26 May
2000
26 May
'00
5:29 a.m.
I really can't blame IBM for being 'surly' about OS/2. They had and still
have the
best desktop operating system ever written for any computer and the market shunned
and reviled it without even first having a look.
Microsoft was really scared in 94/95'. They lied about availability and features
of thier own products and Threated thier customers with financial ruin if they even
spoke about OS/2. If you laid the golden egg and everyone continually crapped on
you for it, you would be surly too.
The market is so steeped in MS-generated ignorance and bigotry against OS/2 that
most people in this group have little or no experience with it. In 1993 I
recognized OS/2 for what it is and have run it ever since. IBM had the hydrogen
bomb when MS and others were still setting off firecrackers. Still today, without
the release of a new OS/2 client in four years, the operating system stomps any
competition. There are a few warts on it now due to a lack of development but
those are generally shared by Linux and the others. I can't speak for BeOS yet.
OS/2's warts primarily are in the multimedia area. There are very few native
clients for the newer MM formats such as Real Audio, ASF, etcetera. Some can be
used by taking advantage of OS/2's ability to seamlessly integrate Win3x clients
but it isn't enough. Now, after nine years of FUD, lies, and the ignorance that
fostered, some client's now have a legitimate reason to run Windows. Yes, I'm
pissed about it. I may be forced to run something incomplete and messy (Linux) or
something half-assed (Windows) but I don't have to like it. Every time I show a
warp system to a customer or friend they allways say something kin to 'how the hell
did this stay a secret?!' and 'why is anyone running windows'!!.
regards
Bill Pechter wrote:
Yup... and that's the end of it for OS/2 as far as IBM's concerned.
They're pushing migration to either Linux, AIX (RS6000) or a Microsoft Platform.
In a message
dated 5/25/00 5:03:40 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
wilson(a)dbit.dbit.com writes:
> On Thu, May 25, 2000 at 03:56:22PM -0400, Bill Pechter wrote:
> > And DEC unloads the PDP11 to Mentec and OS/2 gets killed.
>
> Last I heard OS/2 was still very much alive, although IBM's attitude
> towards it is surly to say the least. But unlike some companies I could
> mention, IBM knows better than to refuse to accept money from their
> customers
Well, they refused to come up with a new OS/2 client and they've
basically consolidated into one new fairly EXPENSIVE packaged release
with the fixpacks in and new TCP/IP software which will be available
before the end of the year. Following that SUPPORT ENDS. Period.
just
because the customers want to buy something other than whatever new
toy the IBM management is excited about this week. So it will probably
keep getting *some* support as long as the customers are willing to pay
for it.
John Wilson
D Bit
there will be an OS2 version update later this year (4.5?) which will offer
usb support amongst other things. recently fixpak 13 was announced. of
course, downloading it all and installing it is a major task in itself.
DB Young ICQ: 29427634
hurry, hurry, step right up! see the computers you used as a kid!
http://members.aol.com/suprdave/classiccmp/museum.htm
Bill
(a big OS/2 v3/4 fan who pushed for the OS/2 V5 Client which was killed)
--
bpechter(a)monmouth.com | Microsoft: Where do you want to go today?
| Linux: Where do you want to go tomorrow?
| BSD: Are you guys coming, or what?