HIGH TECH CORNER: IBM GIVES MICROSOFT ONE-TWO PUNCH IN OS WAR AND WINS

Yes IBM did give Microsoft the one-two punch in the operating system war.

That is if you still run DOS, Windows 3.1 or Windows for Workgroup. IBM has released PC DOS 2000. It is the only Year 2000 compatible, DOS operating system available on the market. Win 3.1 and WFW are only 16-bit versions that run on top of DOS while Windows 95 and 98, in particular, are mostly 32-bit-based operating systems. Of all of these, only Windows 98 was Year 2000 compliant. IBM has changed all of that. NOVEL is no longer selling its version of DOS. Microsoft stop enhancing is version of DOS with DOS 5.5.

Therefore, IBM to the rescue of the marketing wars. IBM wants to save all those DOS and Win 3.1/WFW users, with a version of DOS that handles the year 2000 correctly. Because IBM is the only real developer of DOS at this time, the price is a small (in IBM terms) $70. Keep in mind that Windows 98 upgrade from version 3.1 or 95 is only $89. The only problem with this small difference of cost, is compounded even worse if your computer is still running a DOS-based OS. On most computers sold to date that are not at least Pentium II compatible, are not Year 2000 Compliant. In addition, to make matters worse, you have to have at least 16 Meg of RAM and 220MB free space just to install the Win98 OS before programs! It really is time to upgrade the old hardware. With all these various ways to enhance your system, the good thing is you only have to worry about all those programs you run!

With the Internet looming bigger every day, I will pass on to you two simple ways to enhance your WEB page viewing. The first is simply by upgrading your browser to the new Internet Explorer 5.0 Beta. Does it have bugs? Well that is why they call it a beta, but I have not been able to crash it after a month's use as my only browser. However, the real question is, do I like it? Yes I do because I get in and out of WEB pages faster. Microsoft in the 5.0 beta has changed the core structure of the Internet Explorer by allowing it to do a progressive paint of the Web page. This is an important item because as we all become more proficient in using the Web, we also tend to become more impatient. We learn where to click to get to that specific Web page quicker. Well IE 5.0 starts displaying the page right when the computer starts the download of the page.

www.microsoft.com/sitebuilding/ ie/ieonsbn.htm

The only drag with getting the beta from is that the minimal download size is 18 Meg while the good one with all the bells and whistles using the custom install is 32Meg. Of course, it is Windows 98 compatible. I just wish Microsoft would release WIN98 Version two with the production version of this added in.

The second method of Internet speed up will be in next month article. I will show you how to get 128K I/O out of 56K modems.

The Internet is alive and well in the Cape Girardeau area and making life easier. I recently went on the Schnucks Grocery Web site at www.schnucks.com

You can order anything (except cigarettes) in the store from their Web site and have it delivered. I have used the service several times and all I can say is WOW THIS IS GREAT. The prices are the same as in the store, and they only add $9.95 for delivery. You can check your balance as you build your order while adding or subtracting items as you need to. It even keeps a running list of your favorite purchases to insure quicker grocery shopping in the future. They do accept plastic over the net, but if you prefer you can pay with a check at delivery time with no hassles.

On an even better note, I tried to tip the delivery person. He refused the tip! He stated that he liked doing the delivery service.

As always, feel free to contact me at digital@ldd.net or URL www.digitallabs.com

Rich Comeau is an electronics scientist and owner of Digital Labs of Cape Girardeau.