Using DOS Today...

[CosmicFlux]

Hey,

OK, so I've been thinking. In light of the 'bloatware' we all seem to be accustomed to these days, wouldn't it be nice to take a trip back to a much simpler time? Is it possible to use DOS effectively today, as a full-time OS?

[Dias de verano]

You might have some trouble getting on the net, and you'd have to use a pretty primitive browser, but you could do simple word processing I suppose, if you could find a printer that didn't need a USB connection. I don't think you'd be doing any CD or DVD burning! Personally, I think that for most people, those who are not fanatically determined to prove a point, the answer has to be "no".

[caHarkness]

Great minds think alike.

I just love the old 'DOS' enviroment..
I run a 550MHz Pentium 3 Server with
MS-DOS on it. I also have Windows 3.11
on it just in case I want to manage files/
drivers loaded.

It is really not a bad idea though,
I collect old notebooks/computers and
wipe 'em out and simply start out fresh:
MS-DOS.

[BC_Programmer]

PC-DOS 2000 and win 3.1 on my IBM thinkpad 755CDV. IE5 has a 16-bit version, too.

[CosmicFlux]

16-bit IE5? Great. Is it a chore getting DOS connected to the Internet? I've read about people having to go through Dial-Up and find Packet Drivers?

I was thinking on trying it out with FreeDOS, but somehow it doesn't seem as pure as MS-DOS.

[caHarkness]

I don't use anything other than Microsoft's COMMAND
processor/interpreter.. I wouldn't reccomend other types
of DOS and still using MS-DOS applications.. You are right:
It doesn't seem as pure as MS-DOS.

I'd stick with MS-DOS.
There's just so much you can do with
it AND your imagination.. XD

I wrote a security program/batch file
that required a password before you can
start using the command line.. Really
interesting.

[BC_Programmer]

I wrote a security program/batch file
that required a password before you can
start using the command line.. Really
interesting.

And then you realized that you didn't need the password with Ctrl+Break.

[caHarkness]

Yea, thats a problem..
However.. newbies (to DOS) have a
slim chance around it, you know.. -.0;

[BC_Programmer]

I don't use anything other than Microsoft's COMMAND
processor/interpreter.. I wouldn't reccomend other types
of DOS and still using MS-DOS applications.. You are right:
It doesn't seem as pure as MS-DOS.

On the other hand, you could get the best of both worlds with MS-DOS 7.1, which includes FAT32 support. the trick is finding the installer.....

[erobby]

Well DOS is great I prefer the cmd interperter in Windows 2000 and above with it extend feature and use of commands.  Just because I use Windows doesn't mean I can't enjoy DOS

[Dias de verano]

Well DOS is great I prefer the cmd interperter in Windows 2000 and above with it extend feature and use of commands.  Just because I use Windows doesn't mean I can't enjoy DOS

But the cmd interpreter in Win2k and later is not "DOS".

[erobby]

Well yes you are technically correct that's why I said command interperter, but also DOS isn't technacally DOS.  DOS (Disk Operating System) comes from a time when there were no drive in computer to boot from.

Actually MAC's were the first DOS based machines.   Not they didn't run MS-DOS or IBMDOS, but they were booted from floppy making it by definition a DOS based system.

But thanks for the correcdtion and Input 

[Dias de verano]

but also DOS isn't technacally DOS.  DOS (Disk Operating System) comes from a time when there were no drive in computer to boot from.

"When there was no drive to boot from?" Really? Don't you think you'd better think about what you just wrote? Anyway, when people say "DOS" in the context which we are discussing, they mean "MS-DOS", not "a DOS".

[erobby]

Ok I stand corrected again Hard Disk Drive.  I guess anyone would have taken that out of context since we commonly refer to HDD as drives.

And MS-DOS is just Microsoft's version of DOS.  If you are going to get technical about things then you should not, repeat not mix facts with fiction.  As far the CMD.exe it is still based off command.com, but it takes advantage of the NT features available in a command shell.  So yes there is DOS in Windows up to Windows 2008 Server.  And this is according to Microsoft yes the product producer.  And if Microsft is willing to call the command shell DOS who are we to argue with them?

But thanks again for your input

[Dias de verano]

erobby...