Re: [Thinkpad] What is OS/2?

David,

thank you for your thorough account. It certainly explains why ~10 years
ago, OS/2 would have been a wise choice versus Win3.1 or Win95. But with
the WinNT line of products (the latest being WinXP), all the
connectivity features, multitasking, and stability you mention are now
also available. It has been stated before that OS/2, just like Linux or
MacOS are not hacker-proof per se, but mainly due to their small market
share, which makes them unattractive for most hackers.

That leaves your point of "values" (as opposed to "value"), which I
understand to mean not wanting to support a company like Microsoft that
uses its quasi-monopolyy to squash competitors and force unwanted
application software down people's throats. I agree that it's great that
people have that choice thanks to these alternative operating systems.

Regards, Alban

> From: OS/2User <os2user@gbenet.com>
> Subject: Re: [Thinkpad] What is OS/2?
> To: Thinkpad List <thinkpad@stderr.org>
> Message-ID: <40980E40.4010001@gbenet.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
>
> Hi Matt,
>
> Whilst it's true to say that OS/2 is "aged" in the sense that it's been
> around a long time it's not like Microsoft operating systems that come
> and go with the usual problems.
>
> OS/2 is supported by IBM and available. OS/2 is available through IBM's
> Passport Advantage Programme. It is updated - the kernal and driver
> support. It's true to say thet there are some things one can't do on
> OS/2 - like good navigation software - radio e-mail satellite tracking.
> As a captain, these tasks are useful.
>
> However for everyday business with security, stability and multitasking
> global warehousing etc. OS/2 will do it all as will Linux. Microsoft
> offer no multitasking operating system security or stability, but there
> is the same range of business applications.
>
> OS/2 will run on 99.99 per cent of laptops. It's happy in a wireless
> world. It's easy to learn great server side apps and desktop apps. Today
> people make that choice will first have to remove Microsoft from their
> laptop. The good news is that they big guys that make laptops desktops
> realise there's a market for those that want choice.
>
> Why make a choice in operating systems? Most are happy with what they
> are given. They don't think too much. They don't have any choice in most
> cases as it's pre-loaded - that last fact does not mean is 2right"
> "good" etc..
>
> The issue is what you value, what you see as benefits. Security,
> reliability, multitasking, an environment with no hackers, no "blue
> screen of death" and the absence of the realisation that Microsoft may
> not support your operating system next year or the next version of
> Office will not support previous releaes. IBM will be supporting OS/2
> over the next 15 years because it has major clients that see real
> benefits in keeping it.
>
> Some people value long term support for an operating system that's tried
> and tested, reliable, stable and true multitasking free from bugs which
> does not need fixing, protecting every week. These values may not be
> supported by IT staff or not in people's minds when in the computer store.
>
> I well recognise that security is not a major consideration of people
> that use Microsoft operating systems. It just comes pre-loaded with what
> they buy, or what's on their desk at work.
>
> As to what is OS/2 - there's this:
>
> OS/2 Warp-4 is a true 32bit multitasking operating system with the
> ability to connect to anything, anywhere with a universal network client
> which allows simultaneous connectivity to LAN Server, Warp Server,
> Windows NT Server, Novell Netware, Netware Directory Services, PCLAN
> Program, IPX-SPX, LANtastic for DOS or OS/2, Warp Connect, Windows NT
> Workstation, Windows 95, Windows for Workgroups - in fact any Microsoft
> operating system, or any other, TCP/IP (including DHCP, DDNS, FTP, TFTP,
> Telnet, SLIP, PPP, SMTP, and SNMP), SNA, NetBIOS at a time when
> WIN95/WIN98 etc where just playing at being a Graphical Interface.
>
> It is this universal connectivity and it's strengths as a secure
> reliable, stable multitasking operating system that made it attractive
> to banks, and large and small companies around the world. At one time
> all ATMs (Cash point machines) ran on OS/2 - industry world wide
> recognized its security and stability in transaction processing. OS/2
> was the choice of business and still is for those companies that want
> quality, stability and security within their business transactions.
>
> Warp-4 came with the added bonus of Sun Corporations Java so end users
> could immediately run powerful applications across the business
> enterprise and right across the world wide web with ease. OS/2 provided
> the industry standard for integrated Java client and server side for
> those whose business was global. Another first from IBM's OS/2 Warp-4
> was the integration of VoiceType speech recognition making Warp 4 the
> only operating system in the world to allow voice navigation and
> dictation with no additional software. There are something like 20
> million users and growing.
>
> As stated it's a question of values. Much of what comes in the basics of
> OS/2 has to be added on by third parties, or by Microsoft as it tries to
> catch up with standards set 10 years ago. I find it strange when
> Microsoft users think they are getting something new from Microsoft
> which plays catch up to OS/2 and Linux - without the stability security
> etc..
>
> Guess what, I have a 100 per cent hack proof system here - total
> stabilty realiability and security for 12 happy years on server side and
> desk tops and laptops. People have differing values - based on choices -
> they see different benefits to meet their needs based on the availabilty
> of application software.
>
> Regards,
>
> David

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Received on Wed May 5 02:37:50 2004