Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!odetics!frank
From: frank@odetics.com (Frank Merrow)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.ms
Subject: Simple (?) Windows 3.0 Questions (Help Please!)
Message-ID: <1990Oct8.185124.14940@odetics.com>
Date: 8 Oct 90 18:51:24 GMT
Reply-To: frank@odetics.UUCP (Frank Merrow)
Distribution: na
Organization: Odetics, Inc., Anaheim, CA
Lines: 64

Hi Everyone,

I have really fallen in love with my graphical interface on my Sun Workstation
at work.  At first I didn't like it, but over a period of time I have grown
to love the power and flexablity that it gives me and have wanted to look
into something similar for home.  OS/2 is interesting, but requires TOO
much reworking of my system and too much expense for me at this time.
Windows 3.0 looks interesting since it appears that I can have multiple
DOS windows all running concurrently.  Additionally, if I develop a Windows
application, it "is supposed" to port fairly easily into the OS2/PM
environment (with some kind of a dynamic library converter).  I started all
this looking around by reading the PC Magazine article on multi-tasker's,
but I still have some questions:

1. It is my understanding the Windows 3.0 will work on BOTH a 386 as well as
a 286.  (I will be upgrading systems in about a year.)  However, I will NOT
have full multi-tasking while on the 286.  (True or False?)

2. What else do I give up in 286 mode (if anything)?

3. If I wanted a SECOND license for my 386 (rather than just "taking" a
second copy) is there a "cheap solution" to getting a second license or do I
have to put the $150.00 down again?  (Slipping on my pirate patch for just
a second, is the software copy protected in any way?)

4. For both versions (286 and 386) can I fully expect the following
applications to work under Windows (in a DOS window of course):
WordStar 2000, Lotus 2.0, Quicken, MKS Toolkit, Microsoft C and MASM, and
most games.  What about a DOS program that does direct screen writes?  (My
guess is they "work in 386", fail in 286 mode)  Probably a similar answer
for a DOS program that uses graphics.  Mace Utilities and Fastback are
probably NOT a good idea under windows and Xtree "it depends on what
you are doing".  Comments?

5. How much disc space is needed (I am down to about 5 Megs on my system)
and will DOS 3.2 work or will I need 3.3.  (Actually 3.3 would allow me
to get a second 8Meg partition out of my disc I have never been able to access
under 3.2.)

6. I have a Mouse Systems Bus Mouse.  Will that work (it is supposed to have
a Microsoft driver) or will I need a MS-mouse?

7. I have heard there are problems with communications software running
under Windows.  I have Mirror III a CrossTalk Clone.  I will have to give
up this package or run only under DOS?  Are there other communication
packages available? (I need D210 and VT100 Terminal Emulation as a
minimum, plus the usual protocols of course.)

8. How friendly is Windows 3.0 with the various LAN packages.  Eventually,
when I get my second computer (the 386) I was planning on getting
LANtastic so I could share Disc files between the two systems.  Would
I need to change this thinking if I got Windows?

9. There was also one interesting statement that PC Magazine made that perhaps
someone could clarify for me.  I was under the impression that a 386SX could
do EVERYTHING that a standard 386 could do, it just did it sixteen bits at
a time instead of 32.  But then I don't know what PC Magazine ment by this:
"When the disk cache was not loaded or when extended memory was not available
(as on the 386SX test system with only 2MB of memory) . . "  Does this mean
their test system must of only had Expanded memory?  Or is there a 386SX
limitation I am not aware of?

Frank Merrow
frank@odetic.com