#SCSI Express
The primary reason you would want to access networked CD-ROMs without the
NETX.COM shell is to save the extra 42KB of RAM required. For many
workstations with 80286 or greater CPU, >640KB of RAM and DOS 5.0, this is
not generally an issue, even given the huge RAM requirements of most CD-ROM
applications. However, many corporations, educational institutions, and
government installations have vast numbers of aging machines that are still
useful for running apps such as Select. These machines may simply not have
the RAM available to access the application.
I know that Computer Select is not as RAM hungry as most apps, but I have
run out of memory on some of my older machines when trying to run an app
(not necessarily Select) with NETX.COM or other resident loaded.
NETX.COM can always be loaded or unloaded as required, in a similar manner
to the OPTI-NET drivers.
I hope that I have made this issue more clear to you.
-Chris