The Difference Between OS/2 and OS/2 for Windows

The difference between the vanilla-flavored OS/2 and OS/2 for Windows lies in the installation, as explained by Neil Stokes. OS/2 for Windows is a special upgrade edition of OS/2 that allows users to take their Windows 3.1 code and upgrade it to a full-function OS/2 system. This is achieved by patching modules from the Windows 3.1 system to work with OS/2's WIN-OS2 application support, creating a seamless experience for Windows applications.

Key Takeaways:

• OS/2 for Windows is a special upgrade edition of OS/2 that allows users to upgrade from Windows 3.1 to a full-function OS/2 system.
• The installation process for OS/2 for Windows is different from normal OS/2, requiring Windows 3.1 to be already installed on the system.
• Once installed, OS/2 for Windows provides full support for DOS, Windows, and OS/2 applications.
• Users can delete their DOS and Windows directories, but must be cautious not to lose programs like Minesweeper.
• A snag existed with OS/2 for Windows, as it would not install on top of Windows 3.11 or Windows for Workgroups, but a solution was found by patching Windows 3.1 modules.
• A new release of Windows, potentially numbered 3.12, may resolve this issue and allow for a smoother upgrade process.
• The first two native OS/2 games, Galactic Civilisation for OS/2 and SimCity for OS/2, are entering beta testing and expected to be available in June.

Statistics:

• 330 copies of OS/2 for Windows were sold by Dick Smith Electronics at the PC'94 show.
• The sale rate of OS/2 for Windows at Dick Smith Electronics reached one copy per minute on a Thursday evening.
• Meetings of the Melbourne PC Users Group's OS/2 Special Interest Group are held on the fourth Wednesday of every month, with attendance typically ranging from beginner to advanced topics.

Sources:

• Neil Stokes
• PC'94 show
• Dick Smith Electronics
• Melbourne PC Users Group
• IBM
• Microsoft
• Lotus
• Borland
• Computer Associates