Xref: utzoo comp.windows.ms:11827 comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc:8943 Newsgroups: comp.windows.ms,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc Path: utzoo!utgpu!barry From: barry@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca (Barry Lay) Subject: Re: OS/2 2.0 is here! READ THIS, you'll be impressed Message-ID: <1991Apr23.180427.15016@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca> Organization: UTCS Public Access References: <1991Apr21.135534.724@jarvis.csri.toronto.edu> <1991Apr21.194928.8267@ux1.cso.u iuc.edu> <1991Apr21.175529.2386@jarvis.csri.toronto.edu> Distribution: comp Date: Tue, 23 Apr 1991 18:04:27 GMT There was a suggestion that real time hardware management should not be done with a multi-tasking operating system. While I perhaps understand the reasons for this (mainly to do with interrupt performance and timeliness), I would like to point out that there are cases where real time stuff is useful under a multi-tasking system, and in fact is already being done. There is a company called Inotek which markets CIMple Data, a real time data collection program which interfaces with an ARTIC card in the PC that in turn interfaces with a variety of data collection terminals such as the IBM 7527. This program runs under OS/2 and will communicate with other programs such as Excel and SAS via DDE. This last facility allows for the user to create data handling scripts in a familiar language. By the way, I don't work for these guys, I just saw a demo at the last SUGI. My understanding of the way that device drivers are dealt with in OS/2 is that you can install them at different levels depending on your requirement. If all you want to do is take over port n and use it in a single program (even under DOS compatiblity), you can issue a MODE command which will give you exclusive control and do whatever you want with it. If you want to provide many simultaneous programs with access to the device, you will have to write a driver which lives a little closer to the kernel. One thing to remember while evaluating OS/2: it is much better than Windows at interrupt handling and task switching because it doesn't need to switch back to real mode every time it needs DOS-like facilities. As for allowing OS/2 to step out of the way when games are being played, if the game will absolutely not run in compatibility mode one can always install dual boot and switch back to native DOS (or boot from a floppy :-). Barry