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From: patrickd@chinet.chi.il.us (Patrick Deupree)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.ms
Subject: Re: Windows 3.0 questions
Message-ID: <1990May28.230904.8259@chinet.chi.il.us>
Date: 28 May 90 23:09:04 GMT
References: <1990May22.183946.3307@cs.umn.edu>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Chinet - Chicago Public Access UNIX
Lines: 45

In article <1990May22.183946.3307@cs.umn.edu> gardiner@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu (David Gardiner) writes:
>What about screen fonts?  For example, does it display symbols and
>dingbats correctly on the screen?
>
As near as I can tell (though I never had a change to explore the area much)
there isn't much new in the way of Font support (except maybe a couple extra
fonts).

>Is there support for any of the Super VGA boards such as the ATI VGA Wonder?
>
You'll have to talk to ATI about that.  There is increased adapter support
for 3.0, but that board is not one of them.

>How does performance compare to 2.xx?
>
Depends on the computer you're using.  On a 20MHz 386 with 3 meg of memory it
works pretty well.  On a 640K machine, well, it won't.

>Is a 386 specific version included?  The upgrade info suggested yes,
>but it wasn't clear to me.  The Minneapolis Star Tribune indicated
>that a 386 specific version will come later (obviously not to be
>considered a reliable source).
>
There is only one version of Windows now.  It will go into one of three modes,
depending on the hardware you are using.  It supports real mode, 286 protected,
and 386 protected (real, standard, enhanced).

>Will existing Windows programs work with 3.0?  The new versions of programs
>will work better, but until the upgrades come, can we use Windows 3.0?
>
You will probably have to run Windows in real mode to run old Windows
applications.  There are some exceptions to this rule.  For instance, I've
found that simple public domain programs will work fine. 

>What about (dare I say) non-Windows applications?  Can you run them in
>separate, non-full-screen windows, ala the new version of OS/2?
>
Yes.  You've been able to do this with Windows 386 for a while.  Windows 3.0
can still do it, provided you're on a 386 in protected mode.  Those 286
and 8086 users out there are out of luck.  Sorry.
-- 
"Organized fandom is composed of a bunch of nitpickers with a thing for
 trivial pursuit."  -Harlan Ellison

Patrick Deupree ->	patrickd@chinet.chi.il.us