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IBM DOS One-Ups DOS 6
September '93
submitted by: Gloria Short
Brain Storm Learning 713-550-8105
DOS just gets better and better. First Microsoft adds data
compression, antivirus, memory management, defragmentation, and
backup capabilities in its latest DOS offering, 6.0. Now it's
IBM's turn, and Big Blue doesn't disappoint: IBM DOS 6.1 offers
the same features- sans data compression- and adds tape backup,
support for PCMCIA devices and pen- input systems, an enhanced
text editor, a system diagnostics utility, and several other cool
tools. (So you don't recall an IBM DOS 6.0? No wonder- there
wasn't one. IBM is attempting to distinguish its DOS 6 from
Microsoft's and will likely market DOS 6.1 as an upgrade to MS-DOS
6.0.)
Tape Backup and More
IBM's DOS 6.1 is in many ways better than Microsoft's DOS 6.0,
although not by a wide margin. Both let you run most of their
utilities from the DOS command line, the DOS Shell, or Windows. In
a comparison of utilities, IBM DOS's greatest advantage lies in
its backup software: Licensed from Central Point Software, Central
Point Backup supports backup to tape drives. MS-DOS's scaled-down
version of Symantec's Norton Backup supports only floppy drive
backups. Why is tape support so important? Try backing up a 200MB
hard drive with a mile-high stack of floppies, and you'll find out
soon enough.
Also included in IBM DOS is the Central Point Scheduler utility,
which allows you to schedule unattended backups and the automatic
launching of other programs. For example, you could use Scheduler
to run your data compression program after work hours. Microsoft
DOS 6.0 doesn't provide a scheduler utility.
However, not every utility in IBM DOS 6.1 is superior to its
Microsoft counterpart- some are equal. For instance, both products
include a defragmenter licensed from Symantec; the utilities
appear to be identical, right down to their point-and-click
interface. The antivirus utilities sport different interfaces but
offer similar capabilities, and both scanned effectively in
informal PC World trials.
IBM DOS 6.1 includes Central Point RAMBoost, a memory manager that
helps optimize system memory by moving device drivers and
terminate-and-stay- resident programs (TSRs) to upper memory,
freeing more conventional RAM (the PC's first 640K) for DOS
programs. Like MemMaker in Microsoft DOS 6.0, RAMBoost operates
automatically. Type RAMSETUP at the DOS prompt, and RAMBoost
reconfigures and reboots your PC to get the best fit for your TSRs
and drivers in upper RAM. I found this utility as easy to use as
MemMaker and got similar results- it freed about 620K of
conventional RAM. Both RAMBoost and MemMaker work with 386-class
or better processors.
Also new in IBM DOS 6.1 is a diagnostic utility that quickly
displays your system's hardware configuration. Need that
information handy when you call tech support? Simply type QCONFIG
at the DOS prompt; you'll get a list of important details about
your system, including PC identification number, BIOS revision and
type, processor type, and information on the keyboard, mouse,
serial and parallel ports, hard and floppy disks, and memory
usage. You can redirect this information to a file as well as
print it. IBM DOS 6.1 also includes Microsoft DOS's MSD
configuration utility. While QCONFIG merely scrolls your system
information across the screen, MSD comes with an easy-to-use
mouse- driven interface.
Utilities aside, IBM DOS 6.1 includes all the operating system
enhancements you'll find in MS-DOS 6.0, including the SmartDrive
disk cache, a new MOVE command that moves files to a different
directory or disk, and a multiple configuration facility that lets
you choose a system configuration at start-up- useful if you've
got a motley collection of TSRs or device drivers to load.
Nobody wants to load a full-featured and slow-loading word
processor to dash off a memo or edit a simple text file. IBM DOS
6.1 has a new text editor that makes it easier than past IBM
versions did to write quick notes and edit system files such as
CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT. Like Microsoft's DOS, it lets you
create multiple configurations. Simply type an E at the DOS prompt
(or double-click the IBM DOS E Editor listing if you're using the
DOS Shell), and up pops a no-frills word processor. You can use
key combinations and function keys to move, copy, or delete text
as well as perform other basic editing tasks. While the IBM DOS
editor is ideal if you enjoy memorizing keyboard commands, I found
the menu- driven text editor in MS-DOS 6.0 easier to learn.
