Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!unh!psc90!tos From: tos@psc90.UUCP (Dr. Thomas Schlesinger) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc Subject: memory expansion Message-ID: <96@psc90.UUCP> Date: 15 Dec 87 11:02:46 GMT Lines: 30 Keywords: IBM PS2/30; memory expansion; multi-tasking I'm looking for advice, preferably from someone who has had hands-on experience with the IBM PS2/30. I've been using that machine for about six months. Have no need for any more graphics than the MCGA with which it comes, but I do like to use several applications which are memory-resident and don't like each other very much at times... i.e. either won't load (not enough memory), or when they do, end up with locked keyboard. The question is: to what extent can a memory expansion board improve on this, in view of fact that MS-DOS has the 640 K limit. What mem.exp. board should I buy, if any? I'm considering us of Desqview operating environment, which supposedly helps with such problems -- but won't it just take up more memory of its own? An IBM support person here in NH told me some time ago that some boards are on the way to market (not IBM-made!) which will provide some 386-style, true multi-tasking capability even to the PS2/30, which as an 8088 machine lacks that... that after all is my problem. What do you know about that? Some of the first reviews of the 2/30 mentioned that its memory could be expanded to 8mb (IBM provides a 2mb board -- for example, what would that do for my problem?). I am confused by this whole issue... on the one hand, supposedly there is no multi-tasking unless one has 386, etc -- and on the other hand, somebody is buying all those expansion boards which must do something for them... but what? That's what puzzles me. Would much appreciate any help and explanations to a technical illiterate. Tom Schlesinger Plymouth State College, NH decvax!unh!psc90!tos