I think all three answers (except 2) might depend on the version. I'm most familar with an older version (I'm not sure, let me dig out my old laptops manuals here...
ahh, version 2.02, so it's really old info.
Anyways...
1. can OS/2 run Windows programs or not?
I believe so- my version only worked for windows 3.1 (that is, it didn't work for 3.11 because MS had fixed a bug in user.exe and that totally changed everything that IBM had to patch) I believe that was resolved though... I have absolutely no idea as to the situation with OS/2 and 32-bit windows (I don't even know wether OS/2 has been discontinued).
2. does it install over top DOS like Windows 3.xx or can it run without DOS like NT?
The latter. But instead of CMD, you get PC-DOS. I'm pretty sure that PC-DOS is running in virtual x86 mode when you start a prompt in OS/2- much like windows- but, OS/2 is not running on top of DOS. really OS/2 is sort of a cousin to NT.
3. does it install from a CD, is the CD bootable or does it need a boot floppy?
It installs from a CD. my version needed a boot floppy but the later ones do not, to my understanding.
