tommyd@cs.arizona.edu (Thomas Buckaroo Dimitri) (04/12/90)
If I had a 386, could os/2 1.2 use more than 16megs of memory or does it assume 286 wrap around and therefore cannot support over 16megs? "I don't practice what I preach because I'm not the type of person I'm preaching to!" - J.R. 'Bob' Dobbs. Thomas J. Dimitri tommyd@cs.arizona.edu arizona!tommyd
alistair@microsoft.UUCP (Alistair BANKS) (04/14/90)
OS/2 1.2 is a 286 operating system, and uses the 386 only as a fast 286, with superior mode switching capabilities for faster dos mode support. In addition it will swap the full 32 bit width of the 386 registers, not just the 16 bit width as in os/2 1.1 & 1.0. This allows application writers to use 32 bit registers for faster math, and allows device driver developers to use 386/486 features. Beyond that os/2 1.2 makes no further use of 386/486 specific features. OS/2 2.0 will use the Virtual 8086 feature of the 386/486 for its multiple dos application support and will use the 32-bit offset capability of the 386/486 for its 32 bit application support. It also makes extensive use of the 'wider' reach to data to significantly increase system limits, including total physical memory, threads, PM window handles and DCs. As metioned before, OS/2 2.0 is available through a pre-release program (SDK) by calling 1-800-227-4697. Alistair Banks OS/2 Group Microsoft