Michael Weitzel wrote:
The chapter about DOS in computer history is about to be finished.
Actually, there are many people, companies and organizations still using DOS. If I asked everyone here the question of "How many of you are still stuck with DOS?", then it would be everyone that is still running FractInt in a Microsoft environment. But if the same question is asked to the public in general, then you may be surprised by the results. If you think this is a joke, you're lucky. Estimates of DOS applications still critical in corporate environments range from about a million to tens of millions in the USA (a higher percentage overseas). Some companies report they can't move users away from Windows 9x to NT/2000/XP because the newer operating systems block software from reaching important hardware functions. (The company I recently started consulting for relies on two DOS products that have not been updated since 1993 and 1997.) Before you laugh at the predicament of these people (and their IT folks) and pity their DOS-supporting ways, look closely at your total user community in your own company. Walk around the floors with wood highlights on the cubicles and you won't see DOS one (or 6.0 for that matter). But don't think you're clear of DOS. Take a walk around the company areas with concrete floors, such as manufacturing, shipping, and maintenance, and you will find DOS aplenty. Your industrial scale in shipping that uses a serial cable to connect to the computer that figures freight cost? Probably DOS. Repair equipment that provides diagnostic readouts for vehicles? Probably DOS. Overseas operations? Almost assuredly full of DOS applications. Take an inventory of DOS applications in your company, and do it honestly. Some DOS users will have ignored upgrades beyond DOS. Sincerely, P.N.L. ------------------------------------------------- http://home.att.net/~Paul.N.Lee/PNL_Fractals.html