*0*0*0*0*0*0**0*0›› (This article compares two very well›  known DOS's, but you may be surprised›  and learn something new, so read on.›                    Ye OLDE EDITOR››           Even MORE DOS's›          By Matthew O'Kane›› I warned that this column would be› irregular!  I've been so involved› with other things, I had to be› reminded to pay my fees!  Well, I› must admit, I am in LOVE with DOS's.›  I don't know why, but I do.  So› I'll get it out of my system.  I'll› do a whole 2 DOSes this magazine. I› like and love one more than the› other.  The DOS's I am going to› tackle are ATARI DOS 2.5, and› SUPERDOS 4.3. (or 5.1), but I won't› say which I prefer, you will find out› for yourself.›› Super Dos 4.3 has everything AD2.5› (Atari Dos 2.5) hasn't.  Yet, some› of you may say that you can access› these features through utilities,› but with SD4.3 (Super Dos 4.3) you› can do it, and more, from DUP. I am› assuming in this article that you› are familiar with AD2.5.  Here it› comes, SD4.3's advantages, in› detail.›› UNDELETE --- With UnDelete, you can› restore a file that you deleted.› I.E., If you deleted a file and you› didn't want to, you can UnDelete› it and it comes back, unless you› wrote something over it.›› RAMDISK --- A RamDisk is a part of› memory set aside so that the› computer thinks it is another disk› drive.  It is only possible on the› 130XE's and modified XL's. On AD2.5› you need to load in a program called› RAMDISK.COM to use the Ramdisk,› which takes up a big fat, juicy 9› sectors on the disk, which is too› much with some programmers.  SD4.3› eliminates this problem.  DOS does› it AUTOMATICALLY, and it copies all› files with the extender .RAM to the› RAMDISK, but it doesn't copy DUP.SYS› and MEM.SAV to RamDisk. More about› that later.› › NOTE FOR BEGINNERS:› DOS 2.5 and SDOS 4.3 are compatible!› AD2.5 can load SD4.3 files and visa› versa.›› RESIDENT DUP --- The computer, on› bootup, can, if you wish, copy› DUP.SYS and place it underneath your› program, where it is protected (this› takes up about 5K) OR on XL/XE's it› will copy it underneath the› Operating System. This takes up a› net space of 0.  It frees up 70 or› so sectors on the RamDisk, and no› programming space!! Call it any time› you like, it's there in 0 seconds!!› No disk access, no erased program.› This feature can cause a problem› with TURBO BASIC, because  Turbo› Basic also hides itself underneath› the Operating System also, but all› that happens is that DOS loads off› the disk.›› KEY REPEAT RATE -- On the XL/XE's› only.  On bootup, DOS will› auto-matically modify the automatic› repeat rate function.  You know what› happens after 1.5 secondsof holding› your finger on a key.  It repeats.› But very slowly. With this feature,› you can speed up the speed of this,› or slow it down, using this DOS.›› All of the above things are included› in DOS.SYS on SD4.3.  AD2.5 doesn't› have these.  Here are the DUP.SYS› features.›› COLOUR-CODED BOARDERS --- The border› changes colour according to the› operation.  Green for Read, Red for› Write or Erase, Bright Pink for› Format.›› VERIFY ON-OFF --- From the menu, you› can turn verify off and on.›› BASIC ON-OFF  --- On XL/XE's you can› disable/enable the built in BASIC› from the menu.›› DUMP RAMDISK  --- You can copy to or› from the RamDisk whereas you can't› in AD2.5. Well you can, but you only› get 599 sector disk.›› PUSHBUTTON DIRECTORIES --- Press 1,› Disk Directory 1 comes up, Press 8› RamDisk Directory etc.›› And now the utilities you get.›› TRACE AND PATCH --- With this one,› you can verify all of your files,› and if there are bad sectors, you› can patch around them.›› SUPERBIN --- SuperBin is a shortened› version of DOS.  It has only 9› sectors, and is meant for disks with› binary programs on them.  On bootup,› SuperBin puts a menu of all of the› files on the screen, and you load› the one you want by pressing the› corresponding button.›› SUPERBAS --- Same thing as SUPERBIN,› except its for BASIC programs.›› AD2.5 dead yet?  Only a few of the› above features are available in› AD2.5, but only through utilities.› Underneath is a list of disk drives› that SD4.3 can handle, and I've put› a star beside the ones that AD2.5› can handle.›› * Single Density› * Enhanced Density› * RamDisk›   Double Density›   Extended Density›› Don't ask me what Extended density› is. I don't know.››› I recommend Super Dos 4.3 (5.1) if› you  want my opinion.  › › See you again in sometime???!!!!!›› NOTE from THE EDITOR:› I have heard that SUPER PRODUCT now› have a version of SUPER DOS that› handles the XFF551 Double Sided› Double Density disk drives. Maybe its› the 5.1 version??? However if you› want more info on this new DOS then› call or write to SUPER PRODUCTS in› Queensland, Australia.› The phone number and address› follows: (if still in business!).››     Super Products›     P.O. Box 507›     Beenleigh Qld 4207›     Phone: (07) 801-1218››           +=+=+=+=+=+=