Why does this exist?

Because sometimes you need to run DOS on modern hardware

Because 10-15 years ago there was a surprisingly large amount of MS-DOS software still around. Dell and HP had PC's sold with FreeDOS for a time.

But now we have DOSBox that can do much better more conveniently, and offices have caught up, so it's just a relic of the past.

Could have been interesting if they gave it a few genuinely modern touches though, like not needing a separate boot disc.

>>57194170
This >>57194236
But also because of FUCK YOU, I like to have an OS that is both GNU and DOS.

>>57194170
It was literally started in 1994 because people who preferred DOS to Win95 (a very reasonable preference at the time) didn't want to give up DOS. It uses a bit more RAM than MS-DOS by default but it's really a fantastic little OS.

Also because otherwise every time someone generated an MS-DOS boot floppy after Windows removed the functionality it was technically piracy.

>>57194446
Win95 did not remove DOS though

>>57194236
>Dell and HP had PC's sold with FreeDOS for a time.
You can still get that.

>>57194236
What does DOSBox run, or is it just its own implementation?

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>>57194236
>Could have been interesting if they gave it a few genuinely modern touches though

I think it's too intentionally archaic to really serve a purpose any more.

I'd totally have it on one of my old laptops I've seemed to have accumulated from family and just have WordPerfect on it. Maximum comfy.

A change in philosophy for this is needed. Sort of like if they went with the idea of "what if the DOS era never ended."

Imagine DOS running like a linux multiplexer.

>>57194803
B-b-but DOS is single-tasking system, isn't it?
Even its creator has given up on features for FreeDOS 2

>>57194873
DOS of the time is, but that's the reason for the "what if the DOS era never ended" thing.

>>57194803
>I'd totally have it on one of my old laptops
I agree. I tried to install it on a netbook but apparently I *need* to install it via a CD drive. Sucks.
Can still use DOSBOX though.
I kind of like it's primitive architecture, particularly the single address space and the 16-bit wordsize. Writing assembly for DOS actually makes some sense.

Should make a port of it to ARM.

I'd love a dedicated DOS-Pi.

>>57195051
>He doesn't know how to use FDISK
>Or format c: /s
You don't need anything but a boot floppy with FDISK to install DOS on any computer.

>>57194170
>hw """testing"""
>ms don't get jelly if you ship it with your notebook
:))

Can i play Caesar II on it?

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>>57194170

>>57194236
>Complains about FreeDOS being antequated
>Hasn't heard of ReactOS

>>57195160
The installing is fine for me (not them by the way), but booting in to it after I've installed wasn't worth the effort I was spending to do it.

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>>57195196
>No knowing how to boot a DOS computer