I have been using OS/2 2.0 for a month now.  I think its a winner.  I also
think IBM customer support and documentation are losers.  I have the following tips
that may help others:

          Importing icons

          You can import Windows icons into OS/2 by converting them to OS/2
format.  You can do it globally with a program called CVTICONS, on BBS's, or, in my
opinion preferably, with ICON CREATOR, a commercial product that converts them to
a 64x64 format.  CVTICONS claims to go both ways, but not for me.  ICON CREATOR
is definitely one way.  So, keep a directory of windows icons and one for OS/2.

          Changing OS/2 icons

          OS/2 default icons are well, business like and limited.  If you prefer
something snazzier you can change them but IBM docs don't make it easy.  This works
for me:

          1. Click object (icon) with right button (rb).

          2. Click left button (lb) on arrow next to "open".

          3. Click lb on "settings".

          4. Click lb on "general".

          5. Click lb on "create another".  The icon editor will load.

          6. Click lb on "file", click lb on "open". Enter "drive:\dir\iconname" of the
icon you want to import.  Must be OS/2 icon with extension .ico. -- or -- click lb on
"drive" the "dir" then scroll through icons and double lb on the one you want.  It then
loads into the icon editor.

          7. Now, the undocumented part.  Notice the file listed at the top of the
editor is "C:\OS2\WP!1.ICO".  Near as I can tell this is a transient file and only existing
in memory at this time.  To change to your new icon - click lb on "file", then "save as",
then enter C:\OS2\WP!1.ICO and click lb on "save".  A warning will come up saying
....WP!1.ICO already exists, replace it, etc.... You, click on "yes".  Another window will
come up about icon format.  Just click on "save".  Your drive will run.  When it stops
"close" the editor, the drive will run and if all went well the new icon will appear. "Close"
the settings book and you're done.

          Note:  At the top of the editor palette there is a green block labeled
"screen".  Select this color and the "color fill" tool and fill in the border background
areas of your icon.  This will make these areas match the color of what ever window
background the icon appears in.


          MS Windows applets

          IBM says OS/2 has a "fully functional version" of Windows installed.  Its
called WINOS/2.  Not all true as the Windows utilities or applets are missing such as
notepad, calculator, etc.  Some Windows programs use these. The IBM national BSS
and others have a set of files with titles like WLO???10.ZIP.  You can get them all in
one file or take them individually.  Make sure get the WLODLL file and the WLOINIT file
as both are required to run the applets.  If you call them from the OS/2 desktop they
look like OS/2 PM windows.  Call them from Windows and they look like the Windows
applets.  Amazing.

          Day, Date, Time Status line

          Want a status line showing day, date and time in various colors and
formats?  Download ITSNOW.  Its clean and neat. No window. No buttons.  Just a line
any where you want it the desktop.  A must have.

          Communications problems?

          IBM is constantly uploading new versions of COM.SYS and VCOM.SYS. 
Make sure you have the latest version.

          SVGA drivers

          The desktop is spectacular in SVGA.  Look on the BBS's for the latest
drivers.  One drawback.  Windowed graphics programs will not rewrite the screen in
SVGA so they are suspended. See notes on "Don't give up DOS".

          System lockup

          Sometimes OS/2 appears to have locked up.  Probably not.  First wait.
Most times waiting 30 seconds or so will allow it to recover.  Sometimes the mouse
becomes inoperable on the desktop.  Go to the many keystrokes in the docs to try and
close the offending application.  That usually fixes it.  If not "shut down" reboot and
everything will come back, sometimes with the offending application running normally
again.  Sometimes I think OS/2 is alive.  If all else fails.  Reboot.  Hasn't hurt me or
OS/2 yet - knock on wood. 

          Don't give up DOS!!!!

          Have a bootable copy of DOS.  I recommend a nice clean boot with copy
no TSR's or fancy drivers.  Sometimes OS/2 files won't let themselves be deleted,
renamed or otherwise changed.  This is true for the SVGA video drivers. You have to
change the name of DISPLAY.DLL to DISPLAY.BAK.  Rename the new DLL to
DISPLAY.DLL and copy it to the proper directory.  You can't do it from the desktop so
I use the C:\ prompt.

          I also use DOS to do disk defragmentation and to run PCTOOLS or
NORTON utilities.  I don't think its a good idea to run them from the desktop and OS/2
wouldn't let you anyway.  DON'T mess with anything you aren't sure about.  As one
magazine said. DOS is Chevy and OS/2 2.0 is a space shuttle.