Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!peregrine!ccicpg!legs!dash
From: dash@legs.UUCP (Darrell Shively)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2
Subject: Re: MS-OS2 ?
Message-ID: <2536@legs.UUCP>
Date: 3 Mar 90 02:39:44 GMT
References: <37555@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu>
Organization: AST Research, Systems Software Engineering, Irving, CA
Lines: 23

in article <37555@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu>, bose@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu (Bhaskar Bose) says:
> 
> I have an AST Premium 386.  I would like to start using OS2.  Do I have
> to buy OS2 from AST or will the off the shelf Microsoft OS2 work on my
> machine?

	In fact, Microsoft will not be offering OS/2 for retail sale.  It
is available only to OEM's for adaptation to their particular hardware
platforms.  Thus, your best bet would be to purchase OS/2 for your machine
from its' manufacturer.  Failing that, the IBM version of OS/2 should run
on any reasonably compatible computer (like an AST).
	By the way; since your machine is a 386 based system, do NOT use
IBM OS/2 1.1 (either EE or SE).   The IBM versions of OS/2 1.1 for the AT 
does not support the 386.  After all, IBM does not make a 386 equipped AT
machine.  Starting with version 1.2 however, both IBM and Microsoft has 
been/will be using the enhanced kernel that supports all 80x86 CPU's.  
Best of course would be to wait for the AST version of 1.2, which should 
be out as soon as Microsofts' code stabilizes :-).  But if you need OS/2 
now, I believe AST will be offering a low cost upgrade from 1.1 to 1.2; 
so buying 1.1 now should be a safe bet.
	Hope this helps.  Email me if you have any other questions.

  "Any opinions expressed are my own, and in no way represent my employer."