Ron's Brain

Beats lickin' dog butt.
Software review: Microsoft Windows/286
Posted by Ron on Thursday, September 12th, 2002, 01:42:29 PM

In the often-confusing world of computers, it is difficult to know what is reliable and what is just plain junk. That is why people such as myself often are given the opportunity to review computer related merchandise and publish our findings. It is in this spirit that I present a review of Microsoft Windows/286.

System requirements
System requirements for the OS are pretty light, compared to some of the other bloated OS's out there. To run Windows/286 you require 512K RAM, DOS 3.0 or higher, 720K disk space, and a graphics adapter card, such as a CGA, EGA or Hercules card. A mouse is optional, but comes in quite handy if you can find one.

(Fig. 1)Windows/286 is a must-have for any modern business hoping to take advantage of current technologies

Installation
Installation of the OS was a snap. The setup disks prompted me for each new disk, and the files were unarchived and transferred to my hard drive. It only took an hour and I was up and running in no time!

Use
The interface was very easy to use.

(Fig. 2) The interface may look simplistic, but it is very intuitive.
Once I got the hang of using the mouse, I was able to open, edit, and create multiple text files, enter the yellow castle, use the calculator, and drink my soda in a near-realtime environment. The security of the system was also quite impressive. As you can see in figure 2, the yellow castle held all my confidential files, and access to those files required the yellow key, which is difficult to get because it is guarded by a system monitoring application called "Dragon." I must say that I am very impressed.

Downside
Though I am sure to continue using it, Windows/286 seems to be lacking in certain applications, mainly graphics manipulation packages and development platforms. There are commercial FORTRAN compilers out there for Windows/286, they are quite expensive and aren't a real solution for the hobbyist programmer. Still, this should not deter one from using Windows/286.

Conclusion
Microsoft Windows/286 is a robust operating system that can compliment any business environment as well as satisfy even the most picky of home users. It's elegance, sleek interface, and quick operation make it the perfect choice for anyone.

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