By: Jim Clark

HE DID IT AGAIN? I’m not sure how he does it, but our Prez arranged another biggie — and that’s what we had, ANOTHER BIGGIE! It was a great meeting, with the focal point being an IBM presentation on OS/2, Ver. 2.1, and we had a good crowd to enjoy and benefit from the evening.

Having assumed the duties of manning the door, I missed the first 20 minutes of the meeting, and therefore missed a good bit of club and industry news Harvey discussed --but I didn’t miss it all.

Software Reviews: Harvey informed all that the newsletter listed vendor products (mostly software at present) our group had received for review. All members are eligible to participate. The individual benefits because he not only learns new products, but also acquires ownership by completing a good review. The group benefits by becoming informed on the latest software. Harvey noted that timely submission of a review on what has now become a perishable product is essential, and those members wanting to participate in the review program must be willing to provide a comprehensive and honest review of the product not later than the agreed time. All members are invited and encouraged to participate. Those desiring to do so should contact Marylee Bruneau, newsletter editor.

Education & Information - Principal User Group Purpose: Yes, that is the primary purpose and function of our user group -- informing and educating all of our members on all aspects of using a PC and related software and hardware and of new developments in the industry. We accomplish that purpose in a number of ways -- through the newsletter, exchanging information at our meetings, vendor and in-house presentations, SIGs, etc. We are adding a new way to this list, and would like to add another:

Help Line: The last newsletter began implementation of our newest effort -- a “Help Line”. The Help Line is a listing of members willing to help other members who might need help with specific software or hardware products. The persons listed need only have a working knowledge of the products and need not be “experts” on the products they are willing to support. All members are encouraged to participate -- since we all need help from time to time, the more we have to help through the help line, the better off we will all be. Those willing to join in should post a note to Marylee Bruneau on the BBS, by telephone, at a meeting, or by mail at the address on the newsletter.

Tips & Techniques: Harvey suggested we start a section in our newsletter devoted to this subject -- a place where members could share with others in our group hints and tips they have uncovered that they have found helpful in using a particular piece of software or hardware. We have seen these helpful bits of info in other newsletters and computer-related publications. With inputs from all of our members, a tips & techniques section in our newsletter should prove very helpful for all of us. Submit your inputs to Marylee Bnmeau (or any group officer) via the BBS, or as above.

Fund Raising Ideas: While firm decisions have not yet been made, your Board of Directors has been working toward finding a new meeting location to better accommodate our growing membership. Any relocation will likely require our group to own or rent most, if not all of the computer equipment now being graciously provided by IBM for our use at our general meetings. Yes, we are talking $$$$$ -- and quite a few, at that. We need your ideas and suggestions on ways to raise the funds we will need -- and we need to raise those funds rather quickly inasmuch as we will probably relocate early next year. PULEEEZZEE give your ideas and suggestions to any of the officers listed on page 2 of the newsletter, or message one of them on the BBS.

Upcoming Presentations: Harvey has lined up some more big guns in coming months, including some of our own: Off-line Express and BBS operations in Nov., Computer Associates in Dec., Word Perfect on WP 6.0 in Feb., and CorelDraw in Mar. are among them. They are all good -- and beneficial. Don’t miss a single one if you can help it; I have found them all interesting and rewarding.

We were fortunate to have Dennis Hanson, an expert with IBM on OS/2, join us and give a presentation of IBM’s OS/2, Ver. 2.1. He gave an excellent presentation on their newest version of their software package, Version 2.1. It is a large and very powerful package. An overview of such a program is the most that we could expect in the time available, and Dennis did that superbly well. Just listing the features would take pages, but here are a few of them:

Breaks the DOS 640K barrier. DOS has been the most widely used platform for the PC for many years now, and we have been confronted with that conventional memory barrier all that time. OS/2 eliminates that barrier and makes all the available RAM and most of the available hard disk space available for use as RAM.

Provides true 32-bit capability, and the list of software being written to take advantage of that capability is growing.

Full preemptive multitasking/multi-threading, with full speed for each. Memory is allocated to programs on the basis of need, up to the limit of RAM and disk space. If one has enough RAM and disk space, OS/2 will support up to 240 DOS sessions, with each allocated a full measure of memory and operating at the same time.

Will operate DOS, Windows 3.1 and OS/2 programs simultaneously in any mix, with the capability to copy information between them all, and provides DDE between Windows and OS/2 applications.

Uses IBM’s System Object Model and is truly object Oriented.

Fully supports DOS and Windows 3.1 applications and eliminates the need for DOS and Windows, though those systems may be retained if desired.

Can eliminate the current problem of often having to shut down Windows and all Windows applications because of a GPF in one. In fact, IBM recommends that a Windows window be opened for each Windows application you start so that any GPF will cause a problem for only the application in which the GPF occurs.

Uses the High Performance File System, which is faster than the FAT system and provides other benefits, such as a maximum of 250 character file name. One problem here at present is that if one uses more than the traditional 8.3 character file name, DOS based systems will not recognize the file.

Includes REXX programming language and the capability to write and modify applications.

Provides full multimedia support, and provides software-only sound and video. It uses three threads to synchronize sound and video. Dennis demonstrated some of the capabilities of OS/2, overall and multimedia in particular, when he operated two multimedia windows simultaneously while running several other applications at the same time, all of which operated at full speed. And, OS/2 includes the tools needed to write multimedia applications.

Supports and uses True Type and Adobe Type I fonts.

That scratches the surface of its many features. Well, what does it take to use all that power? Start with a 386, preferably with a 40 MHz board, though a slower board may be used. OS/2 will operate with 4 MB of RAM, but 8 MB or more is recommended. Hard disk space between 15 and 30 MB, depending on the features you load. It provides support for just about any popular monitor or printer.

And what does it cost? OS/2 lists for $149, with a $99 tag for a DOS/Windows upgrade -- and that includes just about everyone. You can find street prices several dollars less. For the kind of power you get, that is a pretty darned good buy.

One member raised a question of how to determine compatibility with OS/2. Dennis gave a number of sources and ways to determine that, including the IBM forum on CompuServe, the IBM BBS, and contacting IBM directly. A side bit of info, recognizing that many people are now using disk compression programs: The only compression program that I have heard of so far that supports OS/2 is Stacker. There may be others, but I know of some that do not. Check it out.

To IBM, MANY THANKS for lending us Dennis and for the programs you donated — you have been very good to use right along. And, Dennis, you gave a superb overview of a super program and we are in your debt. THANKS MUCH!

Thanks to the generosity of IBM (who donated 5 copies of OS/2, Ver. 2.1), our illustrious Prez who secured some other goodies for us during his travels, along with the 50/50 cash drawing, there were some very nice raffle prizes. Those among us to have the good fortune to win include:

• D.A. Clary OS/2, Ver. 2.1
• C. Kincaid OS/2, Ver. 2.1
• Wil Goble OS/2, Ver. 2.1
• Jim King OS/2, Ver. 2.1
• Steven Atran OS/2, Ver. 2.1
• M.N. Martinez Fastlynks 2 software
• Gary Peterson Mentor Notes
• Tom Hoffe $81

In addition, 5 folks won T-shirts, 3 folks won Computer City mouse pads, and 10 folks won a book on OS/2. Add all of that up and you come up with some 26 door prizes. WOW! The meeting adjourned at about 9:20 PM. u