OS/2 2.0

OS/2 2.0 is a version of OS/2 that was released in April 1992. It was designed to have hybrid support for 16-bit and 32-bit computer architecture, included MS-DOS 5.0 with multitasking, and it could also run Windows 3.0 applications almost natively, due to the similarities in the way DOS worked.

New features and changes
This version sees huge changes to the operating system and its user interface. As it is now a 32-bit protected mode operating system, it uses the full capabilities of the x86 architecture and no longer relies on the 286-based infrastructure of OS/2 1.x, though it still allows to run 16-bit OS/2 1.x apps.

The Presentation Manager from OS/2 1.x was replaced by the Workplace Shell, which now allows to place items onto the desktop, in a similar manner to Mac OS. Both Program Selector and Task Manager are also no longer included. Instead, most commands are accessible with a right-click on the desktop. Window commands are also defined, though they still share similarities with those from Windows 3.x and OS/2 1.x.

This version also introduces a proper boot screen (though it is still text-based), showing the OS/2 logo with animation in the middle and copyright notes at the bottom of the screen.

OS/2 2.0 comes with a modified version of Windows designed for OS/2, called WIN-OS/2. It is basically Windows 3.0 but optimized for OS/2 and shipping with Adobe Type Manager. WIN-OS/2 was updated with OS/2 2.1 to version 3.1. Many programs and add-ons designed for Windows 3.1 (including Win32s) do work with it, drivers won't however, as they can brick WIN-OS/2 or render it unusable.

Setup was also overhauled, featuring anew UI and enhanced driver support, but it is still picky in terms of hardware.

OS/2 2.x is available in a CD release, which includes the installation CD-ROM and boot floppies and a floppy release. Two variants of OS/2 2.x exist: the "Blue Spine" with WIN-OS/2 and "Red Spine" (or "OS/2 for Windows") without it. As its alternate name states, it needs an existing version of Windows 3.x for WIN-OS/2.

OS/2 2.11, released in early 1994, is mainly a bugfix release to OS/2 2.1, but it also changes the default desktop background color from gray to teal.