DOS/V

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DOS/V was a Japanese computing initiative starting in 1990 to allow PCs to handle double-byte Japanese text via software alone. It was developed by IBM for its PS/55 machines (a localized version of the PS/2). Kanji fonts and other local information were stored on the hard disk rather than on special chips as in the preceding AX architecture. As with AX, its great value for the Japanese computing industry was in allowing compatibility with foreign software. This had not been possible under NEC's proprietary PC-98 system, which was the market leader before DOS/V emerged.

[edit] Trivia:

The V in DOS/V stands for VGA (not for "version five" as some people thought, as it came out at approximately the same time as DOS v.5).

[edit] See also

• DOS
• Unicode

[edit] External links

• Japan's PC industry in transformation (historical overview)