Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers,comp.os.msdos.misc Path: vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!torn!news.ccs.queensu.ca!polowin From: polowin@chem.queensu.ca (Joel Polowin) Subject: DOS 7.0 / OS/3 Message-ID: Keywords: intended april fool's Sender: news@knot.ccs.queensu.ca (Netnews janitor) Organization: Dept. of Chemistry, Queen's University Date: Thu, 21 Apr 1994 20:54:16 GMT Lines: 34 Xref: vixen.cso.uiuc.edu alt.folklore.computers:68763 comp.os.msdos.misc:24503 I tried to post this on April first, but the message seems to have gotten eaten somewhere. Not being one to waste a good joke, or even a mediocre one, I thought I'd try to post it again despite the now- lousy timing... ---------- A leaked internal memo from Microsoft revealed today that their forthcoming operating-system release, DOS 7.0, will finally allow programs to exceed 640kB in size, and will otherwise make much more efficient use of RAM. DOS 7.0 will include a new device driver, RAMSQUSH.SYS, which will provide on-the-fly compression/decompression of all executables in RAM. Although the *actual* storage will still be limited to 640kB, it is expected that most executables are sufficiently compressible that they may occupy a virtual space of up to two-and-a-half to three times the true physical maximum. As each machine command is executed, RAMSQUSH.SYS will extract the next command from the compressed code. RAMSQUSH.SYS is a development from Microsoft's popular DBLSPACE disk-compression manager. It is expected to make full use of the power of Intel's forthcoming Hexium processor. Asked for comment, IBM representatives hinted that they too have been working on on-the-fly compression of executables. They insisted that although the soon-to-be-released OS/3 will occupy only one-third of the original amount of RAM, "it is STILL not any fraction of an operating system." Joel Polowin polowin@silicon.chem.queensu.ca, polowin@chem.queensu.ca, polowinj@qucdn.queensu.ca