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From: tholen@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (David Tholen)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.fortran
Subject: Re: (none)
Message-ID: <10725@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu>
Date: 20 Dec 90 06:01:48 GMT
Organization: University of Hawaii
Lines: 20

Ross Taylor writes:

> Results and conclusions The conclusions of this review appear more clearcut 
> than usual. The answer seems obvious: if your programs can fit in 640K, 
> don't bother with protected-mode compilers, 386 or not. Microsoft, even 
> running 8086 code, will blow your doors off. Buy either Microsoft or Lahey 
> F77L.
 
It should be pointed out that Microsoft's product is also a protected-mode
compiler, namely for OS/2.  Under that operating system, FORTRAN programs
have access to nearly 16 Mbytes.  Under MS-DOS or OS/2 real mode, 640 kbytes
is the limit, as mentioned above.

An IBM representative mentioned to me that although the initial release of
the OS/2 version 2.0 SDK included only a 32-bit C compiler, the subsequent
release also included a 32-bit FORTRAN compiler.  Apparently not Microsoft's,
so I don't know whose it is, if in fact one exists.  I wouldn't be surprised
to see a couple of 32-bit compilers released shortly after OS/2 version 2.0
makes its debut, so there may soon be an alternative to these DOS extender
products.