OS/2 Warp Beta II Version 2.99 and OS/2 Warp BonusPak Beta Available for
Testing August 17, 1994

Today IBM is making available the OS/2 Warp Beta II version 2.99 and the
OS/2 Warp BonusPak Beta.  (2.99 will be used as a version number for all
OS/2 system betas.)  The package is available for downloading today from
OS2BBS and OS2BETA.  It will be available for download from CompuServe on
August 18, 1994.  If you ordered the OS/2 Performance Beta I from the 800
number, you will receive a CD-ROM containing the OS/2 Warp Beta II and the
OS/2 Warp BonusPak Beta at no additional charge by August 22, 1994.  The
800 number ordering of the CD-ROM or 3.5" diskettes is available starting
August 17, 1994.

As a participant of this program you will have the opportunity to install,
test, and provide feedback on this pre-release code.

This second performance beta contains additional features and functions
since our first performance beta which was released in the spring, Along
with our Fast Load option for Windows programs, new "Play at Will" PCMCIA
services, and Presentation Manager full 32 bit windowing subsystem, we are
today supplying major enhancements to OS/2 including:

o A redesigned installation that automatically configures your
  system
o Enhanced print performance and clearly noticeable improvements
  in both monochrome and color bitmap printing compared to
  earlier OS/2 versions as a result of new 32 bit printer drivers
  and a new 32-bit print subsystem
o New tutorial that introduces you to OS/2 at a pace you select
  and can be tailored to the type of user you are
o Numerous changes in the Workplace Shell for easier navigation. 
  The Workplace Shell features new graphics, including new icons,
  bitmaps and color schemes.  It also introduces the customizable
  Launch Pad for very quick access to your most frequently used
  objects and programs, and it now enables you to save and
  restore desktop configurations so you can always return to your
  favorite setup.
o The Shell also features a redesigned Find Object function that
  has increased usability and performance in the search function.
o Support for SOM 2.0 applications and applications that exploit
  Workstation Distributed SOM (DSOM)
o New graphics accelerator support for:
   --ATI Mach32/Mach64
   --Cirrus 5426, 5428, 5429, 5430, 5434
   --S3 864
   --Tseng ET4000/W32, W32p, W32i
   --WD C24/C26/C27/C31/C33/C34
   --Weitek P9000/P9100
o A set of popular OS/2 and Windows audio device drivers
  including:
   --Aztec Sound Galaxy
   --Crystal Semi 4231
   --ESS 688
   --Sound Blaster, Soundblaster PRO, PRO16, AWE32
   --AD1848
o Additional PCMCIA socket services accessible through our
  "Play at Will" interface for these devices:
   --Ambra 486 SO 425C
   --AST Powerexec 4/25SL, 4/25SLC, and Bravo NB Color
   --Compaq Concerto
   --Compuadd 425 TX
   --IBM Thinkpad Models 350, 500 720, 750, 755 and PS2E
   --Panasonic CF-V11P
   --NEC Versa C, Versa E
   --NCR Safari 3180
   --Toshiba Models T3600CT, T4700, T4800
   --Zenith 425L
   --ZEOS Colornote
o A separate BonusPak that contains the following:
     o OS/2 CompuServe Access:  A computer network of personal
       computer users providing connection to many information,
       service, and electronic mail facilities.
     o Person to Person for OS/2:  A true workgroup application
       that allows people to collaborte via a live chalkboard
       over modem and LAN.  (Needs 8MB RAM)
     o FaxWorks for OS/2:  An application that allows you to send
       and receive faxes of unlimited length and print faxes to
       any OS/2 printer.
     o IBM Installation Utility and System Information Tool: This
       system information tool allows you to quickly and
       conveniently access detailed information on the hardware
       and software configuration of your system.

EXPECTATIONS

While we have been incorporating your feedback from the first beta, our
goal remains to provide a more responsive OS/2 that is simpler and more
intuitive to use.  We'd also like to provide you with a set of
applications that function well with OS/2 and that you consider to be a
true "bonus" package.

We are interested in all your feedback and particularly in these areas:

o We've made changes to our diskette packing technique in order
  to supply OS/2 to you in fewer diskettes than in the past. 
  We're looking for your feedback on this and in how the
  installation went in general.

Note:  If you experience any problems copying diskette images from the
electronic bulletin boards or from a CD-ROM, please call 1-407-443-5867.

o We also want to know if this beta satisfies your needs in
  constrained environments-- for example, running your favorite
  Windows or OS/2 productivity application, personal finance
  application, personal organizer, spread sheet, game and so on
  in a four megabyte machine.
o We are interested in your views on the Workplace Shell changes.
o We are interested in your feedback on the quality and
  performance of the Windows 32S support.
o We want you to install and use all of the applications in the
  BonusPak.  Tell us how you like them.
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Software Requirements

To use Windows applications with this beta, you will need to have    DOS
3.1 or higher and Microsoft Windows 3.1 or 3.11 or Windows for Workgroups
3.10 or 3.11 installed in a partition visible to OS/2 during its
installation process.  (Windows networking functions are not supported
under WINOS2.)

