lotus 1-2-3, and telecommunicating in
>Works all at the same time.  In actuality, however, Windows is just updating
>each application every X number of milliseconds.  You will notice that each
>application will be running a little slower than normal.  That is because
>they have to share the processor's time amongst each other.
  
   Great.  Could you, or someone, please explain something to me?

   How do programs like Desqview or Windows 3.0 run communications
   programs in background?     I know they do it.  I have Desqview
   and I can download files in background just fine while I'm running
   DTP software in foreground.  Microsoft claims that they can do
   it in Windows 3.0, too.

   Don't say they just make the time slices Real Thin or something;
   that doesn't work.  In Windows 3.0 the foreground task is guaranteed 
   50% of the CPU.   In Desqview the minimum time-slice is an 18th
   of a second and they recommend using bigger chunks than that.
   But even an 18th of a second at 1200 baud is enough time to 
   drop 7 characters.    So how do they do it?   I've always wondered
   about this.      (Assume a 386SX with 4 meg of RAM running Windows
   3.0 in enhanced mode if that helps.) 
   
   Thanks in advance.   

                                                    ---Peter