 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group OS/2 in Print Major Keary |
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With the introduction of IBM's Warp version of OS/2 we can expect a surge of guides, companions, bibles, and so on. Many will be updated editions of existing titles, so an overview of some established OS/2 books will be a good guide to what their respective Warp editions will be like.
Of course, not all established OS/2 users will rush into upgrading and current titles will still meet their needs.
OS/2 Unleashed
From SAMS Publishing, the Unleashed series covers a range of applications and subjects. They are big books, of a consistently high standard, and comprehensive. OS/2 2.11 Unleashed, 2nd edition, comes with a CD full of programs and utilities. The 25 test drives of commercial packages may be of interest, but are essentially promotional. There are 37 shareware and freeware packages, some of which are games. Of more interest are the programs - over 50 - written by IBM employees and providing a wide range of utilities. There are also IBM Ultimedia demos, and listings of OS/2 user groups and BBSs.
The book is intended for all levels of user, from OS/2 novices, through network users and system administrators, to application developers. One seems to hear most frequently about difficulties in the installation of OS/2 - a substantial amount of space is devoted to that topic and related matters, such as configuration and reconfiguration.
There is a strong emphasis on running DOS and Windows applications on the OS/2 platform. Most users will be running such applications and the information is detailed and well-presented. The chapter on font handling is of particular interest, covering more than just font installation.
For a full explanation of all the features of OS/2 this has to be the best book presently available.
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Moskowitz, Kerr, et al.: OS/2 2.11 Unleashed, 2nd edition ISBN 0 672 30445 7 Published by SAMS 1332 pages plus CD-ROM RRP $87.95 |
The OS/2 Handbook
For beginners and intermediate users who want something readable rather than a heavy-weight reference, this book describes the operating system and contains a good section dealing with possible installation problems.
A chapter on setting up applications lists a couple of hundred packages with details of correct settings. At first glance the information may seem to be out of date, but the mention of specific versions of yesteryear means there were potential problems with those particular programs.
It is a useful guide for anyone installing OS/2 for the first time. In particular, it addresses the issue of optimum installation for running DOS and Windows based applications.
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William Zack: The OS/2 Handbook 2nd edition ISBN 0 442 01914 9 Published by Van Nostrand Reinhold 487 pages RRP $64.95 |
OS/2 for Programmers
Books in Van Nostrand Reinhold's OS/2 series cater especially for programmers. The books are well-written, well-presented, and contain expert information compiled by authors who are mostly IBM people. Of particular interest to programmers and developers is Message
Functions, spiral bound to lie flat at an opening and a handy size for desk use.
It contains concise information about all the messages thrown up by OS/2, arranged in alphabetical order within groups (notebook control messages, button control messages, through to Window messages). The book is comprehensive, well organised, and contains a wealth of data. It is not intended for ordinary users, but is designed those who need such information at their fingertips.
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Nora Scholin: OS/2 Message Functions ISBN 0 442 01898 3 547 pages Published by Van Nostrand Reinhold RRP $45.95 |
Object oriented programming at an advanced level is the subject of Objects for OS/2, written by three IBM experts who have put together the latest information on OOP in the OS/2 environment. Even though it is designed as a reference, it is easy to understand (even humorous) and takes the reader through the various OOP concepts using non-technical examples. There is a lot of usable sample code in C, conveniently contained in a companion disk.
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Danforth, Koenen, and Tate: Objects for OS/2 ISBN 0 442 01738 3 446 pages plus disk Published by Van Nostrand Reinhold RRP $69.95 |
A fast-growing programming field is object oriented programming (OOP) and one of the systems for developing OOP software is IBM's System Object Model (SOM), which lends itself to use on multiple platforms: OS/2, Windows, Macintosh System 7, and others. A book for programmers and developers, Object-Oriented Programming, is an excellent introduction. In common with other books in the VNR OS/2 series, it is clearly written with plenty of examples, the code for which is on a companion disk. Computer science students should find it of use, particularly its insight into SOM technology.
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Christina Lau: Object-Oriented Programming Using SOM and DSOM ISBN 0 442 01948 3 272 pages plus disk Published by Van Nostrand Reinhold RRP $79.95 |
Bound to be well-thumbed, Your OS/2 Warp Consultant is a compact and extraordinarily comprehensive reference. The pun on "bound" is intended; it is inevitable that the Consultant will be well-thumbed, and the binding is designed to enable the book to lie flat at an opening. It is called a break-back binding that cracks, so to speak, when folded back at an opening.
It is organised in parts that cover broad aspects of OS/2, such as Cracking the Workplace Shell, Printing, Communications and the Internet, and WIN-OS/2. Within each part there are chapters on specific topics, and each chapter has - after a brief introduction - a series of questions and answers that cover just about every conceivable query and problem.
A Question Reference of some nineteen pages lists each question by category and gives its page number. That, with the comprehensive index, is sure to make finding the solution to any problem as easy as possible. For example, I always want either one or three copies of everything I print. Is there an easier way than changing the print queue each time? The solution is not simple, but the answer is easy to follow.
There are plenty of useful tips and notes, boxed to separate them from the main text. Screen shots are used judiciously to illustrate particular points, but not to the extent of padding.
A reference that deserves a place on any OS/2 user's desk. It is the right size to have readily at hand. A really useful book and good even for an browse.
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Herb Tyson: Your OS/2 Warp Consultant ISBN 0 672 30484 8 Published by SAMS 611 pages RRP $55.95 |
Reprinted from the March 1995 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
