For all the PC compatible users which are contemplating the new Microsoft 6.0 DOS or DOS upgrade, you might want to read this.

I have heard several opinions from many people ranging from positive to very, very negative. The main problem seems to be related to the disk "compression" feature. This "compression" feature allows you to approximately "double" the amount of information on your hard disk. The new DOS 6.0 adds the two features of memory management and disk compression (disk doubling), which have been around for quite awhile in products from many third party software developers. Several people have told me that DOS 6.0 provides a less expensive way to get all these features in one package. To each his own.

Like any major software upgrade, you should consider the upgrade carefully and determine if you need or desire the new features. Just because it is new does not mean it is better. I have seen many improved software packages become slower and larger.

Since IBM will soon be releasing their version of DOS 6, which may have a different disk "compression" feature, I feel that is a time to take a "wait and see attitude". The IBM version may also be less expensive.

If you must upgrade, however, I would use a good backup method that is compatible with your old DOS and use it on a very regular basis. Test the backup to make sure that these backups can be read from a machine running your older version of DOS. I would also not use the disk "compression" feature as this seems to be the major reported problem.

Copyright © 1993 Rick Smith All rights reserved.