🚀 go-pugleaf

Mike Stephen wrote:
> 
[snip]
> 
> OS/2 has been dying since 1996.  IBM has succumbed to the
> pressures of Redmond.  I no longer recommend its use to desktop
> users. However I still use it.  I still install the Warp Server
> product. I have been looking for a replacement for 4 years now
> and I still have not found a better system for me.  For others, I
> do not recommend Warp.

I recommend OS/2 to people who are looking for the best computer OS
currently available.  

> 
> It is simple... unless pigs start to fly, IBM will not push Warp
> as a desktop operating system. They are making a gesture of
> support to the users, (and I might add IBM is doing a wonderful
> job of supporting users who do use OS/2, far better than the
> Redmond company) its just that IBM will not push its use to
> anyone, and would like to see it go away. This has been apparent
> to me since 1997.  Unless I am speaking with a really geeky
> computer nerd, I no longer show off OS/2  to the average user,

I enjoy showing it off.  OS/2 is a fun system for the user to use.  IBM
still pushes its use but they obviously will not spend any money doing
this unless and until Microsoft is brought to heel by the government. 
As long as the Microsoft monopoly holds, it would be pointless and a
waste of money to try and capture significant market share with OS/2.

> 
> OS/2 is too problematic with its archaic installation, and
> outdated feature/driver set.  I see no new plugins and little if
> any support for drivers from many of the hardware vendors.  It
> will only in my opinion get worse.  Applause should be given to
> the few who do write code for Warp, but they are too few and far
> between to make a difference.  It is a real shame that IBM
> decided to pull the plug, and blame can be directly laid at the
> feet of IBM's upper management.

Yawn.  People have been saying this since 1993 or 1995.  Innotek just
released a new Flash plug-in.  The Z streaming MP3 plugin.  Two that
come to mind in the last 3 months.  Driver support is pretty good. 
Scitech video driver covers new hardware pretty well and is getting
better.  3rd party drivers for IDE and ATAPI are very good.  Some
hardware companies still sneak OS/2 drivers out but I am not going to
name them for fear that Microsoft will retaliate against them.  IBM
keeps a list of device drivers available for OS/2 at:

http://service.software.ibm.com/os2ddpak/index.htm

> 
> They (IBM Management) never did understand OS/2. When I worked
> there all middle management up to the top management ran a
> greenscreen 3270 terminal, or dos based 3270 pc/at, or at best a
> few ran comms manager from OS/2.  But those that ran comms
> manager did so to the exclusion of the operating system itself
> and simply used the mainframe for the majority of use.  I only
> really saw Warp used by the non management employees.

I think the OS/2 guys at IBM understand OS/2 pretty well.  OS/2 was a
key component of IBM's recent highly-successful effort at the Sydney
2000 Olympics.

> 
> I think Warp will be supported in a dying mode for 3-4 more
> years, but will slowly die a lingering death.

The slow lingering death is in your mind.  People have been attributing
a slow, lingering death to OS/2 since 1994 or thereabouts and it is
still here with a new version due in a few weeks.  Entire product
families at other companies have arisen, peaked, and died in the period
of time in which OS/2 has been doing its dying.  That alone should
qualify OS/2 for life.

>  It will end up
> being used by a few OS/2 diehards (like myself) because these few
> realise it is far superior to anything currently available
> (myself included).  It will take a very geeky type to continue
> using OS/2, and in my opinion, they will do so.

I don't think the geeky types use OS/2 now.  OS/2 is primarily a
specialized, niche system for medium and large businesses with a little
small business use and a handful of home users.  Your ATM machine runs
on OS/2.  Your airline ticket probably is issued with OS/2.  Your bank
may use OS/2.  Your dentist probably uses Windows 2000.  Your neighbor
uses Windows 98.  Your geeky friends probably use FreeBSD or Linux.

> They are above
> the average bear in computer expertise and the ways and means to
> do so will be relatively easy for the old timer Warp user. But
> this knowledge of the above average Warp user is beyond 90% of
> the computer users.  This is why Warps market share will only
> shrink.

It does not seem to be shrinking now.  Why should it shrink later?  But,
I agree, OS/2 is not for the newbie unless they are willing to invest
some time and effort to learn it.  Windows is definitely far easier for
our parents to use.

> 
> I hope I am wrong... I know I am right.
> 
> 
Sometimes the things we 'know' are not correct.