PenDOS and PCMCIA Support
IBM had a future generation of hand-held, pen-based PCs in mind
when it added PenDOS to DOS 6.1. This pop-up utility is a
scaled-down version of CIC's Handwriter Recognition System If you
have a pen tablet computer or a conventional PC with an external
digitizer, you can use PenDOS to enter simple numbers and symbols
into your DOS applications by hand. PenDOS's pop-up QWERTY
keyboard lets pen tablet users input letters by tapping them on
the screen.
PenDOS is designed for users who want to learn more about
pen-based computing, and the company plans to sell a full-featured
version that recognizes uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers,
punctuation marks, and symbols. Currently PenDOS could prove
useful to site workers who need a simple text entry tool, but its
usefulness for most desktop PC users is probably limited.
PCMCIA slots are rapidly becoming de rigueur in portable PCs- and
soon will appear in desktops. These slots hold compact, credit
card-size devices such as fax-modems, network adapters, memory
cards, and miniature disk drives. IBM DOS 6.1 includes software
licensed from Phoenix Technologies that lets you install and
remove PCMCIA cards without rebooting, as well as receive
information about each PCMCIA socket and card in your system (such
as card name, socket number, and so on).
Blue DOS Best
Is IBM's DOS better than Microsoft's? My initial impression is
yes. Overall, IBM's DOS offers a superior collection of utilities-
unless you simply must have data compression. But IBM is expected
to enhance its DOS in later versions, starting with a free 6.1
upgrade with data compression, by the end of the summer. (IBM's
DOS 5.0 was bundled with Stac Electronics' Stacker compression
software and Qualitas's 386Max memory manager.) Later this year
IBM should release an innovative version that incorporates its
Workplace Shell, a graphical interface with drag-and-drop
capabilities and Macintosh-style folders.
All these improvements to DOS lead to one conclusion: Competition
gives users the best choices.
- Jeff Bertolucci
IBM DOS 6.1
Big Blue's latest DOS one-ups Microsoft's DOS 6.0 with a better
collection of utilities.
Key Features: Central Point Backup with tape drive support
Antivirus software RAMBoost memory manager PenDOS pen-input
utility PCMCIA support
Pricing: Unavailable at press time Availability: Immediate
IBM, 800/772-2227
Shout It Out:
With any of IBM's three new voice recognition programs, your PC
will follow your spoken commands- navigating Windows, retrieving
database information, even taking dictation.
VoiceType Control for Windows ($129) ships with 32 voice commands,
such as "file save," "font bold," and "next window," and lets you
create 32 voice commands for each of your Windows applications.
The 32 preset commands are modifiable, but IBM doesn't recommend
changing them. The software comes with your choice of a headset or
a hand-held microphone. To use it, you need a 386SX or better with
a Sound Blaster card.
If you need to dictate short documents, IBM VoiceType 2 for DOS
($2195) fills the bill. The software's 5000-word vocabulary can be
expanded to 7000 words. While the typical person's vocabulary
contains around 32,000 words, 7000 should cover common business
documents, says IBM. The software also has preset voice commands
for Microsoft DOS 5.0 and 6.0, IBM DOS 5 and 6.1, and nine other
DOS applications, including WordStar, 1-2-3, and dBASE. You can
create commands for other common DOS apps. The program requires a
386SX or better and IBM's Audio Capture Playback Adapter, which
costs about $180. The adapter card comes in ISA and Micro Channel
versions and is standard in IBM multimedia PCs.
The high-end IBM Speech Server Series (ISSS) offers serious word
power. At $2495 for the stand-alone version with a 20,000-word
vocabulary and $6950 for the multiuser version with 32,000 words
($695 for each client), it takes dictation at 70 words a minute.
It's available on the RISC 6000 client-server platform.