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- Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
- Path: sparky!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!uchinews!ellis!sip1
- From: sip1@ellis.uchicago.edu (Timothy F. Sipples)
- Subject: Re: Some suggestions for OS/2
- Message-ID: <1992Sep3.021506.16434@midway.uchicago.edu>
- Sender: news@uchinews.uchicago.edu (News System)
- Reply-To: sip1@midway.uchicago.edu
- Organization: Dept. of Econ., Univ. of Chicago
- References: <181jlpINNabc@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> <gershon.715476775@husc10>
- Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 02:15:06 GMT
- Lines: 101
-
- In article <gershon.715476775@husc10> gershon@husc10.harvard.edu (Ethan Gershon) writes:
- >multiple desktops with and without logins to allow multiple users to
- >use the same system etc... (kind of like XEROX's "Rooms for Windows")
-
- OS/2 2.0 already has this feature (without logins). You can set up
- multiple work areas (desktops).
-
- >ability to change the basic appearance of windows: e.g. move where scroll
- >bars and scroll buttons appear. add buttons, remove buttons, move minimize
- >buttons. add a close button (instead of double-clicking on upper left button)
- >and a bigger resize area like on the mac's lower right corner of windows.
-
- Interesting.
-
- >give out a good "make bootable diskette/disk" program as an applet. I
- >still haven't entirely figured this out.
-
- I think the IBM employee written SE20BOOT program that just floated
- across comp.binaries.os2 might do the trick for you.
-
- >include an optional pull down menu system for the desktop (like toolchest
- >for X or (I think) rocket launcher for the Mac) that allows you to pull
- >down a list of applications or other functions and execute a selection from
- >them.
-
- Already there, really. Click both buttons simultaneously while
- pointing at the desktop and you get the Window List. Click mouse
- button two on the desktop and you get the system menu, which you can
- customize (select Open -> Settings to do so). You can add
- applications to the bottom of the list, for example.
-
- >MB2 pop-up menu for marked text like in CUA demo
-
- Can you elaborate?
-
- >a printer driver for fax boards that allows drag-and-drop of a document
- >for faxing, etc.
-
- Already available from third parties, notably in the form of PMFax
- (a.k.a. FaxIt a.k.a. BitFAX for OS/2).
-
- >definately use standard dialogs throughout (this is part of what makes
- >the mac so good)
-
- Getting there, although on a system with backward compatibility it
- takes a bit of time to move everything over. The hooks are all there.
-
- >5.25" disk drives should have 5.25" disks as icons (NOT 3.5" ones)
-
- I think someone figured out how to change the icon, but I don't
- remember the details. Does anyone recall where that information is
- located?
-
- >a basic collection of icons (including those that are used by the system)
- >for OS/2 and DOS programs and functions
-
- Definitely available from BBSes, ftp-os2.nmsu.edu (via anonymous ftp),
- and the like, but I see your point. It comes down to a question of
- whether the disk space is worth it. Some people love icons; others
- don't bother. I tend to fall into the second camp (despite having
- written an icon attaching utility).
-
- >icon converter for Win->OS/2 included with system
-
- Well, there are ways to convert your icons without such a utility
- already, but it isn't pretty (basically a graphics cut/paste into the
- Icon Editor). I see your point.
-
- >a few "pre-fab" desktop arrangements (including placement of icons) as
- >suggestions to people
-
- Interesting.
-
- >a mac-like trashcan
-
- Maybe IBM will change over when the Shredder becomes like a real
- trashcan, i.e. when you can retrieve things from it. Right now
- shredder is an appropriate metaphor (although UnDelete from the
- command line does do the trick, assuming you have the UnDelete feature
- enabled).
-
- >an X-like option for using a third mouse button for pasting marked text
-
- Interesting.
-
- >X-like versions of windowed DOS and OS/2 prompts with long scroll back
- >buffer (instead of just one screen worth of information).
-
- You get some of the same effect with MODE CO80,102, per the FAQ List,
- but I certainly see your point.
-
- >a "push window" and "pop window" (like on some X systems) that moves a
- >window to the bottom and top of a stack of windows respectively
-
- Interesting.
-
- --
- Timothy F. Sipples | The OS/2 FREQ. ASKED QUESTIONS LIST is avail. from
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- Dept. of Econ., Univ. | Or from LISTSERV@BLEKUL11.BITNET (send "HELP").
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