7 ms·

DOS is long dead, long live FreeDOS

50 points by CrankyBear 14y ago

laurent123456 14y ago
I'm not sure what makes them say that DOS is dead. There are and there will always be plenty of command line tools on Windows, so there's no way Microsoft is going to completely remove the shell.
- webwanderings 14y ago
  Hasn't Microsoft already moved on to Power Shell? Irrespective, I agree, DOS is not dead.
  - stuaxo 14y ago
    DOS != cmd.exe or running command.com in windows. DOS is the whole OS you boot in to.
- malkia 14y ago
  But that's the command-line shell (it's a 32-bit Windows process), not 16-bit DOS with optional Extended/unreal mode. This is no longer supported since XP (one of the reasons to keep XP, or have it installed as Windows XP mode on Windows Vista, 7, etc.). There are plenty of good games for DOS that I still play - Heroes of Might And Magic, Star Control, Archon, Alley Cat, Digger, many others.
  - justin66 14y ago
    > But that's the command-line shell (it's a 32-bit Windows process), not 16-bit DOS with optional Extended/unreal mode. This is no longer supported since XP (one of the reasons to keep XP, or have it installed as Windows XP mode on Windows Vista, 7, etc.). I'm not 100% sure, but 99%, that you'll find that it's still supported in the 32-bit versions of Vista and 7.
pixelbeat 14y ago
Also dosbox is really cool: http://www.pixelbeat.org/misc/dosbox/ http://www.pixelbeat.org/misc/dosbox/
- mahmud 14y ago
  DOSBox was SourceForge's project of the month in January.
- libria 14y ago
  As is its Chrome port, NaClBox: http://www.naclbox.com/ http://www.naclbox.com/
  - shoopy 14y ago
    This is amazing. Quite an impressive demonstration of Native Client's capabilities.
- derleth 14y ago
  As is DOSEMU: http://www.dosemu.org/ http://www.dosemu.org/
Tekker 14y ago
I have Windows 7 and still work in the DOS box daily. First tried DOS 1.0, have been using it consistently since 3.0, and it really took off after 5.0 (was a beta tester for DOS 5.0). Can't imagine functioning in Windows without DOS/command prompt, although I know it sucks, functionality-wise compared to Linux command shell.
- nikatwork 14y ago
  I highly recommend Cygwin, which will give you a "proper" bash shell in Windows. Also, Console2 makes working with the cmd prompt slightly more bearable (easier copy and paste etc).
  - cantankerous 14y ago
    As much as I don't want to, I think I need to point out that Cygwin has been so much of a bother to me that I now find it more convenient to just install Linux inside Virtual Box as a better free alternative. Cygwin was good before all these virtualization tools became so available, but now I find it incredibly frustrating and lacking compared to a traditional Linux OS, which is easily accessible now from a Windows environment. EDIT: Console2 is nice, though. I can get behind that.
    - wtallis 14y ago
      A VM doesn't let you use unix tools to operate on your Windows filesystem, which is my main reason for installing cygwin.
      - sut101 14y ago
        You can mount your Windows file system either through Samba or VirtualBox's shared folders feature.
    - nikatwork 14y ago
      I do agree, Cygwin is a nice fallback position though. Eg I can't use a Linux VM here at work because my local PC has bugger all memory and besides, their security policy won't allow it. (Don't try and apply logic, it's a megacorp).
kijin 14y ago
Here's an interesting anecdote about FreeDOS. In South Korea, a surprisingly large number of online merchants sell brand-new PCs with FreeDOS on it. FreeDOS PCs are usually around $100 cheaper than their Windows 7/8 counterparts, so these products have an advantage when the buyer uses a price comparison service. The official story is that since most people nowadays already have a spare license of Windows from their old PC, they can just install it on their new PCs instead of buying Windows again. Of course, this is bullshit, because the "spare license" is likely to be an OEM copy that is tied to the old PC. But it doesn't matter, because everyone understands that you're supposed to install a pirated copy of Windows on your FreeDOS PC. So for tech-savvy Korean consumers, FreeDOS just means pirated Windows. A rather unpalatable association for a piece of free software to have, IMO. On the other hand, if you actually install a legitimate copy of Windows, you get to enjoy a complete lack of bloatware that manufacturers usually impose on PC buyers. The PC comes with a CD that contains the necessary device drivers and nothing else.
- yuhong 14y ago
  I wonder why it would be $100 cheaper. OEMs are supposed to get a discount. But yea, the exchange rates etc are why MS provides geographically restricted versions of Windows.
  - bad_user 14y ago
    It's not just in South Korea. It happens in Romania/Europe too and in fact PCs with Windows bundled sometimes are $200 more expensive. Microsoft may or may not have anything to do with it. It might be that these PC manufacturers provide Windows for their more expensive models as a way for differentiating them from the cheaper ones. Also not all manufacturers get the same deal. For example I bought a Thinkpad E530 without Windows on it. The other model that was available to me had the same specs, plus an extra 16 GB SSD mSata and Windows and was $270 more expensive. I got the cheaper model and I replaced the hard-drive with a 256 GB SSD, which was a far better deal. Personally I'm glad that this happens, because I don't run Windows and it would be pretty bad if I had to pay the Windows tax.
- dredmorbius 14y ago
astral303 14y ago
Oh man, this tugs on all sorts of sentimental DOS strings. Especially that first phrase about people under 30 not knowing what DOS is. When was the last time you have used the B: drive? Anyway, an interesting thing is that growing up in Russia, using DOS, we were all gung-ho about using Norton Commander and its clones, such as DOS Navigator, to supplement the vanilla command-line DOS experience. And I'm telling you, it was oh such a great experience, that to this day, I still wonder how I manage to get by in my vanilla command line bash shell. Sure, all the auto-complete tricks are insanely useful (and maybe that's all we really needed?), but I recall the whole two-directory layout was super useful in being able to move files around and do quick edits and what not. Midnight Commander just doesn't do it for me. I tried FAR Manager on Windows, and also no dice. They all feel heavy and not as natural. To put it into perspective, anyone who's really really into VIM, think about how you love how fast you can be with VIM, despite the obscure key combinations and the modal overhead (haha, bias showing?). Anyway, think about how once you get used to all that power, you wonder how you can survive without it anywhere else. That's what using Norton Commander /DOS Navigator was like in MS-DOS. Using a Solaris/HP-UX command line circa 1998 felt like going back to stone age.
- mkhattab 14y ago
  > Oh man, this tugs on all sorts of sentimental DOS strings. Especially that first phrase about people under 30 not knowing what DOS is. I'm under 30 (28) and I still remember DOS and breaking (running arbitrary commands on) my Dad's work laptop, that he never used. The single greatest benefit of FreeDOS is letting me play my old games, specifically "Are You Afraid of the Dark? The Tale of Orpheo's Curse."[1] This is, still, one of the most entertaining games I've played. I replay the game every year or two as a personal tradition. Some day I'll force my kids to play it. [1]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj4gsrXUjA4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj4gsrXUjA4
- pavel_lishin 14y ago
  > growing up in Russia, using DOS, we were all gung-ho about using Norton Commander and its clones One of my earliest memories is my grandmother teaching me "нц" (nc, apparently the Norton Commander binary) so I could navigate my way to Tetris. (Yes, we're that stereotypical.)
wglb 14y ago
Many of the top Ham Radio contesters us this as one of the best contest programs, TR Log, runs only in DOS.

