Archive-name: os2-faq/new-user/part1 Version: 940820 Posting-Frequency: weekly OS/2 New User Introduction ========================== [Revised: August 20, 1994] Welcome to the world of OS/2! IBM OS/2 2.1 is an inexpensive, full- featured, DOS- and Windows-compatible operating system for 386SX (or better) PC compatibles. It is quite powerful (supporting long filenames, REXX programs, Adobe Type Manager and TrueType, a 32-bit flat memory model, preemptive multitasking, multithreading, advanced multimedia including software motion video, and robust communications, for example), yet its Workplace Shell user interface makes it remarkably easy to use (and amazingly flexible). This brief document is intended to help you get started using the Internet's OS/2 newsgroups and to help you obtain more information on OS/2. Read it carefully to get started with this exciting operating system. It will be posted regularly to the OS/2 newsgroups which new users are most likely to visit. Where Can I Get OS/2? --------------------- In the United States, IBM OS/2 Version 2.1 is available from almost any software dealer, including Egghead, Software Etc., CompUSA, Babbage's, and many others. (Below Zero, Indelible Blue, and other vendors listed in the OS/2 FAQ List -- see below -- will handle both U.S. and international mail orders for the U.S. English version.) It is also available directly from IBM through the OS/2 Hotline at (800) 3-IBM-OS2. You may also call the OS/2 Hotline if you would like OS/2 product literature, videotapes, books, t-shirts, and special discounts on popular OS/2 applications. There are three OS/2 packages available. Choose OS/2 2.1 full version if you do not have either DOS or a previous version of OS/2. Choose OS/2 2.1 Upgrade Edition (under $100 from most software dealers) if you are upgrading from DOS or a previous version of OS/2, you do not have Windows 3.1, and you want Windows application compatibility. Choose OS/2 for Windows (under $50 from most dealers) if you already have Windows 3.1 (or if you don't have Windows but do not need Windows application compatibility). All three packages are available in your choice of 3.5 inch, 5.25 inch, or CD-ROM media. If you purchase the diskette version of OS/2, be sure to buy the diskette size that corresponds to your Drive A. (Like DOS, you must boot OS/2 to install it.) Before purchasing the CD-ROM version, check with the OS/2 FAQ List (see below) to make sure your CD-ROM drive and adapter combination are supported by OS/2 (the vast majority now are). (The FAQ List also includes purchase suggestions if you do not yet own a CD-ROM drive.) Note that OS/2 2.1 (at least when purchased directly from IBM in the United States) has a 30 day, no questions asked, money back guarantee. You can try OS/2 risk free and return it for a full refund if not completely satisfied. Please see the OS/2 Frequently Asked Questions List for further information on OS/2 pricing, availability, and hardware requirements. OS/2 Frequently Asked Questions List ------------------------------------ The OS/2 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) List is a compendium of useful OS/2 information. It should be your first stop whenever you have an OS/2 question. Before you post a question to any OS/2 newsgroup, please check the FAQ List to see if it is already answered. The first few sections of the OS/2 FAQ List are particularly helpful to those who have never seen or used OS/2 before. To obtain the OS/2 Frequently Asked Questions List, you may use "ftp." The ftp command (available on most systems connected to the Internet) allows you to retrieve files from other systems on the network. The exact procedure may be different on your system, but you should try the following command: ftp ftp-os2.cdrom.com (Press ENTER or RETURN after each command.) When asked for a username, type: anonymous and when asked for a password, simply type your Internet mail address. Then, type the command: cd /pub/os2/all/info/faq to change the directory. To get a list of files in that directory, type: dir Identify the file with the "highest" number. (As of this writing, the latest OS/2 FAQ List is Release 2.1E, filename faq21e.zip.) To retrieve this file, type the following commands: binary get faq21e.zip The FAQ List package will then be placed in your home directory on your home system. You can then download the file to your DOS or OS/2 machine. This file is "zipped," as many OS/2 program files are. You need an UnZip utility to decode the file (and extract the files contained in the package). Versions of UnZip are available for many systems, including DOS, Unix, and OS/2. (The OS/2 version of UnZip is located in directory /pub/os2/all/archivers on that same ftp system. Multiplatform source code is also located there.) The ftp-os2.cdrom.com site is one of the Internet's largest repositories for OS/2 software and information. For more information on ftp-os2.cdrom.com, consult the ASCII (text) file /pub/os2/0readme at that site. For a directory of OS/2 files available at ftp-os2.cdrom.com, retrieve the ASCII file /pub/os2/00index.txt. If you need more help in either retrieving a file using ftp or in UnZipping the file, ask your system administrator. To end your ftp session, type: quit and you will be disconnected. If you cannot use ftp, you may retrieve the FAQ List by mail from an ftp mail server. Ask your system administrator (or consult the newsgroup news.answers) for advice. The OS/2 FAQ List is also available from several online services, including CompuServe, and many bulletin board systems (BBSes). The OS/2 Shareware BBS (+1-703-385-4325) and Greater Chicago Online (+1-708-895-4042) always carry the latest version. The List is now also available through Gopher. Your host may have the Gopher client software installed. Try entering the command: gopher to see if it works. If it does, you should navigate through the menus to connect to the IBM Almaden Research Center experimental Gopher server in California (or connect directly to index.almaden.ibm.com). Once you have located that server, select "OS/2 Information," "Non-IBM Originated Files," then download the OS/2 FAQ List. Also, the FAQ is avalible via World Wide Web (WWW). If you have a WWW Client (such as Mosaic or Lynx) installed, you should be able to get it at: http://www.mit.edu:8001/activities/os2/os2world.html The newsgroup news.answers contains several help files, posted periodically, which can assist you in using ftp, mail, Gopher, and LISTSERV systems. You may wish to consult these information files before asking your system administrator for assistance. OS/2 Newsgroups --------------- After reading the OS/2 FAQ List you may have some unanswered questions. If so, you may post a message to one of the OS/2 newsgroups. Note that crossposting (posting the same message to more than one newsgroup) is generally frowned upon -- please try to post to just one newsgroup. These OS/2 newsgroups are available: comp.os.os2.multimedia For information on OS/2 multimedia features, including MMPM/2 and Ultimotion (software motion video). comp.os.os2.setup For all questions relating to setup, installation, and driver support under OS/2. comp.os.os2.bugs For the discussion and reporting of OS/2 bugs (flaws). comp.os.os2.advocacy For the discussion of OS/2 compared with other products, marketing, and "politics." comp.os.os2.networking.tcp-ip For any OS/2 questions dealing with TCP/IP networks/networking. comp.os.os2.networking.misc For any OS/2 questions related to other networking. comp.os.os2.programmer.porting For talk about porting software from other environments to OS/2. comp.os.os2.programmer.oop Information and discussion about Object Oriented Programming under OS/2. comp.os.os2.programmer.tools For talk about OS/2 programming tools. comp.os.os2.programmer.misc For discussion of any other OS/2 programming issues. comp.os.os2.apps Discusses DOS, Windows, and OS/2 applications running under OS/2. comp.os.os2.games For discussion relating to OS/2 and games. Includes both native OS/2 games and information on running DOS/Windows games under OS/2. comp.os.os2.announce Carries important OS/2 announcements. This newsgroup is moderated -- you cannot ask a question here. OS/2-related announcements should be submitted to David Tholen (tholen@newton.ifa.hawaii.edu). comp.binaries.os2 If you do not have ftp access you can obtain OS/2 software using this newsgroup. This newsgroup is also moderated. Submissions should be sent to os2bin@csd4.csd.uwm.edu. comp.os.os2.beta For discussion of beta releases of OS/2 (versions of OS/2 that are released for testing purposes by IBM and that you cannot buy in stores). Also, if you would like to see a feature added to OS/2 in a future version, post here. comp.os.os2.misc For general OS/2 discussion. Post here only if none of the above categories fits. You may also be interested in the following newsgroups which cover OS/2 topics with great frequency: comp.lang.rexx A general newsgroup covering the REXX programming language. Every copy of OS/2 includes a built-in REXX interpreter. comp.sys.powerpc Both Apple and IBM have introduced computers based on the PowerPC processor. IBM (and IBM compatible) PowerPC systems will soon ship with OS/2 for PowerPC (part of the Workplace OS family). Free Real Time Technical Support and OS/2 Discussion ---------------------------------------------------- If your host has an Internet Relay Chat (IRC) client installed, it is poosible to get free help with installing, or any other problems by joining the OS/2 channel. Although the people in the channel are not IBM technical support, they can be very helpful. To see if you have an IRC client, try typing: irc at the command line, and see if it works. To join the OS/2 channel, type: /join #os/2 Aside from Techincal Support, IRC is also a good place to get information, rumours, and tips about OS/2. Reporting Problems to IBM ------------------------- If you have an OS/2 problem you may contact IBM directly. Consult the OS/2 FAQ List for details on OS/2 technical support (through CompuServe, to CompuServe from the Internet, or by telephone). Reporting Problems/Suggestions for this Document ------------------------------------------------ If you notice any problems with or have any suggestions for this document, please e-mail me at: ellidz@midway.uchicago.edu. I try to keep up with any discussions about this document that are posted to any of the newsgroups, but occasionally I miss a few. E-Mailing me will assure that I recieve your comment. Also, please do not hesitate to give me suggestions. Most changes to this document are made because someone has suggested it! Again, welcome to OS/2! -- |ellidz@midway.uchicago.edu | AKA: Ea, he whom nothing escapes | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |--But you have access to the greatest source of knowledge in the universe! | |--Well, yes, I do talk to myself sometimes. |