Software Gadgets

I've reviewed DOSBox here before. DOSBox is an open source DOS machine emulator. It emulates CPU:286/386 realmode/protected mode, Directory FileSystem, XMS/EMS, Tandy/Hercules/CGA and EGA/VGA/VESA graphics, a SoundBlaster/Gravis Ultra Sound card for excellent sound compatibility with older games. There's no need to install DOS and fight for memory space or install drivers for sound or graphics -- those are all emulated. For example, I copied my favorie old DOS game, Master of Master, to a directory on my hard drive, pointed DOSBox to it (with pretty normal looking DOS commands) and ran it. It ran fine. It was great to be able to play Master of Magic again without having to spend weeks of spare time trying to make it work on my XP system. DOSBox will run a lot of old DOS games as the Game Directory of the DOSBox site shows. Versions of DOSBox are even available for Linux and Mac OSX. It you have an old DOS game you'd like to play or see one out on the web that you want to try (some are now freeware), try DOSBox.

The DOSBox team released a new version of DOSBox today. The first new release in about a year. There are lots of new features. Here's a list from the DOSBox website:

Quite a few changes have been made since last version, a few of the more important ones.

* 4/15/16/32bpp VESA mode support
* Lots of fixes for better vga compatibility
* Improved CGA composite output
* Added video capturing to avi
* Improved screen updating for more speed
* PCjr machine mode added
* Speedup cpu cores and fix endian issues
* FPU core speedup with assembly
* Improved keyboard and bios handling
* Lockfree mouse mode added again
* Improved builtin dos with umbs and better fat support
* Added VCPI emulation and fixed some issues with ems
* Improved support for booter games
* Modem and IPX support improved for multiplayer
* Countless other bugfixes and features added

The development builds of 0.65 would even run Windows 3.1. I assume that this final release version will, but I haven't had time to try it with Windows yet. The new version seems much faster on most of my old DOS games and programs, however.

Rating: 5 Stars
Operating System: Windows (also Linux, Mac OSX)
License: Freeware (Open Source: GPL)
Price: Free
Version Reviewed: 0.65
Web Site: http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/
See Screenshots