The Multi-Boot Configuration Handbook

Summary

The array of available choices in operating systems for Intel-based hardware is quite wide. Microsoft enjoys a commanding lead in this area, but Microsoft's OSs are not the only available choices—not by a long shot. The options for OSs can be summarized as falling into three categories:

• Microsoft-inspired OSs— These range from DOS through Windows NT and OS/2. All share certain features, such as the use of drive letters (A:, C:, and so on) to address different disk devices. Most of these OSs are from Microsoft, though some are clones and one (OS/2) was developed jointly by Microsoft and IBM but is now available only through IBM.

• BeOS— BeOS is unique, so it earns a category of its own. Its uniqueness is both a strength and a weakness. ...