The HitchHiker's Guide To OS/2



About the Guide


The Hitchhiker's Guide To OS/2

Issue #10
Published On 1/20/95  

This guide is meant to give a concise report on current
OS/2 events.  Any and all contents are solely my opinion or the
opinion of the noted author.  Read on and I hope you enjoy
another issue of 
The HitchHiker's Guide To OS/2.

       Any comments regarding the guide can be directed to:

Steve Dudas
sdudas@austin.onu.edu

       Special Thanks go to Dr. V. Phaniraj for letting me know
about wp2ipf/2.  
       Which is the program that makes this publication possible. 
Thanks to Kim Kruse Hansen for the great job he has done with this
application.
 
       Copies of the HHGOS2 will be available for anonymous ftp
from hobbes.nmsu.edu  
look in /os2/incoming/hhgos2#.zip 
every other Saturday for a new release or look in
/os2/32bit/info/newsltr/hhgos2_#.zip  For back issues.
The .zip file will contain both a .txt and the .inf version of
the HHGOS2.

OS/2 In the NEWS

The HitchHiker's Guide To OS/2


                                New Warp APAR List

               IBM has published a new list of APARs (I.E. Known bugs in Warp)
          The document is in the form of a .inf file and can be ftp'd from
          software.watson.ibm.com. The filename is 30apr1.zip. If you click on
          the bug, a full summary of the problem and any known workarounds
          or patches will be listed.
               On a similar note IBM is expected to release a patch for the
          Warp code at the same time the Warp fullpack is released.
          Watch for it on the IBM ftp site, software.watson.ibm.com.

                OS/2 Warp Worldwide Shipments Reach One Million

               SYDNEY, Australia, Jan. 18, 1995 . . . IBM announced that
          OS/2 Warp has shipped more than 1 million copies worldwide since
          its availability in November 1994, at a press conference here
          today.
               "It's exciting to see the momentum," said Dan Lautenbach,
          vice president of IBM's Personal Software Products division.
          "OS/2 Warp has been a big seller in retail markets around the
          world, topping software sales charts during the holiday season in
          several countries.  What's more, we're seeing return rates running
          at less than one tenth of a percent, which attests to the
          product's high quality."
     
               Osborne begins exclusively pre-loading Warp and PC-DOS
       
               IBM has announced that Australia's largest PC
          manufacturer, Osborne, will standardize on an IBM software platform
          for their entire PC line.  Effective immediately, Osborne will ship
          IBM PC DOS and OS/2 Warp as the standard PC operating system
          platform, replacing Microsoft DOS and Windows for Workgroups 3.11.
          Today's agreement follows recent announcements from German PC
          vendors Vobis, Escom and Comtech to preload OS/2 Warp on their PCs.
          Together these companies' sales account for more than 40 percent
          of the German PC market.  OS/2 Warp is also preloaded on IBM PC
          Company's PC 300, 700, ThinkPad 360 and 755C as well as systems
          built by CompuAdd, Toshiba, and others.

                         Yet another Intel Chip problem

               This its the Saturn motherboard chipset. The problems appear
          on 486 PCI/VESA/ISA motherboards with chips in the following series,
          82378, 82423, and 82424.  To this date Intel is NOT replacing these
          chips.  They will however allow you to buy updated chips.
               The problems involove flaky interrupt handling.  If you only
          use DOS the problem won't affect you much.  However in an OS such
          as OS/2 where interupts are handling much differently the problems 
          can be chronic and seriously affect system stability.
               To avoid this problem insure that any motherboard you buy only
          uses the ARES chipset.

                              


                              New #9GXE64 drivers

               Number Nine Computer has released new GXE64 OS/2 drivers.
          The drivers are S3 2.2 864 and 964 drivers re-worked to perform
          better with the AT&T RAM DAC on the GXE64.  The driver pack also
          included a PM refresh utility.  Contact #9 for updated drivers
          or look on hobbes.nmsu.edu. They may be uploaded there.

OS/2 SoftWare Review

The HitchHiker's Guide To OS/2

This Issue's Review Goes to:
ZAP O' COM(ZOC) V 2.00

               Zap O' Com is about the best terminal program available for
          OS/2.  Upon installing Warp I started with the HA/Lite Terminal
          program, but I found that was unstable and slow on my system.
          At this time I decided to try ZOC.  ZOC was excellent, it provided
          features that I had never even thought of.  Such as automatic 
          font sizing based on the size of the window.  
               One item I would have liked would be setup strings
          for different modem types.  I was forced to build a init
          string from my modem manual, and considering the pamphlets that come
          with most modems this was no easy task.          
                Other than that the program is fantastic.  Written by
           Markus Schmidt, its obvious that he has had much experience with
           communication programs.  While some may not like the constant
           reminders to register I think the quality of the program 
           warrants it.  
               To try it for yourself ftp zoc20#.zip from hobbes.nmsu.edu.
OS/2 NetSurfing!

The HitchHiker's Guide To OS/2
          

               This section is dedicated to bringing you information on the
          finest OS/2 internet resources and how to access them.
          A list of Web sites, ftp sites, newsgroups and other resources
          which have usefull OS/2 information are listed in the
          OS/2 Internet Resource List.

