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     cannot upgrade to OS/2 for Windows.

   * OS/2 SMP - SMP stands for symmetric multiprocessing. This is a version
     of OS/2 that is capable of using the greater power of PCs that have a
     number of processors in them. As a rule, such PCs are normally used as
     file servers on large networks, so this product is aimed at the
     corporate market.

   * OS/2 2.99, Warp, Performance OS/2 - These names were all used to refer
     to the beta test version of OS/2 Warp version 3 (see below).

   * OS/2 Warp version 3 - The current mainstream release of the OS/2
     family. It is reported to be faster and more responsive than earlier
     versions of OS/2 (although not in some systems - particularly those
     with slow disks), with smaller memory requirements. It also includes a
     number of usability enhancements, such as a LaunchPad for quickly
     launching applications. The first version of Warp to be released was
     based on the OS/2 for Windows code, and so did not ship with Windows
     code included.

     Warp comes in four flavours: OS/2 Warp, OS/2 with Win-OS/2, OS/2 Warp
     Connect and OS/2 Warp Connect with Win-OS/2. The 'with WIN-OS/2'
     versions include Windows code from IBM (as well as the cost of a
     Windows license, naturally). Users of OS/2 2.1 can upgrade to 'with
     Win-OS/2' versions of OS/2 Warp. The Connect versions are designed to
     allow easy connection to local area networks, and come with built in
     peer to peer networking facilities.

   * OS/2 for PowerPC - A version of OS/2 for the PowerPC platform, released
     in 1995.

   * OS/2 Warp Server - OS/2 Warp Connect integrated with IBM LAN server
     4.0. This version of Warp is designed for networked computers serving
     files and printers to other computers on the network.

   * Merlin - OS/2 version 4 beta release.

   * OS/2 Warp 4 - The current version of OS/2 which comes with VoiceType
     speech to text dictation and built in Java support (Warp 4 was the
     first OS to provide this), as well as built in networking. It does not
     run on 386 processor PCs.

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5) Team OS/2 related jargon

This section is intended to explain some of the terms used by Teamers and in
this document. The world of computing in general seems to be rife with
jargon, and this can be confusing for the newcomer. Hopefully, things will
be a little clearer after having read this section.

