Whatever happened to OS/2???

[DonOld]

OS/2 was a great system, initially, then IBM discarded the individual and SOHO users in favor of "Enterprise" clients.

I used OS/2 1.8, then beta-tested v2.0, and continued using OS/2 through the 12th 'FixPak' version of OS/2 v4 Warp. At that time, actually at FP-6, began using W95, then W98. With a new box, I brought my old HD to the new system, and utilized Boot Manager and Boot Magic to switch between OS/2 and W98, and now use W98 almost exclusively. Not because W98 is a "better OS", but the lack of support from IBM for OS/2, the lack of drivers for current hardware, and the overall lack of support from IBM for their OS -- unless the client is a $bil corporation!

Do any of the individual or SOHO users here still consider OS/2 a viable OS? One can only bang one's head against the wall so long before realizing that productivity makes up for a lot of "fatal error"s, and the obsequious treatment from Microsoft (Micorruptsoft?).

At least, vendors provide the products and eventually the drivers. With a limited lifespan, users -- with great caution to avoid the security holes in the MS products -- can drive their systems to produce what they need without endless searching for apps and drivers as with OS/2.

I have ZERO trust in Microsoft, MSIE, Outlook , VB and Word. Linux may eventually be the best choice, but frustration in the past with attempting to install ver5.2, and the current lack of necessary apps, makes Linux a future choice. But, what about OS/2?

[Target]

I can't find the URL, but I read an article about it recently that stated IBM would be phasing it out altogether over the next two years.

Also heard that there is a group that is lobbying to get IBM to release the source code after they abandon it so that the OS can live on in a Linux-like fashion. Certainly, with the source code to build on by "private" developers, it could become a great OS again for SOHO users.

[RobRich]

I do still consider OS/2 to be highly effective in certain enviroments. It consistently proves itself to be extremely stable with a good performance return, even on older hardware. When dealing with older systems/networks, I find it to a great solution due to its lower overhead as compared to WinNT.

I still have a copy of Warp 3.0 setting on my computer desk collecting dusk as we speak. Until a few months ago, I always kept a working copy installed on my personal system at all times.

Target is also correct, as OS/2 should be discontinued within the near future. Don't expect anything beyond OS/2 5.0 Server to be released. I would have really liked to see a workstation version of 5.0 (esp.with Win9x compatiblity), but it won't be happening.

Robert Richmond

[CMonster]

..er ah, well, about 65 million computing years agao a huge microsofteroid hit the computing industry tilted it's axist 17* from true north, thereby collapsing the greenhouse moisture cannopy that had previously maintained a relatively constant world temperature and humidity which fostered the groth of many alternative operating systems, and spread a cloud of dust that caused catastrophic cooling of the global climate... and, in short, OS2 went the way of the dinosaur.

[DonOld]

Lots of good responses here ...

OS/2 is still followed on "about.com", and the "OS2SuperSite", but the majority of the news is blue sky conjecture. Even many of those developing apps (OperaSoftware, FI) have just neglected efforts. an IBM spokesperson was quoted earlier this year as saying that ONE more client version (5.0?) would be released, in order to bring v4.x up to date with all of the FPs.

I still have Warp and v3-Connect (which I believed to be the -best- version) on my system, but it's been nearly a year since I've used either, and that was for a DB2 trial.

I think that it was the "StarOffice" people (de) that tried to acquire the source code, but IBM still has a very heavy investment in the 'enterprise' sector.

"Microsoft OS/2 v1.0" still runs on many ATM machines -- at least in 1999. When Micorruptsoft and IBM were working on OS/2 jointly, IBM demanded security and stability and MS wanted 'quick&dirty' and volume (Beta vs VHS). So MS produced Windows, and IBM eventually produced the OS/2 v2.0 GUI version.

I miss OS/2 for the stability and ease of use, and its 'tweakability'; as well as knowing what was going on, and being able to make choices instead of having the OS select what its manufacturer wanted. "BOB" anyone...?

Thanks for all of the comments.

Don Childs