[comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc] Favorite MS-DOS multitasker?

edm@hpfcmdd.hp.com (Ed Moore) (02/28/91)

First, some references, all from PC Magazine.

   2/28/89  Desqview, VM/386
   5/30/89  Desqview
  10/16/90  Desqview, VM/386

Now for my limited experience.  I began using Software Carousel three years
ago.  It does task switching, not multitasking.  A year or so ago, after I
got a 386, I acquired Desqview/386.  After trying it for a couple of days I
went back to Carousel.  You may really need multitasking, but all I really
need is task switching.  The mental overhead of implementing Carousel is
trivial; it isn't for Desqview.  I keep four Carousel ports (or windows) up
all day, every day.  Two keystrokes snaps instantly to another port.  I
don't even have the latest version of Carousel.  The latest implements two
sort-of multitasking features:  print spooling and background
communications.

sking@nowhere.uucp (Steven King) (03/03/91)

In article <1991Feb25.071747.28916@news.stolaf.edu> fritchie@acc.stolaf.edu (Scott Fritchie) writes:
>I'm looking for suggestions on MS-DOS multitasking packages.  The
>environment I'll be using it in is:
>	* 386 clones (mostly Compaq and Telex)
>	* Novell 386 (v.3.10 rev A)
>	* Thomas-Conrad token ring interface cards (TC4035)
>
>I've been hacking on Win3 for quite a while now, but I cannot get it to
>run in 386 enhanced mode and use the network.  [See posting to
>comp.windows.ms for details on the fun I've been having with Windows &
>Novell 386.]  Rather than buy a second machine, I'd prefer to multitask.
>
>I don't need nifty graphics stuff.  I don't need windows, graphical or
>character based.  Just dependable MS-DOS multitasking with a (Novell)
>network.  You know, something that Microsoft should have given the IBM PC
>world years ago.  :-|  [I guess I'm especially curious about Desqview and
>VM/386.]

   I've used VM/386 for a couple years; Its adiquate if you have enough
 core; They dont support paging ( atleast, not of the last upgrade we
 recieved about a year ago ) but you can tailor each task's memory
 allocation. Even tho' they use the VM capability ( or maybe because
 of it ) you can still crash the whole box - I've had remarkable
 success doing that with certain "386 aware" software published by that
 company in Redmond, Wa. Software that uses a dos extender will not
 function under VM/386. The disk caching is abismally slow. While I
 still use it whenever I NEED to multitask, I nolonger try to compile
 under it ( or do anything else thats disk intensive ).

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