OS/2 Version 2.0 provides significant enhancements over previous versions of OS/2. It provides a sophisticated memory management and task management architecture, allowing full exploitation of the power of the Intel 80386 processor.
OS/2 Version 2.0 provides the ability to execute multiple concurrent DOS applications, in full-screen mode or in windows on the Presentation Manager desktop. These applications may address I/O devices such as printers, scanners, and communications adapters. Each DOS application typically has approximately 630KB of memory in which to execute and store its data; for those applications which require more memory, OS/2 Version 2.0 provides emulation of the LIM, EMS, and XMS memory extenders.
OS/2 Version 2.0 provides the ability for Windows applications, written for Windows 3.0 and previous versions of Windows, to execute under OS/2 Version 2.0, concurrently with DOS and OS/2 applications. Windows applications execute as protected mode processes, and full memory protection and pre-emptive multitasking are, therefore, provided for these applications.
OS/2 Version 2.0 provides a more powerful 32-bit programming environment which, due to the use of the flat memory model, is free from the limitations and inherent complexity of the segmented memory model used by DOS and previous versions of OS/2. Memory management within applications is greatly simplified, allowing applications to be developed faster, with better performance due to reduced memory manipulation overheads. Through the use of the flat memory model, applications may be more easily ported to or from other operating system platforms.
OS/2 Version 2.0 also provides an enhanced user shell, known as the Workplace Shell, through enhancements to Presentation Manager. The Workplace Shell is object-based and implements the 1991 SAA CUA workplace environment. This shell is more intuitive than the Presentation Manager shell implemented in previous versions of OS/2, and allows users to become familiar with the system more quickly.