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On December 30,1995 I walked into the local Media Play because I had enough of
Dos and Windows 3.11. There on the shelf were several copies of IBM OS/2 Warp 3
Blue Spine. The price of $138.99 marked on the box didn't make me blink an eye-here
was a possible answer by Big Blue to that damn Windows.
I was surprised how easily it installed and found my hardware. Win-OS/2 loaded
all my Win3.11 programs. But they ran slow. That stopped me from installing it at
work.
Then came Warp 4. I jumped at the chance to get the upgrade from Indelible blue.
This was it. The Windows 16 bit programs, with a little tuning, ran great off the
toolbar in a seamless session. I found that after the years of never being able
to master Dos/Win3.11, I was learning things. The native OS/2 programs were a different
world. I found myself using my computer more, and enjoying it more. I had programs
to work with between work and home, like Filestar, CAD Commander, Gammatech, Unimaint,
PM Patrol. PMView,ZOC and a whole lot more. The response and tech support by the
OS/2 software developers is unparalleled.
IBM ruined it. IBM pulled the OS/2 off the shelves and caused software development
to become stagnant. Maybe they had reasons, I don't know. But I see no justification
for stifling an operating system the way IBM has.
That's why I am so relieved to see efforts such as Xfree. To have access to hundreds
of Linux programs can save OS/2. The best course seems to be to get Warp as far
from IBM as possible. IBM cannot be forced to make Warp 5. Let them write as many
fixes and drivers as they will.
Until IBM decides to poop or pop, those that depend on Warp will do what they
have to do. Drivers can be the biggest problem. New hardware writes for Windows,
that's where the money is. Nobody will depend on IBM to make Warp a viable system.
So Warpists should wait & hope? I have a better idea, at least for the major
technologies that may evolve without including OS/2.
Our mini-mainframe system is old. It is very expensive, hardware critical, outdated
and cranky. The software is the best money can buy for what it does and can't be
replaced because it is for specific hardware. If a disk goes down, it must be replaced
with the exact same type of MFM drive, same heads, same size or it won't run. The
software has been made ready for Y2K. We have found a software company that can
actually interface this software to Intel architecture. This means the software
can be sold again, and the current users of this program can all breath a sigh of
relief. No big software expense, no relearning. Its great.
Upgrades to this software are lacking because it was so near death. When they
do come, this is how it will work:
When a customer wants an upgrade, or the company designs one, all users of the system
will be contacted and offered this upgrade. The cost, given by the developer, will
be split among the users wanting the upgrade. No one will have to pay for something
that's good for Peter, but not for Paul.
I have huge blind spots, the way I see things. But I sure can't see why this
idea won't work with Warp. We now have access to unlimited programming. People will
always write programs for OS/2. But if Company X makes product Y for Windows, OS/2
users may never see it. As an example, Windows seems to be quite far ahead of OS/2
with USB support. So, by using avenues such as Warpcast, Voice, all the OS/2 User
groups, why not find out what people want. Trust would be involved because either
the work would be paid for in advance, or the driver writer has to hope those that
wanted it bought it. But we are going through that now with our system. The trust
is there.
After watching the Danis IBM506 driver be developed and worked on, I realized
that IBM is expected to write drivers, but if they don't, someone else can. If Daniela
Engert was approached with an offer from 150 OS/2 users for a certain driver, she
just might write it. If the cost was $2000.00 and 200 users buy in, it gets pretty
cheap.
I know most people will consider this a stupid idea, but I don't agree. Linux
got where it is by people getting involved and writing. OS/2 can offer an incentive,
because OS/2 is the strongest, best OS out there. and if it gets more people to
use OS/2, the cost of work to be done will come down per person. At least it's something
to think about. And, who knows, if IBM sees their baby getting away, maybe they
will wake up.
Louis Muollo
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