Hardware Requirements

-Intel386 SX-compatible or higher processor
-4MB of RAM - minimum
-one 1.44MB 3.5 inch diskette drive
-hard disk with 35MB to 50MB of free space
 (BonusPak up to 30MB additional free space-user selectable)
-IBM compatible mouse is required
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ORDERING THE OS/2 WARP BETA II and OS/2 WARP BONUSPAK BETA

You may download the diskette images of the OS/2 Warp Beta II
electronically from OS2BBS on or after August 17, 1994. It will be
available for download from CompuServe on or after August 18, 1994.

You may also purchase a copy of the beta on CD-ROM or 3.5" diskettes for
$14.95 plus appropriate sales tax by calling 800-251-2177 between the
hours of 8:00AM and 5:00PM, Eastern Standard Time, and charging the cost
to Visa or MasterCard.  This will be available starting August 17, 1994.

DOWNLOADING THE OS/2 WARP BETA II AND OS/2 WARP BONUSPAK BETA

Electronic Delivery of the OS/2 Warp Beta II is available from the
following bulletin board systems.  Since there are 24 diskette images in
the OS/2 Warp Beta II Package and 4 diskette images in the OS/2 Warp
BonusPak Beta package plus several text files, we recommend a high-speed
modem for downloading these packages.

o IBM OS2BBS - If you are a subscriber to the OS2BBS, you may
  download the beta from the software download library on OS2BBS.
  The package name of OS/2 Warp Beta II is OS2PERF2.  The package
  name for the OS/2 Warp BonusPak Beta is OS2BONUS. If you are
  not a subscriber to the OS2BBS and would like to subscribe,
  please call 1-800-547-1283.

o CompuServe - Members of the CompuServe Information Service may
  download the beta from the IBM OS2 FORUM Library (GO OS2BETA).
  Select the OS/2 Warp Beta II and/or the OS/2 Warp BonusPak Beta
  from the menu.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Technical Support for this Beta program is available through the PSPBETA
FORUM on CompuServe, through the "Beta Feedback" topic of the OS/2 Club
bulletin board on PRODIGY, and through the IBM electronic bulletin board
system OS2BBS in a forum called OS2BETA.

In the United States, to become a member of CompuServe, call (800) 524-3388
and ask for representative #239.  To become a member of PRODIGY, call
(800) 776-0845.  To become a member of OS2BBS, call (800) 547-1283.

Outside the US, see the IBM contact through which you obtained the beta.
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NON-US:

ORDERING THE OS/2 WARP BETA II AND OS/2 WARP BONUSPAK BETA IN CANADA

To order this beta in Canada, please call 800-561-5293.

ORDERING THE OS/2 WARP BETA II AND OS/2 WARP BONUSPAK BETA IN  EUROPE, THE
MIDDLE EAST and AFRICA (E/ME/A)

Telephone one of the following numbers to order a beta CD-ROM from the IBM
SMS-E Direct Services, with the part number 19H2046 for this beta:

 o   English ( +45-48101500 )      o   Spanish ( +45-48101100 )
 o   Dutch   ( +45-48101400 )      o   Danish  ( +45-48101300 )
 o   French  ( +45-48101200 )      o   TeleFax ( +45-48142207 )
 o   German  ( +45-48101000 )      o   Italian ( +45-48101600 )

In Italy, get CDs from OS/2 Service :  Fax number +39-2-6707.3337, Voice
number +39-2-6707.2222.

All major international and European payment methods are accepted. Handling
charge is about 25 US dollars plus taxes and converted to your local
currency.

The same beta code will be put on various IBM bulletin boards for
electronic download which are the IBM EMEA Beta BBS, +44-256-819268, IBM
EMEA DAP BBS (for DAP members) and CompuServe.  Customers may freely
download the beta code for testing.

At any time, EMEA customers may get more useful information on this beta
and its availability in EMEA by looking on the above BBSs or telephoning
the IBM HelpFax, an automatic FAX response service, on +44-256-50096, to
get information, in English, outlining beta availability in EMEA.  The
document to request is 30501.  In case of difficulty, please contact your
local IBM Representative.

For the testing of Windows applications it is necessary to run a copy of
the US or UK version of Windows 3.1 or 3.11 or Windows for Workgroups 3.10
or 3.11.  Other national language versions of these Windows releases are
not supported.

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