OS/2 Warp Beta II Version 2.99 and OS/2 Warp BonusPak Beta Available for
Testing August 17, 1994

Today IBM* is making available the OS/2 Warp Beta II version 2.99 and the OS/2
Warp BonusPak Beta.  (2.99 will be used as a version number for all OS/2
system betas.)  The package is available for downloading today from OS2BBS and
OS2BETA.

It will be available for download from CompuServe on August 18, 1994.  If you
ordered the OS/2 Performance Beta I from the 800 number, you will receive a
CD-ROM containing the OS/2 Warp Beta II and the OS/2 Warp BonusPak Beta at no
additional charge by August 22, 1994.  The 800 number ordering of the CD-ROM
or 3.5" diskettes is available starting August 17, 1994.

As a participant of this program you will have the opportunity to install,
test, and provide feedback on this pre-release code.

This second performance beta contains additional features and functions since
our first performance beta which was released in the spring, Along with our
Fast Load option for Windows programs, new "Play at Will" PCMCIA services, and
Presentation Manager full 32 bit windowing subsystem, we are today supplying
major enhancements to OS/2 including:

o A redesigned installation that automatically configures your system

o Enhanced print performance and clearly noticeable improvements in
  both monochrome and color bitmap printing compared to earlier OS/2
  versions as a result of new 32 bit printer drivers and a new 32-bit
  print subsystem

o New tutorial that introduces you to OS/2 at a pace you select and can
  be tailored to the type of user you are

o Numerous changes in the Workplace Shell for easier navigation.  The
  Workplace Shell features new graphics, including new icons, bitmaps
  and color schemes.  It also introduces the customizable Launch Pad
  for very quick access to your most frequently used objects and
  programs, and it now enables you to save and restore desktop
  configurations so you can always return to your favorite setup.

o The Shell also features a redesigned Find Object function that has
  increased usability and performance in the search function.

o Support for SOM 2.0 applications and applications that exploit
  Workstation Distributed SOM (DSOM)

o New graphics accelerator support for:
   --ATI Mach32/Mach64
   --Cirrus 5426, 5428, 5429, 5430, 5434
   --S3 864
   --Tseng ET4000/W32, W32p, W32i
   --WD C24/C26/C27/C31/C33/C34
   --Weitek P9000/P9100

o A set of popular OS/2 and Windows audio device drivers including:
   --Aztec Sound Galaxy
   --Crystal Semi 4231
   --ESS 688
   --Sound Blaster, Soundblaster PRO, PRO16, AWE32
   --AD1848

o Additional PCMCIA socket services accessible through our "Play at
  Will" interface for these devices:
   --Ambra 486 SO 425C
   --AST Powerexec 4/25SL, 4/25SLC, and Bravo NB Color
   --Compaq Concerto
   --Compuadd 425 TX
   --IBM Thinkpad Models 350, 500 720, 750, 755 and PS2E
   --Panasonic CF-V11P
   --NEC Versa C, Versa E
   --NCR Safari 3180
   --Toshiba Models T3600CT, T4700, T4800
   --Zenith 425L
   --ZEOS Colornote

o A separate BonusPak that contains the following:

     o OS/2 CompuServe Access:  A computer network of personal computer
       users providing connection to many information, service,
       and electronic mail facilities.

     o Person to Person for OS/2:  A true workgroup application that
       allows people to collaborte via a live chalkboard over modem and
       LAN.  (Needs 8MB RAM)

     o FaxWorks for OS/2:  An application that allows you to send and
       receive faxes of unlimited length and print faxes to any OS/2
       printer.

    o IBM Installation Utility and System Information Tool: This
      system information tool allows you to quickly and conveniently
      access detailed information on the hardware and software
      configuration of your system.

EXPECTATIONS

While we have been incorporating your feedback from the first beta, our goal
remains to provide a more responsive OS/2 that is simpler and more intuitive
to use.  We'd also like to provide you with a set of applications that
function well with OS/2 and that you consider to be a true "bonus" package.

We are interested in all your feedback and particularly in these areas:

o We've made changes to our diskette packing technique in order to
  supply OS/2 to you in fewer diskettes than in the past.  We're
  looking for your feedback on this and in how the installation went in
  general.

