18 Oct
2005
18 Oct
'05
5 a.m.
Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2005 18:18:11 +0100
From: Bert Thomas <bert at brothom.nl>
Subject: Re: Releasing OS/2
Cini, Richard wrote:
>
> Bill Gates continues, "It's all very ironic, because it's
most
> of the OS/2 code is still our code and we're still selling LAN Manager.
> Whenever we'd go out and criticize OS/2, that group {within Microsoft}
would
say 'we
just took more friendly fire.'"
There's the answer as to why IBM cannot release OS/2. I know we
alluded to this fact in the original thread but this is the most positive
confirmation I've seen.
I disaggree on the argument. M$ contributed no 32-bit code to OS/2 as
far as I can tell. IMO it is the 32-bit code that made OS/2 superior to
Windows. BTW, OS/2 has some features that are not available on any other
OS, such as the immense flexibility of running DOS programs. One can
even write special device drivers that emulate a device in a virtual DOS
machine. There are many settings available for VDMs and features like
detecting polling loops to prevent waisting time I have never seen before.
Check out "The design of OS/2"
Bert