Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!uunet!pmafire!russ
From: russ@pmafire.inel.gov (Russ Brown)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.misc
Subject: Re: The best of all worlds (Was Re: OS/2 2.0 is here! READ THIS...)
Message-ID: <1991Apr30.172315.20739@pmafire.inel.gov>
Date: 30 Apr 91 17:23:15 GMT
References: <4837@gumby.Altos.COM> <1991Apr26.211100.7830@thyme.jpl.nasa.gov> <1089@hrshcx.csd.harris.com>
Organization: WINCO
Lines: 40

In article <1089@hrshcx.csd.harris.com> steved@hrshcx.csd.harris.com (Steve Daukas) writes:
>

>Unix is great (I use it at work and have various knock-offs for my PC),
>but it doesn't run DOS applications.  So what you ask?  The *vast* majority
>of small system owners rely on DOS applications for things like reports,
>spreadsheets, et. al..  If you had a Unix-based OS that could run DOS 
>applications in a MOTIF/X11R4 window, great - I'll buy one.  The point is, 
>not many would.
>
>Life would be simpler if there was a Unix that could run DOS applications under
>a (any duck) window environment (X11R4, MOTIF, Windows, Program Manager, etc.).
>Then again, I'd be happy with a real multitasking windowed environment that
>would allow me to run DOS apps - so long as I can still boot Unix from another
>partition (or, do I dare dream, run Unix in yet another window).
>
>So, whats your idea of a perfect combination of parts from Unix, DOS, OS/2, ...?
>
Although far from perfect, I am running multiple DOS programs under Dell
Unix V.4 and DosMerge.  Bug-fixes imminent with updated Unix/Dosmerge. 
Not everything works smoothly all the time, but judicious placement of
touchy software in a separate DOS partition mitigates most of the
problems.

My database, Q&A (in many ways, the best in the World), can't run
effectively unless it is on the DOS partition of the HD; it thinks it is
running on a network and probably denies write permission on files
because of that.

Printing can be laborious for some software, perhaps because of
confusion in the print spooling.  For most things, it is fine.

Access to the 3.5" FDD when in DOS requires some custom fiddling.

All in all, it provides access to the best of both worlds.  With
software upgrades ***almost*** in the mail, it may get even better. 
Another alternative is the installation of a separate hard disk for DOS
sessions only; you lose the multitasking though.

BTW, I am using a Dell 433TE, 80486-33MHz.