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IBM Personal Software Products' John W. Thompson
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Monday, February 26th, 1996
New User Clinic: 7:00 - 7:30 PM
General Meeting: 7:30 - 9:30 PM

Stanford Linear Accelerator Center Auditorium
2575 Sand Hill Road
Menlo Park, California

The Future of OS/2, and Warp Server Demonstration
IBM Personal Software Products' John W. Thompson

For its February meeting, the OS/2 Bay Area User Group is pleased to
have as its speaker Mr. John W. Thompson.  As General Manager of IBM's
Personal Software Products division, Mr. Thompson is responsible for the
development and marketing of IBM's desktop operating system software
products, including OS/2, LAN Server, and PC-DOS.  Mr. Thompson will
describe IBM's long term strategy for OS/2, which focuses on the needs
of the "connected consumer" who uses OS/2 in a networked environment.
He'll detail IBM's plans for the coming year, which include Warp Server,
a new release of OS/2 (code-named Merlin), and an integrated server
series (code-named Project Eagle).

As part of his presentation, Mr. Thompson will demonstrate IBM's newest
OS/2 based product, Warp Server.  The successor to LAN Server, Warp
Server is a fully integrated package that includes OS/2, local network
server, and a host of network management utilities.

IBM's less than unambiguous pronouncements and actions this past year
have resulted in an aura of uncertainty about OS/2.  Our February
meeting is an important opportunity not only to learn where OS/2 is
going, but also to offer feedback from the user community to the chief
architect and implementor of IBM's OS/2 strategy.

Since joining IBM in 1971 as a marketing representative, Mr. Thompson
has held a variety of sales and marketing positions.  Most recently he
was General Manager of Marketing for IBM's Software Group, where he was
responsible for developing and executing a strategy for support of
independent software developers around the world.  He holds a Master
degree in Management Science from MIT.

Those who have seen and heard John W. Thompson can attest to the
dynamism of his presentations.  If you're an OS/2 user or developer, or
a potential user or developer, who's been concerned about OS/2's future,
you should plan to attend this meeting.  And be sure to come early.  We
expect a capacity crowd.

Related Information from IBM

IBM has provided us this related text:

  OS/2 Warp set another new record in December 1995 with the
  shipment of one million copies.  This raises the number sold
  since its launch to six million and increases the total number of
  OS/2 users to 12.7 million.  John W. Thompson, the general
  manager of IBM's Personal Software Products division, recently
  discussed the company's plans to continue this record-setting
  momentum.

  Commenting on the next release of OS/2 Warp, code-named Merlin,
  which will begin shipments in the second half of this year,
  Thompson said, "With this product, we are very interested in a
  specific kind of consumer -- the connected user.  We'll continue
  to provide them a stable and powerful operating system that gets
  easier to use and install with each release."

  For instance, Merlin will have an easier and more intuitive user
  interface that is network aware, meaning it will make connections
  automatically as the user needs them.  It will also have new
  plug-and-play features and better capabilities for handling
  multimedia and games.  An Upgrade Advisor will be part of the
  Just Add OS/2 Warp kit which simplifies the installation process.
  these are just some of the new features connected users can
  expect.

  At the same time, new OS/2 Warp products will also respond to the
  needs of users in enterprise workgroups.  When shipments begin
  later this quarter, OS/2 Warp Server, which is currently in the
  hands of 40,000 beta testers, will be the most complete server
  solution available.  It includes integrated file and print
  sharing, application serving, systems management, backup and
  recovery, remote access and advance printing capabilities.  When
  combined with IBM's Directory and Security Server, it will offer
  functions that neither Microsoft or Novell can match.

Directions To Meeting

Take the Sand Hill Road East exit off I-280.  The second traffic light after
the one at the interchange is the entrance to SLAC.  Turn right.  Stop at the
guard house and tell the guard that you are going to the OS/2 Bay Area User
Group meeting.  The Auditorium is in the central area of the complex and is the
building straight ahead of you when you are at the guard house.

Admission Fee

General meetings are free for members and $3 for nonmembers.  

Meeting Information Available

Photos and possibly a meeting summary will be available sometime after the
meeting at http://www.davebsoft.com/os2baug/gnlmeet/1996/0226/.  

More Information

For more information, contact Sanford Rockowitz, Program Chair, (415)755-3124 
or rockowitz@minsoft.com.

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Dave Briccetti, OS/2 Bay Area User Group 
President; Developers SIG and Publicity Chairs
http://www.davebsoft.com/os2baug/