
                                        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



Contact:  Roberta Alfred
          Digital Research Inc.
          (408) 646-6016
          
          Chris Sandlund
          Hi-Tech Public Relations
          (415) 864-5600


DIGITAL RESEARCH ANNOUNCES NEW VERSION OF DR DOS OPERATING SYSTEM

DR DOS 6.0--the DOS that conquers space--offers more memory and
hard disk space, better caching, comprehensive PC security,
better task switching and more

     Monterey, Calif., (Sept. 9, 1991) -- Digital Research Inc.

today introduced DR DOS 6.0, a major upgrade of its advanced,

award-winning operating system for IBM Personal Computers and

compatibles.

     DR DOS 6.0 can load even more code into high memory--freeing

up to 628K of main memory.  It features one of the fastest data

caches in the industry, on-the-fly file compression that can

effectively double the size of a hard disk, and the best

security, task-switching and undelete features of any DOS-

compatible operating system.  These features make DR DOS 6.0 the

optimum environment for any DOS, Windows, or network

application.

     "For more than a year, DR DOS 5.0 has set the standard as

the most advanced DOS-compatible operating system on the market,"

said Dick Williams, president and CEO of Digital Research.  "It

was the first DOS to run and load TSRs, buffers, device drivers,

the operating system itself, and network drivers in upper and
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high memory; the first with a full-screen editor, on-line help

and easy installation.  It was even the first DOS to be sold

through the retail channel.  With version 6.0, DR DOS maintains

its leadership role as the standard for DOS technology."


More efficient memory, disk usage

     DR DOS 6.0 provides the industry's best operating system

solution for "RAM cram," where applications compete for the first

640K of memory.  With MemoryMAX, DR DOS 6.0 automatically loads

itself into upper and high memory, along with buffers, device

drivers, memory-resident programs, and network drivers.  As a

result, up to 628K of main memory is freed for applications.

     MemoryMAX works with all Intel 80X86-based computers.  The

new version now supports 8086/8088 and 80286 computers using the

LIM 4.0 memory standard.  With DR DOS, more of these popular

machines can use upper memory than with MS-DOS.

     DiskMAX includes an optionally invokable file compression

system that increases disk space by 100 percent or more--

enabling, for example, a 40MB hard disk to store up to 80MB of

data.  Compression is particularly important as applications and

their associated data files grow larger.  It is also ideal for

laptop computers, whose disk capacity may be limited and

expensive to expand.

     DiskMAX also includes a disk cache based on Super PC Kwik

from Multisoft Corp., which PC Sources called "scaldingly fast,"

and "one of the best on the market."  The cache delivers up to

four times the performance of the cache supplied with MS-DOS 5.0.

Digital Research announces DR DOS 6.0                         (3)





Caching helps DOS and Windows applications run faster by keeping

data in memory, where it is accessed more quickly than from the

hard disk.  Similarly, data to be written to the disk is buffered

in memory, resulting in faster write operations.

     In addition, DR DOS 6.0 DiskMAX can also defragment hard

disks by gathering together parts of files that become scattered

over the disk during typical PC use.  The facility safely

reorganizes files into contiguous blocks, enabling the hard disk

to work more efficiently, thereby increasing application

performance and user productivity.


File security

     DR DOS 6.0 sets a new standard for security on DOS

platforms.  This capability has become crucial as more business-

critical applications and highly confidential data are resident

on the PC.

     With version 6.0, users can protect not only files, but

subdirectories and disk partitions--and this protection cannot be

circumvented by loading another operating system.  Users can even

protect their entire environment through a power-on password

function, and can securely walk away from their computers through

a software keyboard lock.


Task-switching, undelete and more

     TaskMAX, the new DR DOS 6.0 task-switcher, allows users to

load up to 20 applications at once, then quickly switch between

them--even cutting and pasting text and data from one application

to another.  Unlike the MS-DOS 5.0 task switcher, TaskMAX can run

Digital Research announces DR DOS 6.0                         (4)





both from the operating system's graphical shell and the command

line through a fully configurable hot-key selection.  Running

without the DOS shell provides more conventional memory for

applications, as well as the ability to task switch from a shell

of the user's choice.

     Task-switching can be slow if it is done on the hard disk.

While DR DOS 6.0 can use the hard disk for this purpose, it first

uses extended or expanded memory--making task-switching almost

instantaneous.

     DR DOS 6.0 can now recover accidentally erased files--even

where extensive disk use would make other undelete facilities

fail.  The reason:  DR DOS 6.0 maintains the data of the erased

file as long as physically possible, not overwriting it until

absolutely necessary.

     DR DOS 6.0 now offers a full hypertext facility that puts

most of the documentation on-line.  Users can "click" on selected

words to uncover an index, a menu, or a full screen of text about

the topic.


Price and availability

     Unlike MS-DOS 5.0, DR DOS 6.0 is a full operating system,

not just an upgrade.  It is available immediately, priced at $99.

DR DOS 5.0 users who purchase DR DOS after August 8, 1991 can

upgrade to DR DOS 6.0 for $9.95 through Nov. 9, 1991.  Other DR

DOS users can upgrade for $24.95.  DR DOS 6.0 comes with free

product lifetime support, and 60-day money back guarantee.

Digital Research announces DR DOS 6.0                         (5)





About Digital Research

     Founded in 1976, Digital Research Inc. markets and develops

a complete line of general-purpose operating systems for

microcomputers, including DR DOS 6.0 for IBM and compatible PCs;

FlexOS, an industry-leading real-time protected mode operating

system; and DR Multiuser DOS 5.0, a multiuser, multitasking

operating system.  The company also manufactures a line of

graphics systems and applications software for business and

professional use.  Headquartered in Monterey, Calif., Digital

Research worldwide locations include the United Kingdom, Germany,

France, and the Pacific Rim.

     On July 17, 1991, Novell, Inc. (NASDAQ:NOVL) and Digital

Research signed a definitive agreement to merge the two

companies, making Digital Research a wholly-owned subsidiary of

Novell.

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