Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!apple!netcom!raj
From: raj@netcom.COM (Roger Lee)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.apps
Subject: Re: Multi and background processing on a 286
Message-ID: <1991Apr22.000617.23524@netcom.COM>
Date: 22 Apr 91 00:06:17 GMT
References: <1280@duteca.UUCP> <30052@cs.yale.edu>
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  UNIX System {408 241-9760 guest}
Lines: 26

buddington-paul@cs.yale.edu (Paul Buddington) writes:

>>Could anyone help me out on this, and, if possible, state a produkt which IS
>>capable of turning the 80286 into a multitasking DOS-based machine?

>You're problem here is that you're looking to multitask DOS programs.  The
>best way to do this is to buy a 386 - I don't even know if it's possible with
>a 286.  The basic problem is that the only way to prevent programs from

It is possible, but on a limited scale. About the only way to do it is to be
running a program (such as Desqview) that does time slicing. This works fine
on some programs, but if you attempt to do any comm programs, disk I/O (such
as formatting a disk) intensive or other 'REAL-TIME' processing, I'm afraid
that you'd be better off with a 386. Comm programs will work, but unless you
are running at low baud rates, you *WILL* get data overruns, and basically 
defeat the whole purpose of multitasking.

just my $.02 worth...

-- 


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