Very Computer

   I have just read that OS/2 is extremely sensitive to the UART chip used
on your I/O card...
  Does anyone know about this OS/2 hardware issue??

  Thanks.

   John G.
--
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Quote:

>   I have just read that OS/2 is extremely sensitive to the UART chip used
>on your I/O card...
>  Does anyone know about this OS/2 hardware issue??

        Any operating system will have trouble if a program is
        run that disables interrupts for 1 ms or which has an
        interrupt handler for IRQ 0 (timer) or 1(keyboard) that
        runs for more than 1 ms.

In DOS, any program can disable, and any program can install interrupt
handlers.  When communication fails, it is the fault of the applications.
In OS/2 only the system has such privileges.  OS/2 may be better than DOS
in this regard.  Push up the line speed and things get worse.  Increase the
CPU speed and they get better.  I do 38.4K on a 486-33 with little problem
on OS/2.

The problem is in the cheap UART. The manufacturers will continue to sell
them as long as the public is not smart enough to demand better. It is a
substandard, unsafe component that was nearly obsolete in 1980 when IBM was
designing the original PC.  Today there is no excuse for anyone to use
trash like this in modern systems.  You can upgrade the UART in place, or
you can really solve the problem by getting a super high speed intelligent
COM board like the one Hayes sells.  Personally, I have decided to order
the Windsurfer modem card.

A guy buys a car that will roll over on curves at speeds above 45 mph.
Someone then builds a road with a speed limit of 55.  After the accident,
the driver claims that it was a very unsafe road.