I asked Glenn if he could show me where he had read that Windows XP no
longer had a command line interface.  I went to the link that Glenn
graciously provided and I realized that the small paragraph was written
with Windows 3.11/9x/Me in mind.  I reproduce the article here:

"And it seems the old software giant has finally given computer users a
real incentive to upgrade--no more DOS. Windows XP, based on Windows NT,
has not only scrapped the old command-line system, but has expanded the
system's networking and multimedia capabilities, and has the most
significant interface enhancements since Windows 95. The final release will
be available in two versions, Windows XP Professional for business users
and Windows XP Home Edition for home users. "

Notice the fragment "has not only scrapped the old command-line system,"
 This is very misleading.  In effect the article is saying that Windows XP
is not DOS-based.  Duh, it is based completely on Windows NT.  Windows NT,
-in its current iteration, Windows 2000- is not based on DOS, though it has
virtually all the DOS commands in its repertoire.  DOS was never used in
Windows NT, as the operating system was 32 bit from the start.

It seems that Windows XP is mainly Windows 2000 with a new interface and
some new drivers and components.  It adds more support for running
DOS-based applications that currently run on Windows 9x/Me, something that
Windows 2000 does not allow, hence the original screen shot that Glenn
shared with us.

So, to set the record straight.  Windows XP is an evolution of Windows 2000
and it is not much of a change for the current Windows NT/2000 users.  It
totally sheds DOS, but seems to create a DOS-compatible virtual machine
that will allow Windows 9x/Me-only applications (that do not currently run
on Windows 2000) to run on Windows XP.  It will be a BIG change for the
Windows 9x/Me users.


Kind regards,

Denys. . .

Denys Beauchemin
HICOMP
(800) 323-8863  (281) 288-7438         Fax: (281) 355-6879
denys at hicomp.com                             www.hicomp.com


-----Original Message-----
From:   COLE,GLENN (Non-HP-SantaClara,ex2) [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:   Saturday, April 07, 2001 5:18 PM
To:     [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
Subject:        RE: [HP3000-L] MS adopts CM

Denys writes:

> If one takes the time to read the caption at the link you so thoughtfully
> provided, one would see that Windows XP offers the possibility to start
an
> application, be it 16 or 32 bits in a virtual machine that will emulate
an
> earlier version of a Windows operating system.  That is new.
Compatibility
> Mode is not new on Windows, but emulating one of a choice of earlier OS,
> that is something the HP 3000 does not do.

...because the e3000 has been upwardly compatible (not perfectly, but
darned near), so there has been no need to "choose one."  Then again,
given the various "service packs" (and MPE PowerPatches), choosing an
OS likely causes XP to assume the most recent service pack.

But this whole choice implies to me an acknowledgement that things were
not upwards compatible.  Otherwise, why choose at all?  Unless XP is
actually allowing old PM-like apps to continue to function.

That strikes me as much more difficult than -- and not as useful as --
continuing to provide DOS, which I understand XP does not include.
I wonder if that (DOS) will be the primary use of the virtual machine.

Without getting into OS wars (really!), I find it terribly ironic
that XP is ditching the command line at very nearly the same time
as the Mac is adopting it.

--Glenn

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