Novell Inc finally launched its killer alternative to Microsoft Corp’s MS-DOS 6 – although whether the market will trust it sufficiently to turn it into a big seller is another matter. Novell DOS 7 outdoes the Microsoft offering by adding fully integrated NetWare client support, peer-to-peer networking, desktop network management, network installation, pre-emptive multitasking, enhanced memory management and desktop security. It uses Stacker for disk compression. It is promised to be fully compatible with Windows 3.X and Windows for Workgroups 3.1 and 3.11, and provides networking, diagnostics, file back-up, anti-virus and security for Windows users. It includes DOS Protected Mode Services, which is claimed to reduce greatly the demand for conventional memory, freeing more memory for applications. It in cludes five Protected Mode Services device drivers, which reside in extended memory and execute in prot ected mode on 80286, 80386 and 80486 computers. The integrated peer-to-peer networking for Novell DOS 7 and Windows supports shar ing of files, printers and other resources for first- time network users or work groups in existing NetWare networks. The Universal NetWare Client provides tight integration with Per sonal NetWare, NetWare 3 and 4. The software is out now for $100, and DR DOS or NetWare Lite/DR DOS bundle users can have it for $40.