50 points by CrankyBear 14y ago

I'm not sure what makes them say that DOS is dead. There are and there will always be plenty of command line tools on Windows, so there's no way Microsoft is going to completely remove the shell.

webwanderings 14y ago
Hasn't Microsoft already moved on to Power Shell? Irrespective, I agree, DOS is not dead.
- stuaxo 14y ago
  DOS != cmd.exe or running command.com in windows. DOS is the whole OS you boot in to.
malkia 14y ago
But that's the command-line shell (it's a 32-bit Windows process), not 16-bit DOS with optional Extended/unreal mode. This is no longer supported since XP (one of the reasons to keep XP, or have it installed as Windows XP mode on Windows Vista, 7, etc.). There are plenty of good games for DOS that I still play - Heroes of Might And Magic, Star Control, Archon, Alley Cat, Digger, many others.
- justin66 14y ago
  > But that's the command-line shell (it's a 32-bit Windows process), not 16-bit DOS with optional Extended/unreal mode. This is no longer supported since XP (one of the reasons to keep XP, or have it installed as Windows XP mode on Windows Vista, 7, etc.). I'm not 100% sure, but 99%, that you'll find that it's still supported in the 32-bit versions of Vista and 7.

pixelbeat 14y ago

Also dosbox is really cool: http://www.pixelbeat.org/misc/dosbox/ http://www.pixelbeat.org/misc/dosbox/

mahmud 14y ago
DOSBox was SourceForge's project of the month in January.
libria 14y ago
As is its Chrome port, NaClBox: http://www.naclbox.com/ http://www.naclbox.com/
- shoopy 14y ago
  This is amazing. Quite an impressive demonstration of Native Client's capabilities.
derleth 14y ago
As is DOSEMU: http://www.dosemu.org/ http://www.dosemu.org/

Tekker 14y ago

I have Windows 7 and still work in the DOS box daily. First tried DOS 1.0, have been using it consistently since 3.0, and it really took off after 5.0 (was a beta tester for DOS 5.0). Can't imagine functioning in Windows without DOS/command prompt, although I know it sucks, functionality-wise compared to Linux command shell.

