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Where Have the OS/2 Junkies Gone?
Nick writes "We all remember OS/2, such a fine operating system that was once much heralded in certain circles and had alot of promise. What most people don't know is that it still is alive and kicking. Many of you may even know its history. What gets me, however, is how its popularity dropped off solely on marketing even though OS/2's performance outweights any version of Windows I've ever used (unfortunately OS/2 is no longer cool and elite like the many unix-like operating systems out there). So how many of us Slashdotters still run and use OS/2?" Every so often, I still pine for the WPS, but KDE makes things almost as easy, so life is good. I remember OS/2 was always more popular over in Europe. Is it still in use there, or has its use faded as it has here in the US?
What we need it a campain to get ibm to donate OS/2 code to linux, I'm sure alot of it could be used.
i work for a small but lively midwestern company (i never thought i'd be writing this)
one of our subsidiary companies uses a custom version of OS/2 Warp for some of their major servers.
i'm actually on a project to kill them off tho. unfortunately, we're replacing them with win2k servers. our management isnt that hip to listening to our techincal input, so they'd rather pay millions to redmond in licensing fees.
get this. we have to pay a license for a serially connected scanner device that has NO computing inside it. just cuz its gonna access a sql2000 database. sheesh.
but it doesn't run on my iBook :-( When I was buying my laptop, I had to decide between running OS X, and OS/2, and OS X won.
It's still a great operating system, and if I ever have real PC hardware again I'd be happy to run it again. Macs have Applescript, and it is powerful, but it's just not the same as REXX.
And of course, the Finder has nothing on the WPS. But still... :-(
--Matthew
I have worked for Bosch qnd I am working for Volkswagen now. I have a look into what is being done by IT-folks in financial sector. OS/2 still is a lot around here and there because it is up and running at low maintenance since decades. Its perfectly stable and much more secure than any Microsoft today. To your surprise there are many companies porting to OS/2 latest flavors (WSeB, ECS, ACS, WCS, ...).
Native Win32-support in OS/2 is available today. VNC-server and Virtual-PC are nearly done. IBM is changing their business-model to only support-per-pay in 5 years; a limitation you have to suffer from at Microsoft since years. SOHO-users may choose ECS.
... alive and kicking, but the players are professionals.
OS/2 is alive. The client has been updated, so the Netlabs people are able to run things like Adobe Reader 4.0 and RealPlayer 8.0 on the OS/2 WPS desktop.
Also at the recent Warpstock 2001 conference in Toronto attendees shaw Windows 95, Windows 98 etc. running in a window on the OS/2 desktop.
IBM has publicly announced support for the OS/2 desktop for another 5 years. You pay for what you get. IBM's version of the product is called the Mervin Convenience Package or MCP (There is also a server version of this package called the Aurora Convenience Package or ACP). There is also an OEM version, which comes with an new install program and many other commercial programmes. It is called eComstation, and is a product of Serenity Systems. It is been marketed by resellers worldwide, e.g. Mensys in Holland at http://www.mensys.nl. This OEM product comes with a complete office package for less than the price of an upgrade to XP.
The updated drivers include support for many USB devices as well as support for DVD-RAM.
The Warpstock 2001 in Toronto last month and the Warpstock Europe 2001 in Belgium this weekend is indications that OS/2 lives on as eComstation.