OS/2 2.0 32-bit Graphics Engine/Windows 3.1 Beta Program

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September 16, 1992

IBM is initiating a beta program to obtain testing and development feedback for the OS/2 32-Bit Graphics Engine and WIN-OS/2 Version 3.1 capabilities. The code is being made available for testing and development feedback purposes only, and should NOT be used in production.

The 32-bit Graphics Engine is a full 32 bit implementation of the OS/2 2.0 Graphics Engine and Graphics Programming interface. It includes a full 32 bit implementation of the XGA and VGA device drivers, and is fully compatible with existing 16 bit device drivers. New features that developers can now take advantage of are increased system limits for graphic objects and handles and support for Palette Management on XGA adapters. The 32-bit Graphics Engine will be of interest to OS/2 2.0 users who need to evaluate Seamless PM/Windows Mode with high resolution (1024x768) XGA and selected SVGA support.

WIN-OS/2 Version 3.1 provides the ability to run Windows** Standard Mode applications which should execute with improved performance and application integrity over WIN-OS/2 Version 3.0. It includes support for the level of display and printer drivers that were shipped with Microsoft** Windows 3.1, as well as the 3.1 level of support for Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) and Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE). New features include Seamless PM/Windows execution on XGA, and unique AUTOEXEC.BAT files per VDM. WIN-OS/2 Version 3.1 requires the accompanying 32-bit Graphics Engine to run.

PREREQUISITES - Requires a test system capable of executing OS/2 Version 2.0 - Does not support installing over OS/2 1.3 or OS/2 2.0. You need to reformat your partition.

ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS and TECHNICAL SUPPORT A limited set of diskettes for this pre-release beta program are being made available to customers until we've reached our program limits. You can receive a single copy of the code for your enterprise by calling, toll free, 1-800-IBM-3040. This program ends December 15th, 1992.

Question and answer support for this BETA code will be provided by IBM on this OS2BBS under the Question and Answer Bulletin Board item titled OS2GRWIN. Support for this Beta will be provided on a best effort basis.

NOTE: No fixes will be provided during this Beta program. Problem reports will not be accepted through the IBM Support feature on this BBS. CFORUM appends only, please.

IBM Corporation. of Microsoft Corporation.
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