This Weeks Feature:
The OS/2 Warp Pharmacy
found at: 
http://www.zeta.org.au/~jon/WarpPharmacy.html
 
               The Warp Pharmacy provides a wealth of information regarding
          hardware and software incompatibilites with Warp.  The pharmacy is
          an invaluable source that should be consulted before making any
          purchases.  The pharmacy is updated regularly and contains very
          accuarate information.  A definite must browse.
OS/2 Internet Resource List

The HitchHiker's Guide To OS/2

Ftp sites:

          Official IBM site. EWS (Employee Written Software) and
          latest patches are distributed here.
             software.watson.ibm.com

          Walnut Creek Hobbes OS/2 Archive
             ftp-os2.cdrom.com /os2

          MUENCHEN German OS/2 Archive
             ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de /pub/coomp/os/os2

          Multi-site address.  If main German sites are busy a mirror is
          automatically used.  Very current with regard to Unix and GNU
          ports.
             ftp.leo.org /pub/comp/os/os2
          
          NMSU OS/2 Area
             ftp-os2.nmsu.edu /pub/os2

          Trosm, Norway FTP Site
             ftp.cs.uit.no /pub/os2

          Sweden's University of Luleo OS/2 Archive
             ftp:luth.se /pub/os2

          Brazil's University of Campinas OS/2 repository
             ftp.unicamp.br /pub/os2

WWW sites:

          IBM's main home page is located at:
             http://www.ibm.com/

          IBM's Personal Software Products
             http://www.ibm.com/pspinfo/

          IBM's OS/2 Homepage
             http://www.austin.ibm.com/pspinfo/os2.html

          IBM Internet Connection
             http://www01.ny.us.ibm.net/

          Almaden Research Center
             http://www-i/almaden.ibm.com/

          IBM International Technical Support (Redbooks)
             http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/

          IBM Networking
             http://www.raleigh/ibm.com/nethome.html/

          IBM PC Software Direct
             http://www.ibmlink.ibm.com/pcdirect/

          IBM Personal Computers
             http://www.pcco.ibm.com/files.html

          Walnut Creek Archive WWW Interface
             http://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/os2

          MIT OS/2 Web Page
             http://www.mit.edu:8001/activities/os2/os2world.html/

          California Institute of Technology
             http://www.ccsf.caltech.edu/~kasturi/os2.html

          Northern NJ Team OS/2 Web Server
             http://www.intac.com/nnjos2/nnjos2ug.html

          University of Trosm, Norway
             http://www.cs.uit.no/os2/index.html

          UIUC OS/2 Home Page
             http://www.cen.uiuc.edu/~rs9678/raj.html

          The Internet Relay Chat #OS/2 Home Page
             http://venus.ee.ndsu.nodak.edu/os2/index.html

          OS/2 Warp Pharmacy
             http://www.zeta.org.au/~jon/WarpPharmacy.html

          OS/2 Software Library
             http://www.state.ky.us/software/os2.html/IBM FTP Sites

OS/2 Interactive Chat sessions:

          IRC Channel:

               Join #OS/2 on the Internet Relay Chat system for lively OS/2 
               discussions.

          Open Forum:

               telnet to james.ccnet.com port 5555
               This is a permanent OS2Chat server.

Read News:

          bit.listserv.os2-l
          comp.binaries.os2
          comp.os.os2
          comp.os.os2.advocacy
          comp.os.os2.announce 
          comp.os.os2.apps
          comp.os.os2.beta
          comp.os.os2.bugs
          comp.os.os2.games
          comp.os.os2.misc
          comp.os.os2.multimedia
          comp.os.os2.networking
          comp.os.os2.networking.misc
          comp.os.os2.networking.tcp-ip
          comp.os.os2.programmer
          comp.os.os2.programmer.misc

          comp.os.os2.programmer.oop
          comp.os.os2.programmer.porting
          comp.os.os2.programmer.tools
          comp.os.os2.setup
          comp.os.os2.ver1x
          comp.lang.rexx

      NOTE:  This list may never be complete. If you have any updates or
           additions please e-mail me at sdudas@austin.onu.edu.
      
               Portions of this list are based on the document: "IBM's
           Worldwide Electronic Resources" by: Vicci Conway, IBM/PSP Bulletin
           Board Programs Manager Internet: vicci@vnet.ibm.com - CompuServe:
           76711,1123

OS/2 Tips and Hints

The HitchHiker's Guide To OS/2

               So you got Warped... but did you get DIVEd as well?
          DIVE is a video extension which allows for much faster PM animation.
          Thus making programs such as Doom/2 possible.  The only pitfall
          is that not all OS/2 video drivers support DIVE.  Before going
          out and buying DOOM/2 (once it is released) check to be sure 
          your card and your drivers do.  To do this ftp a program called
          divedemo.zip from hobbes.nmsu.edu. The program is under /os2/
          32bit/graphics I believe.  If it runs correctly you are all set.
          If not think about upgrading your hardware to something that
          already supports DIVE.
               Note: Even if you do not play games, most OS/2 PM programs
          that are video intensive such as PMMPEG are moving to DIVE, so it
          may be worth your while anyways.
              Trivia Question

The Hitchhikers Guide To OS/2

               
          Last issues trivia question:

               Linux is fast becoming a leading choice when building a low
          budget unix box.
               Who started the Linux project and why?
      
               The project was started by Linus Torvolds, it was started as an
          experiment in OS construction and ended up being a full blown
          Unix OS.

          This weeks trivia question:

                What very succesfull computer firm was started by Tedd Waitte
          in 1985 with $10,000 and run off an Iowa farm? 
               How To Submit Articles

The Hitchhikers Guide To OS/2


       Please Include the following Information in all submissions.

       1)    Your full name

       2)    e-mail address

       3)    Date article was completed on.

       4)    A ONE sentence summary of the article.

       5)    Articles must be in a zipped file.  The text should 
             be contained in a single ASCII text file.  All
             graphics should be in the .bmp format and may be in
             256 colors.  About 300 x 300 is a good size.

       6)    To make any special arrangements for submissions contact     
             sdudas@austin.onu.edu

** I am unable to return any copies of articles sent to me **
