IBM DOS One-Ups DOS 6 September '93 submitted by: Gloria Short Brain Storm Learning 713-550-8105 DOS just gets better and better. First Microsoft adds data compression, antivirus, memory management, defragmentation, and backup capabilities in its latest DOS offering, 6.0. Now it's IBM's turn, and Big Blue doesn't disappoint: IBM DOS 6.1 offers the same features- sans data compression- and adds tape backup, support for PCMCIA devices and pen- input systems, an enhanced text editor, a system diagnostics utility, and several other cool tools. (So you don't recall an IBM DOS 6.0? No wonder- there wasn't one. IBM is attempting to distinguish its DOS 6 from Microsoft's and will likely market DOS 6.1 as an upgrade to MS-DOS 6.0.) Tape Backup and More IBM's DOS 6.1 is in many ways better than Microsoft's DOS 6.0, although not by a wide margin. Both let you run most of their utilities from the DOS command line, the DOS Shell, or Windows. In a comparison of utilities, IBM DOS's greatest advantage lies in its backup software: Licensed from Central Point Software, Central Point Backup supports backup to tape drives. MS-DOS's scaled-down version of Symantec's Norton Backup supports only floppy drive backups. Why is tape support so important? Try backing up a 200MB hard drive with a mile-high stack of floppies, and you'll find out soon enough. Also included in IBM DOS is the Central Point Scheduler utility, which allows you to schedule unattended backups and the automatic launching of other programs. For example, you could use Scheduler to run your data compression program after work hours. Microsoft DOS 6.0 doesn't provide a scheduler utility. However, not every utility in IBM DOS 6.1 is superior to its Microsoft counterpart- some are equal. For instance, both products include a defragmenter licensed from Symantec; the utilities appear to be identical, right down to their point-and-click interface. The antivirus utilities sport different interfaces but offer similar capabilities, and both scanned effectively in informal PC World trials. IBM DOS 6.1 includes Central Point RAMBoost, a memory manager that helps optimize system memory by moving device drivers and terminate-and-stay- resident programs (TSRs) to upper memory, freeing more conventional RAM (the PC's first 640K) for DOS programs. Like MemMaker in Microsoft DOS 6.0, RAMBoost operates automatically. Type RAMSETUP at the DOS prompt, and RAMBoost reconfigures and reboots your PC to get the best fit for your TSRs and drivers in upper RAM. I found this utility as easy to use as MemMaker and got similar results- it freed about 620K of conventional RAM. Both RAMBoost and MemMaker work with 386-class or better processors. Also new in IBM DOS 6.1 is a diagnostic utility that quickly displays your system's hardware configuration. Need that information handy when you call tech support? Simply type QCONFIG at the DOS prompt; you'll get a list of important details about your system, including PC identification number, BIOS revision and type, processor type, and information on the keyboard, mouse, serial and parallel ports, hard and floppy disks, and memory usage. You can redirect this information to a file as well as print it. IBM DOS 6.1 also includes Microsoft DOS's MSD configuration utility. While QCONFIG merely scrolls your system information across the screen, MSD comes with an easy-to-use mouse- driven interface. Utilities aside, IBM DOS 6.1 includes all the operating system enhancements you'll find in MS-DOS 6.0, including the SmartDrive disk cache, a new MOVE command that moves files to a different directory or disk, and a multiple configuration facility that lets you choose a system configuration at start-up- useful if you've got a motley collection of TSRs or device drivers to load. Nobody wants to load a full-featured and slow-loading word processor to dash off a memo or edit a simple text file. IBM DOS 6.1 has a new text editor that makes it easier than past IBM versions did to write quick notes and edit system files such as CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT. Like Microsoft's DOS, it lets you create multiple configurations. Simply type an E at the DOS prompt (or double-click the IBM DOS E Editor listing if you're using the DOS Shell), and up pops a no-frills word processor. You can use key combinations and function keys to move, copy, or delete text as well as perform other basic editing tasks. While the IBM DOS editor is ideal if you enjoy memorizing keyboard commands, I found the menu- driven text editor in MS-DOS 6.0 easier to learn. PenDOS and PCMCIA Support IBM had a future generation of hand-held, pen-based PCs in mind when it added PenDOS to DOS 6.1. This pop-up utility is a scaled-down version of CIC's Handwriter Recognition System If you have a pen tablet computer or a conventional PC with an external digitizer, you can use PenDOS to enter simple numbers and symbols into your DOS applications by hand. PenDOS's pop-up QWERTY keyboard lets pen tablet users input letters by tapping them on the screen. PenDOS is designed for users who want to learn more about pen-based computing, and the company plans to sell a full-featured version that recognizes uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and symbols. Currently PenDOS could prove useful to site workers who need a simple text entry tool, but its usefulness for most desktop PC users is probably limited. PCMCIA slots are rapidly becoming de rigueur in portable PCs- and soon will appear in desktops. These slots hold compact, credit card-size devices such as fax-modems, network adapters, memory cards, and miniature disk drives. IBM DOS 6.1 includes software licensed from Phoenix Technologies that lets you install and remove PCMCIA cards without rebooting, as well as receive information about each PCMCIA socket and card in your system (such as card name, socket number, and so on). Blue DOS Best Is IBM's DOS better than Microsoft's? My initial impression is yes. Overall, IBM's DOS offers a superior collection of utilities- unless you simply must have data compression. But IBM is expected to enhance its DOS in later versions, starting with a free 6.1 upgrade with data compression, by the end of the summer. (IBM's DOS 5.0 was bundled with Stac Electronics' Stacker compression software and Qualitas's 386Max memory manager.) Later this year IBM should release an innovative version that incorporates its Workplace Shell, a graphical interface with drag-and-drop capabilities and Macintosh-style folders. All these improvements to DOS lead to one conclusion: Competition gives users the best choices. - Jeff Bertolucci IBM DOS 6.1 Big Blue's latest DOS one-ups Microsoft's DOS 6.0 with a better collection of utilities. Key Features: Central Point Backup with tape drive support Antivirus software RAMBoost memory manager PenDOS pen-input utility PCMCIA support Pricing: Unavailable at press time Availability: Immediate IBM, 800/772-2227 Shout It Out: With any of IBM's three new voice recognition programs, your PC will follow your spoken commands- navigating Windows, retrieving database information, even taking dictation. VoiceType Control for Windows ($129) ships with 32 voice commands, such as "file save," "font bold," and "next window," and lets you create 32 voice commands for each of your Windows applications. The 32 preset commands are modifiable, but IBM doesn't recommend changing them. The software comes with your choice of a headset or a hand-held microphone. To use it, you need a 386SX or better with a Sound Blaster card. If you need to dictate short documents, IBM VoiceType 2 for DOS ($2195) fills the bill. The software's 5000-word vocabulary can be expanded to 7000 words. While the typical person's vocabulary contains around 32,000 words, 7000 should cover common business documents, says IBM. The software also has preset voice commands for Microsoft DOS 5.0 and 6.0, IBM DOS 5 and 6.1, and nine other DOS applications, including WordStar, 1-2-3, and dBASE. You can create commands for other common DOS apps. The program requires a 386SX or better and IBM's Audio Capture Playback Adapter, which costs about $180. The adapter card comes in ISA and Micro Channel versions and is standard in IBM multimedia PCs. The high-end IBM Speech Server Series (ISSS) offers serious word power. At $2495 for the stand-alone version with a 20,000-word vocabulary and $6950 for the multiuser version with 32,000 words ($695 for each client), it takes dictation at 70 words a minute. It's available on the RISC 6000 client-server platform.