An editorial view from Mark Dodel, editor of the VOICE Newsletter editor@os2voice.org
While those of us in the Northern hemisphere hide in the house waiting for the
Spring thaw, be sure to check out the updated VOICE Future
events Calendar in this newsletter or on the VOICE website at http://www.os2voice.org/calendar.html.
In January VOICE sponsored a Saturday speakup event on 30th at 1PM EST (18:00 GMT)
focusing on REXX. Our special guests that day were Chip Davis, Dr. Dirk Terrell
and Mike Cowlishaw, the "Father of REXX". This was one of our most popular
IRC events to date, so stay tuned to channel #voice for more great OS/2 extravaganzas.
VOICE is here to support the OS/2 user, so if there are any special guests you would
be interested in hearing from please drop us a line - editor@os2voice.org.
This month on February 15th we host Adam Hall of Polyex Software focusing on their
newest release: Hopkins FBI. Continuing with a focus on OS/2 Games on March 1st
we have Douglas Hendrix of Solar Systems Software and Mike Ramsey of Trilliun Software
Products focusing on their respective OS/2 games Stellar Frontier and Master of
the Empire.
Hopefully with the Spring thaw, will come a spanking new version of OS/2 Warp
Server followed by the latest of the walking dead the OS/2 Warp 5 client. It isn't
just rumour anymore, as IBM is considering releasing a stripped down version of
the Server as a new client. I doubt it was all of the clamoring from us small fry
that brought this about. Most likely it was the demands of several of IBM's largest
clients demanding a Y2K compliant client out of the box. Ahh, only a few more months
until the flowers begin to bloom and IBM does what it said it would never do again
- release another OS/2 client version.
This month has already seen the release of a refresh of Communicator for OS/2
(you can get it from IBM's Software Choice site - http://service.boulder.ibm.com/asd-bin/doc/en_us/catalog.htm
and another new fixpack for Warp 3.0 (now FP40 -
It's Income Tax time again in the United States, so that has me thinking about
all the taxes I have to pay. The worst of them is the microsoft tax. You know the
one I'm talking about don't you? The one every computer buyer must pay when they
order a new system from a major vendor like Gateway, Dell, IBM, Compaq and the all
the rest even if they never use the bundled windows operating system. This is the
only non-governmental body I know of that can demand money for a product you don't
want and won't use. Well the Linux folks have started an effort that I hope becomes
an avalanche. They outline a process whereby anyone who refuses to run the microsoft
operating system infesting their new computer can request a refund in exchange for
not accepting microsoft's license conditions. This is one idea we can all get behind
and help support. For details go to http://www.linuxmall.com/refund/.
Write a letter to your local newspaper. Make your friends aware that they can voice
their opinion and maybe get back some of the micro$oft tax.
Our February 1999 issue of the VOICE Newsletter begins with an article by Rob
Fargher on XFree86/2 ; what it is, why it's useful
and how to set it up. Next up we have an article on Installation
of the AOpen AW37 Pro audio card in OS/2 by Lynlee. This article might help
other OS/2 users who are having some problems replacing an existing sound card.
We also have an article by Kim Cheung on an interesting new OS/2 only product called
WiseManager(TM) which
sounds like just the ticket for small to medium businesses to get out from under
the microsoft yoke. In addition, Tom Nadeau begins his multi-part series of articles
on OS/2 and the year 2000 with "Y2K and the Search
for Scapegoats -- Part 1" .
As a followup to last month's review of US Tax software under OS/2 I have a review
this month of ExcelTax 98 for DOS/Windows a package
that might just fit the bill for an experienced tax return preparer. We also have
an OS/2 small business solution profile of HOUSE/2
by Mark Kerzner. And as if we don't have enough opinion pieces in this newsletter
between Don Eitner and myself, here are two more editorial pieces contributed by
VOICE VP Wayne Swanson on Rumors, Rumors Everywhere...
and another by Tom Nadeau titled "They Just
Don't Get It". Then Peter Lazenby takes yet another look at Star Office
5.0 in The Saga Continues. And in the VIEW
from the End(User), Don Eitner discusses "The
Anti-Trust Trial and Its Effect on OS/2".
Mark Dodel
Editor, VOICE Newsletter
editor@os2voice.org