APAR
     APAR stands for Authorized Program Analysis Report. An APAR is a
     problem or bug (qv) in OS/2 that IBM has officially recognised and
     either has fixed, or is in the process of fixing. Fixpacks (qv) usually
     come with a list of APARs that have been fixed.
Beta
     A pre-release version of a program. OS/2 was subject to one of the
     widest beta tests ever, with many copies being shipped to customers.
     Beta products are often unstable and usually contain many bugs (qv),
     but allow the user to test out the product ahead of its release.
Bug
     A problem with a piece of software that causes it to operate
     incorrectly.
CPU
     Central processing unit. The part of the computer that does the work.
     OS/2 runs on computers containing Intel (qv) 80386, 80486, and Pentium
     CPUs.
CSD
     Corrective Service Diskettes. The same thing as 'Service Pack' (qv).
DOS
     The Disk Operating System. This was the operating system (qv) shipped
     with the original IBM PC in 1981. It has since gone through seven major
     releases.
Fixpack
     Yet another name for a Service Pack (qv)
FReq
     Fidonet term. File Request. A netmail (qv) message sent directly to a
     BBS system requesting files from them.
FTP
     file transfer protocol. A method of transferring files from a remote
     machine to your machine over the internet. For details of how to use
     it, type 'man ftp' or 'help ftp' on your local system.
FUD
     Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. Term used to describe certain
     unscrupulous marketing techniques whereby large amounts of incorrect
     information are disseminated to the public in order to aversely effect
     sales of a product.
GA
     General Availability. The GA release of a product is the first 'for
     sale' release.
GUI
     A Graphical User interface. This is a method of interaction with the
     computer (usually using a mouse - an electronic device used to move a
     cursor around the screen) that is theoretically more intuitive than the
     command line interface used in DOS, because it uses graphics to
     represent various tasks to the user. Sometimes described as a WIMP
     (Windows, Icons, Menus and Pointers) system. Windows (qv), and OS/2's
     Workplace Shell are both graphical user interfaces.
HTML
     Hypertext markup language. Confusing piece of jargon that is used to
     describe the language in which World Wide Web (qv) documents are
     written.
HTTP
     The hypertext transfer protocol. Another confusing piece of jargon that
     just means that a World Wide Web (qv) document is in the standard form
     for Web browsers (qv).
IBM
     The International Business Machines corporation, manufacturer of OS/2.
INF
     A file extension used to denote IPF files readable by the VIEW program
     supplied with OS/2. INF files have the form .INF. The VIEW
     program presents these files in a user friendly and intuitive manner,
     allowing the user to manipulate the information contained easily.
Intel
     A manufacturer of CPU (qv) chips.
Netmail
     Fidonet term. Private mail transferred between Fidonet systems.
Operating System
     The software that allows a computer to run other programs.
OS/2
     IBM's (qv) Operating System/2 (or OS/2 for short) is an advanced 32 bit
     Operating System (qv) for IBM PCs and compatibles with an 80386, 80486,
     Pentium, Pentium Pro, or other compatible processor, and also the
     PowerPC (qv). Amongst the advantages of OS/2 are pre-emptive
     multitasking, DOS and Windows compatibility, an advanced object
     oriented GUI (qv), multimedia support and much more.
PowerPC
     A new kind of PC based on a CPU (qv) developed jointly by IBM (qv),
     Apple and Motorola.
PSP
     Personal Software Products, the division of IBM responsible for
     marketing OS/2.
Recursion
     See recursion (qv).
Service Pack
     A collection of OS/2 bug fixes that are distributed together to allow
     users to get rid of several fixed problems.
SP
     see Service Pack.
Teamer
     Member of Team OS/2 (qv).
Team OS/2
     Informal organisation dedicated to promoting OS/2 at a grass roots
     level.
Web browser
     A piece of software, such as WebExplorer (which comes with OS/2), that
     is used to access the World Wide Web (qv). Other popular browsers
     include Netscape and Mosaic.
Windows
     A GUI (qv) for DOS (qv). OS/2 was originally designed as the successor
     to Windows by IBM and Microsoft, but Microsoft have since decided to
     follow a different path with their Windows NT (qv) product.
Windows NT
     Microsoft's alternative GUI operating system intended originally as a
     competitor to OS/2, but more recently marketed as a high end server
     platform.
Windows 95
     Microsoft's latest upgrade to Windows (qv) and replacement for DOS (qv)
     including some of the features and improved stability of Windows
     NT.(qv)
Workplace OS
     A portable version of OS/2 that will run on several different types of
     computer, currently being designed by IBM.
World Wide Web
     Term used to describe a way of providing linked information over the
     Internet. OS/2 (qv) now comes with software that enables users to
     access the web.
WWW
     Abbreviation for World wide Web (qv).

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Appendix A

Revision History

Version 2.41 is as usual long overdue, but contains only minor corrections
to version 2.4, as well as noting the sad demise of official IBM support for
Team OS/2.

Version 2.4 contains more updates (mostly IBM contact information) plus a
new question (again about Team OS/2 and other OSes). Since I no longer
moderate the Fidonet Team OS/2 echo, I've handed over maintainence of what
used to be Appendix A (information specific to that echo) to the new
moderator. As a result the Revision History now becomes Appendix A.
Exciting, eh?

The long overdue version 2.3 involves a few cosmetic changes, a load of
updates (sigh, the world moves too fast for me), and a complete translation
to HTML. The text version is now generated from the HTML version. (anyone
who has an HTML to IPF source converter would make my day if they'd send me
a copy). I've also added a couple of new questions (on other operating
systems, and appropriate topics in the Fidonet Team OS/2 echo). OneStop
Software was also added to the software sources list.

Version 2.20 is an attempt to make the information contained here more
current.

Version 2.10 updates some information that has become out of date since
version 2.01. The section on sources of information has been greatly
expanded (thanks to Byron Huang for this info), and a new section on the
history and versions of OS/2 has been added. Question 1(a).5, dealing with
Teamers and Windows, is also new. OS/2 Internet mailing list details are now
included, in section 2(a).2.

This document is intended to be a universal source of Team OS/2 related
information, but does contain a few gaping holes, notably relating to
electronic networks that I do not participate in. In particular, I must
apologise for the US/anglocentric focus of this document, as these are the
areas for which such information is readily available to me. It is my hope
that individuals with knowledge in areas that I lack would send it to me for
inclusion in the next release. Thank you.

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Team OS/2 FAQ v 2.41 / Christi Scarborough / christi@teamos2.org

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