>Over the long haul, the world is moving to SQL databases, which I think would make
>the
>dBASE5 learing curve unappealing unless you need it for a specific reason. With the
>'big' SQL databases, like DB2 & Oracle, there is a big time learning curve. At least
>in
>OS/2, there is a native program called dBExpert which you can use as a 'front end' to
>DB2, and it will handle either xBASE or DB2 databases. On the Linux front, I am not
>aware (currently) of any equivalent, although with IBM's committment to 'nix there
>could
>be one coming. Or if you just want to fool around without much of a learning curve,
>you
>could get Paradox (older versions dirt cheap on dBay). There is a 4.5 for DOS and
>5.0
>for Windows that are file compatable. They both have pretty graphic front ends and
>let
>you do advanced querys without much effort. The 5.0 Windows 3.1 version also lets
>you go back & forth between dBASE and Paradox file formats with a click or two.
I tried Paradox and didn't like it, v3.5 for DOS. Why go any further with
Paradox, however cheap, when I can get MySQL, PostgreSQL or possibly DB2 free?
There was an SQL with dBASE IV, presumably as good or better with dBASE 5, but
was it up to ANSI standards?
>>How does Netscape 4.6 for OS/2 perform for you? Netscape 4.04 for OS/2 crawls
>>for me. I have Cx486DX2-S at 66 MHz with 20 MB RAM, not a good bet for DB2.
>>
>Netscape 4x is a BIG MEMORY HOG on any operating system. 4.6 is actually better
>than 4.04 in terms of speed, but it does so by grabbing most of your cpu & process
>time. Your best solution would be to pick up some more RAM. 32 MB simms are very
>cheap out there as everyone moves to PC100 & PC133 RAM, and generally speaking,
>on the net you will notice better speed improvements with RAM over newer processors.
Where do I find 32 MB simms, and how much would one cost? Is it worthwhile for
my present computer? I have no sound, not enough hard disk space, nonbootable
CD-ROM, BIOS that goes back to year 1994 or 2094 on reboot, haven't tested that
yet this year (2001) to see what year it goes to. Would Linux or *BSD, with its
own millennium bug coming up some time in 2038, like coming up in year 2094?
Would a 486 be good enough even with more RAM? I wonder how long 128 MB RAM
will be good, considering the tendencies toward super-bloatware. Maybe I need
256 MB RAM with a new computer?
>Yes. The money has moved to the Winx world, and the folks who love computers
>seem to be moving to Linux/BSD. For those of us who love OS/2, the good news is that
>xFree86 runs well on OS/2, so we have very quick ports of most of the GNU freeware
>programs like SANE & GIMP & device drivers. There seem to be a number of folks
>who use Warp & Linux, for example. I don't think DOS is dead; it works too well.
>But the
>development emphasis has definitely moved on.
I noticed in one newsgroup, ecomstation.support.misc on server
news.ecomstation.nl, a message to the effect that XFree86 was not working on
OS/2 Warp Server for e-business, and eComStation has the same kernel. Maybe
they'll fix it (XFree86 or Serenity Systems?)?
Did you ever try to run Arachne in an NT 4 VDM? Who provides better DOS
emulation between NT & OS/2 Warp 4? Even under straight DOS, Arachne scrolling
seems slow and clumsy.
