I was looking through the portable freeware website, and I saw this open source project that might make an interesting addition to the operating systems list.
http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/news.php?show_news=1
It's a DOS emulator. Based on the discription, it not only creates a dos session, but emulates an older PC. I guess the idea is to allow older dos programs to run in an environment that they're origionally designed for.
here's the website from portablefreeware.com that shows the steps to make it portable
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As all of ya should know Microsoft is the Evil Empire, and Windows (a.k.a. Winblows or Windoze) is their greatest general, so please make a difference and install Linux or FreeBSD on yer Windows comp.
How about we compress it to less than 1/2 its usual size and get it configured in PortableApps.com Format:
https://portableapps.com/node/8346
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
You are correct in your guess, but there's more to the story:
One word:
"GAMING"
To whit, the most common usage of DOSbox I'm aware of is that most folk use it *specifically* for the running of older DOS *games* under more modern flavors of Windows.
Nothing like being able to blow away multiple Kilrathi playing "Wing Commander" (basically, *all* WC titles except for the last one - "Wing Commander: Prophecy", which was written for Win 9x) in WinXP/2000/Vista...
"I don't hate cats...as long as they stay on the freeway, where they belong."
- Brad Stine
But the ability to access DOS programs would have other uses then just old school gaming. One thing that comes to mind is accessing data from proprietary applications that may not have a Windows equivalent (or a cost effective equivalent) in Windows.
The potential for more then just gaming is why I suggested it.
But I would be kidding myself if I said I wasn't planning to play some of those old school DOS games sitting in the bottom of my computer desk drawer.
Pretty much made my point for me. Thx.
And btw, I agree that it is/would be useful for what you mentioned; it's just that I've only seen folk talk about it on the web in terms of gaming, not other usages.
"I don't hate cats...as long as they stay on the freeway, where they belong."
- Brad Stine