Pre-Release IBM OS/2* 2.0 - 32-Bit Graphics Engine and Win-OS/2* Version 3.1 Beta Program

September 16, 1992

OVERVIEW

IBM is initiating a beta program to obtain testing and development feedback for the OS/2 32-Bit Graphics Engine and WIN-OS/2 Version 3.1 capabilities.  The code is being made available for testing and development feedback purposes only, and should NOT be used in production.

DESCRIPTION

The 32-bit Graphics Engine is a full 32 bit implementation of the OS/2 2.0 Graphics Engine and Graphics Programming interface. It includes a full 32 bit implementation of the XGA and VGA device drivers, and is fully compatible with existing 16 bit device drivers.  New features that developers can now take advantage of are increased system limits for graphic objects and handles and support for Palette Management on XGA adapters.  The 32-bit Graphics Engine will be of interest to OS/2 2.0 users who need to evaluate Seamless PM/Windows Mode with high resolution (1024x768) XGA and selected SVGA support.

WIN-OS/2 Version 3.1 provides the ability to run Windows** Standard Mode applications which should execute with improved performance and application integrity over WIN-OS/2 Version 3.0. It includes support for the level of display and printer drivers that were shipped with Microsoft** Windows 3.1, as well as the 3.1 level of support for Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) and Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE).  New features include Seamless PM/Windows execution on XGA, and unique AUTOEXEC.BAT files per VDM.  WIN-OS/2 Version 3.1 requires the accompanying 32-bit Graphics Engine to run.

PREREQUISITES

-  Requires a test system capable of executing OS/2 Version 2.0

-  Does not support installing over OS/2 1.3 or OS/2 2.0.  You need to reformat your partition.

ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS

For customers without local branch office support or remote customer locations, a notice will be posted on CompuServe providing a toll free number to order one set of diskettes for their enterprise.  This program will end on December 15th, 1992.

*  OS/2 and WIN-OS/2 are trademarks or registered trademarks of IBM Corporation.
** Microsoft and Windows are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.