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From: doug@ozdaltx.UUCP (Doug Matlock)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Mutlitasking/ task switching
Keywords: multitasking switching, desqview, software carousel, VM386
Message-ID: <6502@ozdaltx.UUCP>
Date: 15 Jun 90 15:25:25 GMT
References: <4632@mit-caf.MIT.EDU>
Distribution: na
Organization: AIDS INFO EXCG/OZ BBS - Dallas, TX
Lines: 45

In article <4632@mit-caf.MIT.EDU>, gavin@mit-caf.MIT.EDU (Gavin C. H. Zau) writes:
> 
> 	I recently posted a request for information on softwarer for
> switching between application/ multitasking on 286 and 386 PCs.  The 
> current forerunners are :
> 	Desqview 386 (+ QEMM 386 ?)
> 	Windows 3.0
> 	VM/386
> and
> 	Software Carousel for 286.
> Can anyone who has used these software please comment on the ease of 
> use, hardware requirement, compatibility with a network drive (PCNFS)
> and speed.   Windowing capabilities are not critical but are nice to
> have.
> 
> Thanks alot.


I have used DESQview for a little less than a year.  I have been very 
satisfied with the program.  It takes a little time and patience to
set it up, but the setup tools are adequate (you change numbers on 
a data-entry-form type screen for each application).  

I did some benchmarking of run time for DV.  In compute-intensive apps,
DV introduces almost no overhead (i.e. it took almost exactly twice as much 
time to run two copies of a compute loop as to run one copy).

The places I've had trouble are:
1. not all device drivers can be loaded into high memory (IBM's Token
Ring drivers especially)
2. Quarterdeck support for developers is terrible

I need to specify that I am fortunate enough to use a Compaq 386/20 with
9 Meg of RAM.  Others have had more trouble with DV on other machines.

I just got Windows 3.0 yesterday, and have not had a lot of time to play
with it.  First impression: "I'm in LUUUUV"[tm].  It seems MUCH faster than
OS/2 (I have nothing to back that up, just my impression) and is every
bit as sexy.

I hope to have a more objective opinion of Windows in the near future.
-- 
Doug.

"If you want Peace, work for Justice."