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 major 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 its predecessor, though it still allows to run 16-bit OS/2 1.x apps.

The Desktop Manager from the previous version 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 refined, 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 along with 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 essentially a Windows 3.0 environment optimized for OS/2 shipped 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 based ones) do work with it, but drivers won't however, as they can brick WIN-OS/2 or render it unusable.

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

OS/2 2.x is available in a CD release, which includes the installation CD-ROM, boot floppies, as well as a floppy release. Two variants of OS/2 2.x exist: the "Blue Spine" variant with WIN-OS/2 included, and the "Red Spine" variant (or "OS/2 for Windows") without WIN-OS/2. 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. It also introduced support for symmetrical multiprocessing (SMP).