Note:  If you experience any problems copying diskette images from the
electronic bulletin boards or from a CD-ROM, please call 1-407-443-5867.

o We also want to know if this beta satisfies your needs in constrained
  environments-- for example, running your favorite Windows or OS/2
  productivity application, personal finance application, personal
  organizer, spread sheet, game and so on in a four megabyte machine.

o We are interested in your views on the Workplace Shell changes.

o We are interested in your feedback on the quality and performance
  of the Windows 32S support.

o We want you to install and use all of the applications in the
  BonusPak.  Tell us how you like them.

***********************************************************************
Software Requirements

   To use Windows applications with this beta, you will need to have
   DOS 3.1 or higher and Microsoft Windows 3.1 or 3.11 or Windows for
   Workgroups 3.10 or 3.11 installed in a partition visible to OS/2
   during its installation process.  (Windows networking functions
   are not supported under WINOS2.)

Hardware Requirements

-Intel386***** SX-compatible or higher processor
-4MB of RAM - minimum
-one 1.44MB 3.5 inch diskette drive
-hard disk with 35MB to 50MB of free space
 (BonusPak up to 30MB additional free space-user selectable)
-IBM compatible mouse is required

************************************************************************

 ORDERING THE OS/2 WARP BETA II and OS/2 WARP BONUSPAK BETA

You may download the diskette images of the OS/2 Warp Beta II electronically
from OS2BBS on or after August 17, 1994. It will be available for download
from CompuServe on or after August 18, 1994.

You may also purchase a copy of the beta on CD-ROM or 3.5" diskettes for
$14.95 plus appropriate sales tax by calling 800-251-2177 between the hours
of 8:00AM and 5:00PM, Eastern Standard Time, and charging the cost to Visa
or MasterCard. This will be available starting August 17, 1994.

DOWNLOADING THE OS/2 WARP BETA II AND OS/2 WARP BONUSPAK BETA

Electronic Delivery of the OS/2 Warp Beta II is available from the following
bulletin board systems.  Since there are 24 diskette images in the OS/2 Warp
Beta II Package and 4 diskette images in the OS/2 Warp BonusPak Beta package
plus several text files, we recommend a high-speed modem for downloading
these packages.

   o IBM OS2BBS - If you are a subscriber to the OS2BBS, you may
     download the beta from the software download library on OS2BBS.
     The package name of OS/2 Warp Beta II is OS2PERF2.  The package
     name for the OS/2 Warp BonusPak Beta is OS2BONUS. If you are not
     a subscriber to the OS2BBS and would like to subscribe, please
     call 1-800-547-1283.

   o CompuServe - Members of the CompuServe Information Service may
     download the beta from the IBM OS2 FORUM Library (GO OS2BETA).
     Select the OS/2 Warp Beta II and/or the OS/2 Warp BonusPak Beta
     from the menu.

   o OS2BETA (INTERNAL IBM USERS) - IBM employees with access to
     the IBM Network may download the beta from the OS2BETA
     tools disk (TOOLCAT OS2BETA).  The package name is OS2PERF2 for
     OS/2 Warp Beta II and OS2BONUS for the OS/2 Warp BonusPak Beta.
     The beta packages may be downloaded and given to customers. To
     encourage as much internal testing of this beta as possible,
     we are providing a package of Microsoft Windows 3.1 on
     OS2BETA STRICTLY FOR USE IN THIS TESTING. (The package name is
     MSWIN31). You may use this copy of Windows only at work and it
     CANNOT be distributed outside of IBM.  If a copy of DOS is needed
     to install Windows, you can obtain it from PCPROD or PCWARES.

 TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Technical Support for this Beta program is available through the PSPBETA FORUM
on CompuServe***, through the "Beta Feedback" topic of the OS/2 Club bulletin
board on PRODIGY****, and through the IBM electronic bulletin board system
OS2BBS in a forum called OS2BETA.

In the United States, to become a member of CompuServe, call (800) 524-3388 and
ask for representative PRODIGY, call (800) 776-0845.  To become a member of
OS2BBS, call (800) 547-1283.

Outside the US, see the IBM contact through which you obtained the beta.

INTERNAL IBM USERS:  Technical Support for IBM internally is provide on the
OS2BETA FORUM on the IBMPC conferencing disk.