nikatwork 14y ago
I highly recommend Cygwin, which will give you a "proper" bash shell in Windows. Also, Console2 makes working with the cmd prompt slightly more bearable (easier copy and paste etc).
- cantankerous 14y ago
  As much as I don't want to, I think I need to point out that Cygwin has been so much of a bother to me that I now find it more convenient to just install Linux inside Virtual Box as a better free alternative. Cygwin was good before all these virtualization tools became so available, but now I find it incredibly frustrating and lacking compared to a traditional Linux OS, which is easily accessible now from a Windows environment. EDIT: Console2 is nice, though. I can get behind that.
  - wtallis 14y ago
    A VM doesn't let you use unix tools to operate on your Windows filesystem, which is my main reason for installing cygwin.
    - sut101 14y ago
      You can mount your Windows file system either through Samba or VirtualBox's shared folders feature.
  - nikatwork 14y ago
    I do agree, Cygwin is a nice fallback position though. Eg I can't use a Linux VM here at work because my local PC has bugger all memory and besides, their security policy won't allow it. (Don't try and apply logic, it's a megacorp).

kijin 14y ago

Here's an interesting anecdote about FreeDOS. In South Korea, a surprisingly large number of online merchants sell brand-new PCs with FreeDOS on it. FreeDOS PCs are usually around $100 cheaper than their Windows 7/8 counterparts, so these products have an advantage when the buyer uses a price comparison service. The official story is that since most people nowadays already have a spare license of Windows from their old PC, they can just install it on their new PCs instead of buying Windows again. Of course, this is bullshit, because the "spare license" is likely to be an OEM copy that is tied to the old PC. But it doesn't matter, because everyone understands that you're supposed to install a pirated copy of Windows on your FreeDOS PC. So for tech-savvy Korean consumers, FreeDOS just means pirated Windows. A rather unpalatable association for a piece of free software to have, IMO. On the other hand, if you actually install a legitimate copy of Windows, you get to enjoy a complete lack of bloatware that manufacturers usually impose on PC buyers. The PC comes with a CD that contains the necessary device drivers and nothing else.

yuhong 14y ago
I wonder why it would be $100 cheaper. OEMs are supposed to get a discount. But yea, the exchange rates etc are why MS provides geographically restricted versions of Windows.
- bad_user 14y ago
  It's not just in South Korea. It happens in Romania/Europe too and in fact PCs with Windows bundled sometimes are $200 more expensive. Microsoft may or may not have anything to do with it. It might be that these PC manufacturers provide Windows for their more expensive models as a way for differentiating them from the cheaper ones. Also not all manufacturers get the same deal. For example I bought a Thinkpad E530 without Windows on it. The other model that was available to me had the same specs, plus an extra 16 GB SSD mSata and Windows and was $270 more expensive. I got the cheaper model and I replaced the hard-drive with a 256 GB SSD, which was a far better deal. Personally I'm glad that this happens, because I don't run Windows and it would be pretty bad if I had to pay the Windows tax.
dredmorbius 14y ago

astral303 14y ago

Oh man, this tugs on all sorts of sentimental DOS strings. Especially that first phrase about people under 30 not knowing what DOS is. When was the last time you have used the B: drive? Anyway, an interesting thing is that growing up in Russia, using DOS, we were all gung-ho about using Norton Commander and its clones, such as DOS Navigator, to supplement the vanilla command-line DOS experience. And I'm telling you, it was oh such a great experience, that to this day, I still wonder how I manage to get by in my vanilla command line bash shell. Sure, all the auto-complete tricks are insanely useful (and maybe that's all we really needed?), but I recall the whole two-directory layout was super useful in being able to move files around and do quick edits and what not. Midnight Commander just doesn't do it for me. I tried FAR Manager on Windows, and also no dice. They all feel heavy and not as natural. To put it into perspective, anyone who's really really into VIM, think about how you love how fast you can be with VIM, despite the obscure key combinations and the modal overhead (haha, bias showing?). Anyway, think about how once you get used to all that power, you wonder how you can survive without it anywhere else. That's what using Norton Commander /DOS Navigator was like in MS-DOS. Using a Solaris/HP-UX command line circa 1998 felt like going back to stone age.

mkhattab 14y ago
> Oh man, this tugs on all sorts of sentimental DOS strings. Especially that first phrase about people under 30 not knowing what DOS is. I'm under 30 (28) and I still remember DOS and breaking (running arbitrary commands on) my Dad's work laptop, that he never used. The single greatest benefit of FreeDOS is letting me play my old games, specifically "Are You Afraid of the Dark? The Tale of Orpheo's Curse."[1] This is, still, one of the most entertaining games I've played. I replay the game every year or two as a personal tradition. Some day I'll force my kids to play it. [1]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj4gsrXUjA4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj4gsrXUjA4
pavel_lishin 14y ago
> growing up in Russia, using DOS, we were all gung-ho about using Norton Commander and its clones One of my earliest memories is my grandmother teaching me "нц" (nc, apparently the Norton Commander binary) so I could navigate my way to Tetris. (Yes, we're that stereotypical.)

wglb 14y ago

Many of the top Ham Radio contesters us this as one of the best contest programs, TR Log, runs only in DOS.