DR DOS Ver. 5.0
                        Copyright 1990 David Batterson

     Microsoft has been talking about its upcoming release of MS-DOS 5.0, not
expected until late '90.  In the meantime, Digital Research decided to jump
into that void by releasing DR DOS 5.0 in June.
     Maybe you've never heard of DR DOS.  Although the name DR DOS sounds like
a PC repairman, the name is pronounced DEE ARE DOS not DOCTOR DOS.
     The basic DOS commands are the same as MS-DOS/PC-DOS, but with many more
features and capabilities.  To use the extended part, you'll need to learn a
few new commands, and parameters for the usual commands (such as FORMAT).
     For instance, you type FORMAT A: /4/V to format a 360K disk in a 1.2 MB
drive, with volume label.  But DR DOS 5.0 has added a new option: FORMAT
/F:nnnn (nnnn stands for disk capacity).  Example:  FORMAT B: /F:720.
     DR DOS 5.0 is 100% compatible with the DOS 4.1 method of setting up disk
partitions; it supports disk partitions up to 512 MB.
     There is on-screen help for each utility, accessed with the /H switch.
Typing SORT/H displays the help lines, telling you that SORT is an ASCII sort
filer, and has the following usage:
          SORT [ /R ]  [ /+number ]
          /R     reverse sort order
          /+n    start sorting with column n (default is column 1)
     DR DOS 5.0 has a full screen text editor, unlike the shabby EDLIN program
found in PC-and MS-DOS.  The editor allows you to create ASCII text files, or
easily edit existing ones, such as your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files.
     DR DOS 5.0 uses slightly less RAM than MS-DOS (72K vs. 75K).  However,
FASTOPEN and SHARE are loaded by default.  The DR DOS 5.0 kernel can be stored
in and executed from ROM, including Intel's FLASH EPROM.
     A new device driver, HIDOS.SYS, is used to load the DR DOS 5.0 kernel
into high memory.  This allows a 286 (with NEAT or LEAP chip set), 386 or i486
to retain 620K of conventional RAM.
     MODE lets you specify the display lines, e.g., MODE CON: LINES = 43.
Keyboard input speed and delay between keystrokes can be changed with MODE
CON: RATE = r DELAY = d.
     MEM is a very useful command.  It shows in both text and graphics display
just how all of your RAM and ROM are allocated.  HILOAD lets you load TSRs
into high memory.
     The TREE /G command displays a graphical depiction of the specified
subdirectory structure.  XDIR has multiple options to display directories and
subdirectories in various forms, such as sort by date or file size.
     ERAQ and DELQ (unlike the MS-DOS DEL command) always query you before
erasing a file.  Now that's handy!
     If you have a laptop, you'll appreciate the CURSOR command.  This creates
a large block cursor with a variable flash rate on VGA, EGA and CGA LCD
screens.
     Laptop owners will also make use of FileLINK, a file-transfer utility.
It lets you transfer files via standard serial cable at up to 115,200-bps.
FileLINK installs itself on the remote PC also.
     Do you want password protection for files and directories?--you've got it
with DR DOS 5.0.  There are three levels of password protection, selected by
the /R /W or /D switches.  Passwords are eight characters maximum.
     There's extended command line editing, using function keys, cursor keys
and <Ctrl> key combinations.  You can even move to previous commands too.
     An included DOS shell is the GUI (Graphical User Interface) called
ViewMAX.  It features the CUA (Common User Access) standard, and can be used
via keyboard or mouse.  You can choose icon, text or tree displays.
     DR DOS 5.0 is fully compatible with LANs, such as Novell Netware, 3COM
and Banyan VINES.  It also supports code page switching.  Installation of DR
DOS 5.0 isn't difficult, and no hard disk reformatting is needed.
     After installing and using DR DOS 5.0, I've deleted my old MS-DOS 3.31
from the hard drive.  I can't see how MS-DOS 5.0 will be able to surpass it,
and I recommend it without reservations.
     Although DR DOS 5.0 was initially sold directly to end users for $199, it
is now available in the retail channel.  Digital's promotional compaign which
started March 1 offers an upgrade from any DOS to DR DOS 5.0 for a suggested
price of $79.
     For more information, contact Digital Research Inc., Box DRI, 70 Garden
Court, Monterey, CA  93942; 800-443-4200, 408-649-3896, FAX: 408-646-6248.
                                       #
     David Batterson reviews various microcomputer applications.  Contact him
via MCI Mail: DBATTERSON.