🚀 go-pugleaf

   What about applications?  It is a truism to say that without 
applications OS/2 or any operating system would be useless or merely an 
experimenter's toy, but the argument that OS/2 failed to penetrate 
because it had "no applications" doesn't hold water.  The analogy 
likening OS/2 vs Windows to Beta to VHS VCR has the problem that while 
there may have been a shortage of beta videos there is no shortage of 
applications for OS/2.  Perhaps the problem for OS/2 is that 
applications for it are more limited than in Windows or are not 
"compatible" with Windows, but that is different from "no applications".

   Further while the OS/2 environment and applications may be "better" 
OS/2's problem may be that they are not better enough?  I saw a 
discussion somewhere (not recently) that showed markets will move to 
something new not only when something better comes along but better by a 
"wide enough" margin (but how long is that piece of string?  :-).

   I think a case in point was VCD relative to audio CDs.  Here in the 
west because DVD was looming when VCD hit the scene uptake was miniscule 
because the later coming DVD was so much better than CDs whereas VCD 
only added a marginal improvement.  In China where DVD was further off 
at the time, VCD became and is still very popular.

   Anyway over the next few postings I will discuss and comment on the 
applications I use.

   It seems appropriate to discuss these as a series so no one posting 
gets "too big".  I am not claiming any monopoly of opinion here.  If you 
have points to make or add please write!

   I will discuss applications somewhat in the following order.  * 
Scanning and faxing - CopyShop/2 and Corporate PMFax.  Computer fax 
under OS/2 is much more satisfactory than under Windows because of much 
better serial port technology and of course its multitasking power.  My 
computer, scanner and printer can be thought of as a fax machine on 
which I can do lots of other things.  With the now superceded Warp 4 you 
can setup a machine as a cheap fax machine and just primarily use it for 
that!  You don't even have to pay for the fax software - it is part of 
the "Bonus pack".  You can dump your paper fax machine or avoid buying 
one and leverage more value from your printer!

   * Next obviously the "big three" WP, database & spreadsheet there is 
StarOffice 5.1 for OS/2.  SO offers document portability with your 
colleagues who use M$ software.  Standalone WP DeScribe is still the best.

   * Personal information management - phonebook, appointments 
management, reminders were offered in "Bonus pack".  For certain usage 
patterns the obsolete Warp 4 with its Bonus pack still would be worth using.

   * Internet facilities - Safefire or Injoy dialers, PMMail, and 
Mozilla 1.2.1 and above suitable for most purposes.  OS/2's relative 
obscurity gives it protection from viruses because virtually no one is 
writing any to target OS/2.

   * Web authoring.  * TCPIP services.  * Picture viewing and 
manipulation.  * Burning CDs.  * Multimedia.  * Remote management.  * 
Some games.  What's not covered and I must turn to Windows? - not much 
that's relevant for me.