Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!yale!husc6!bu-cs!madd
From: madd@bu-cs.BU.EDU (Jim Frost)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Cursor, etc.
Message-ID: <20688@bu-cs.BU.EDU>
Date: 17 Mar 88 02:14:32 GMT
References: <398@lscvax.UUCP>
Reply-To: madd@bu-it.bu.edu (Jim Frost)
Followup-To: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Organization: Boston University Distributed Systems Group
Lines: 43

In article <398@lscvax.UUCP> ram@lscvax.UUCP (Ric Messier) writes:
>On another note, does anyone know how useful the DOS Technical Reference
>Manual is (please qualify your answer with how much experience you have
>had using manuals, computers, etc. so I will have a frame of reference.)

If you're doing DOS programming, it's invaluable.  If you're making
applications using a reasonable language (eg C or Turbo Pascal 4.0),
you won't need it.  If you're using TP 3.0, it's necessary if you're
dealing with something complicated since TP 3.0 doesn't have very
extensive library routines.

I've found the book a great reference when building utilities and
small applications within TP 3.0.  It has less use if you're using
languages with good libraries, but would still be useful if you're
making utilities.

>Also, where can it be obtained and how expensive is it? How about IBM
>hardware reference materials?? I am also looking to get the Intel books
>on programming their chips. How good are they?? 

If you buy the book from IBM, they keep sending you upgrades as PC-DOS
goes through revisions.  I have three of them, for 3.10, 3.20, and
3.30.  They sent a card with 3.30 that said that it would be the last
one, but if they're actually making 3.40 then I would expect to get
another.

Any IBM authorized dealer can sell you the book (ours was $85 or
something like that but I think it's gone up) and you'll receive
updates automatically.  IBM will send it to you directly if you ask
but it'll take 2-4 weeks and might be cheaper at an authorized dealer
(IBM will always give you list).

I don't personally own the hardware tech manuals, but I've seen them
and they're about the same quality as the DOS manuals, although they
contain considerably more information.  As a programmer I haven't
found much that I really needed them for, but I also try to keep
programs more or less non-IBM specific.  They should run about the
same cost, as well.

No comment on intel books, since I don't really have any.

jim frost
madd@bu-it.bu.edu