Difference between revisions of "MS-DOS"

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* [[Super Video Graphics Array]]
 
* [[Super Video Graphics Array]]
 
* [[Video Graphics Array]]
 
* [[Video Graphics Array]]
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==Review==
 +
===Good===
 +
* The OS environment of MS-DOS was pretty stable.
 +
* Each version included fairly large improvements, though many of them weren't always seen by the average user.
 +
* Most versions of the OS included a BASIC programming language, like [[GW-BASIC]] and [[QBASIC|QuickBASIC]].
 +
 +
===Bad===
 +
* Very little in the way of interface was ever added to the OS. You mostly looked at a black and gray screen that couldn't be customized. Version 4 added a mouse-driven DOS Shell, and Version 5 included a pretty nice editor, but much more could have been done.
 +
* The OS was designed for a single user running a single task. So, it was very difficult to have it run multiple users or multiple tasks. At best, you could invoke a terminate and stay resident (TSR) program.
 +
* Altering OS configurations (Config.sys) and default staring procedures (AutoExec.bat) was very cryptic, but entirely necessary.
 +
* Out of the box, MS-DOS couldn't do very much. Buying third-party software was a must.
 +
* By giving programmers direct access to hardware, it was possible for poorly written software to crash a computer, which happened more frequently than users would have liked.
 +
* The documentation that came with DOS (at least with every version I had) wasn't very helpful.
 +
 +
===Ugly===
 +
* Hardware limitations lasted too long and made it very difficult to make complicated hardware and software. Half-assed attempts were made to get beyond the 640K memory barrier with expanded and extended memory, but it was always difficult to use. Hard drive limitations always lagged behind, and DOS remained 16-bit until the released of [[Windows 95]].
  
 
==Gallery==
 
==Gallery==

Revision as of 13:43, 24 May 2018

File:MS-DOS.jpg
MS-DOS v6.22.

MS-DOS is a command line operating system developed and published by Microsoft in 1981. It was based on QDOS, and designed to run on IBM personal computers. It saw continual improvements and was released for a number of similar computers until it was finally superseded by Windows 95. Until the release of Windows 95, MS-DOS was the primary platform for IBM-compatible PC gaming.

My family's first computer came with MS-DOS 5.0, which we later upgraded to 6.22 after its release. I've also used version 3.22 on my cousin's Tandy 1000 which I spent a lot of time on.

MS-DOS can be emulated in most virtual machines, but to also emulate various forms of hardware that was popular during the DOS era, you will need a program like DOSBox.

Software

The following is software developed for MS-DOS that is important to me.

Applications

Games

See all DOS Games.

Programming Languages

Hardware

This is hardware that is compatible with MS-DOS and important to me.

Review

Good

  • The OS environment of MS-DOS was pretty stable.
  • Each version included fairly large improvements, though many of them weren't always seen by the average user.
  • Most versions of the OS included a BASIC programming language, like GW-BASIC and QuickBASIC.

Bad

  • Very little in the way of interface was ever added to the OS. You mostly looked at a black and gray screen that couldn't be customized. Version 4 added a mouse-driven DOS Shell, and Version 5 included a pretty nice editor, but much more could have been done.
  • The OS was designed for a single user running a single task. So, it was very difficult to have it run multiple users or multiple tasks. At best, you could invoke a terminate and stay resident (TSR) program.
  • Altering OS configurations (Config.sys) and default staring procedures (AutoExec.bat) was very cryptic, but entirely necessary.
  • Out of the box, MS-DOS couldn't do very much. Buying third-party software was a must.
  • By giving programmers direct access to hardware, it was possible for poorly written software to crash a computer, which happened more frequently than users would have liked.
  • The documentation that came with DOS (at least with every version I had) wasn't very helpful.

Ugly

  • Hardware limitations lasted too long and made it very difficult to make complicated hardware and software. Half-assed attempts were made to get beyond the 640K memory barrier with expanded and extended memory, but it was always difficult to use. Hard drive limitations always lagged behind, and DOS remained 16-bit until the released of Windows 95.

Gallery

  • A list of worthwhile DOS games.

  • Another list of good DOS games.

Links

Retrieved from "http://thealmightyguru.com/Wiki/index.php?title=MS-DOS&oldid=12446"