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About OS/2 |
Welcome to the world of OS/2! IBM OS/2 Warp 4.0 is an inexpensive, full-featured, operating system for PC's using the Intel 486 and compatible (or better) CPU's. In addition to running native OS/2 applications (both 16 and 32 bit), OS/2 4.0 can run 16 bit DOS and Windows 3.1 applications.
It is a very powerful operating system, supporting long filenames (using the High Performance File System), the built-in REXX scripting language, Adobe Type Manager and TrueType fonts, a 32-bit flat memory model, preemptive multitasking, excelllent networking and Internet support, multithreading, advanced multimedia including software motion video, and robust communications, for example), yet its Workplace Shell user interface makes it remarkably easy to use (and amazingly flexible). Other features include support for emerging technologies such as Java, OpenGL, ObjectREXX, NetREXX, and OpenDoc.
Warp 4.0 also contains the IBM Voice Type Navigation and Dictation system,
allowing the user to control and interact with the computer using a microphone, and voice
commands. The Bonus Pack that comes with Warp 4.0 includes several useful applications,
such as a spreadsheet, word processor, database, and personal information manager. The
network support built in provides access to the Internet (via modem or Network card), as
well as support for IBM Lan Server, Novell Netware, and Windows NT based networks. It also
includes Peer-Peer Networking with other PC's running Warp Connect, or Windows for
Workgroups/Windows 95.
Unlike older versions of OS/2 Warp, Warp 4.0 comes in only one flavor — it always includes Win-OS2 for supporting Windows 3.1 and Win32s 1.25 applications, as well as both modem and Ethernet/Token Ring card support.
In addition, Warp 4.0 comes with 3 additional CD ROM's, namely the Sampler Pack, the Device Drivers Pack, and Lotus Notes Mail. The sampler pack CD contains a large number of native OS/2 applications for a user to try before buying. These applications are mainly commercial software packages. The Device Driver CD contains drivers for a vast array of hardware devices; updates to these drivers can be found at http://service.boulder.ibm.com/os2ddpak/ or at http://www.europe.ibm.com/psmemea/progserv/device (in Europe).
This brief document is intended to help you get started using the Internet's OS/2 newsgroups and to help you obtain more information on OS/2. Read it carefully to get started with this exciting operating system. It will be posted regularly to the OS/2 newsgroups which new users are most likely to visit.
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