Slashdot Mirror
IBM's OS/2 Strategy for 2003
Landreth writes "OS2World.com reports that IBM has released their OS/2 strategy for 2003. They appear to be pushing the WebSphere Software Platform as well as client and server upgrades to Warp 4. The report can be viewed at IBM's website."
Funny that an OS which /. has been reporting as being dead for years is apparently still being updated.
-t
I read through their strategy and I couldn't find any hint of why people should actually use OS/2 over any other solutions. Java, XML and the internet protocols are very well supported in Linux and *BSD, so why would anyone switch to OS/2 rather than one of those systems, if they decide to switch to something, or why would they choose OS/2 rather than something else if they're starting a new project?
Unless they answer these questions, it's all hot wind.
Daniel
Carpe Diem
Then again... For IBM keeping it's customers happy is the most important thing of all. Regardless of if that means supporting OS/2 or any other legacy platform.
Beta was better technology, but somehow we all got stuck with VHS... Superior technology can't always win.
Granted, OS/2 is a different story. But in both cases it's about earning ones salary... which is always done by keeping the customers happy.
.: Max Romantschuk
>> No one has really used OS/2 since 1995...the install (sic) base...
...negating a reason for OS/2 to even exist.
You contradict yourself.
>>
Operating systems aren't academic exercises. Capabilities that you won't use waste your money, no matter how "modern" the OS. Presumably, institutions with an investment in OS/2 think it makes good business sense to stay with it.
-- Slashdot: When Public Access TV Says "No"
I've been looking at developing Java based web solutions on legacy systems lately and it seems that IBM have a pretty good JDBC driver for OS/400 and I assume they have an equally good one for OS/2.
A couple of years ago it was all the rage to install a Linux partition on AS/400s turn it into a webserver and web-enable legacy systems that way, but now it seems IBM are pushing their own native system ie WebSphere, eliminating the need to install Linux. To be honest although I'm happy that I can develop native web apps on these platforms it 's always nice to be able to use the latest open source technologies and not be restricted to using WebSphere. Especially if you have to pay for it.
Personally I thought one of the failings of OS/2 was the user interface but using it as a webserver platform makes sense I suppose, if your company uses it anyway.
Go on, shoot some fish!
Actually, it runs large numbers of ATM machines. Strange but true.
OS/2 didn't really catch on 7 years ago when it was unquestionably better than windows...what do you figure is different now?
I have a copy of Warp 4 and Visual Age C++ for OS/2 that I'll almost certainly never use again. Would be willing to sell for cheap+shipping.
I loved OS/2, but it is what helped convince me that Free Software is SO important. I put quite a bit of effort into learning OS/2, hoping it would take off, and learned a lesson when IBM stopped pushing it. You just can't put much hope in non Free software! Linux is, fortunately, immune to being ignored by its manufacturer the way OS/2 (and BeOS) was.
TROLL What a bunch of total crap.
Dude. Team OS/2 is as dead^H^H^H^Hlegacy as the rest of OS/2. There's no need to go yelling troll every time someone says something less than 100% positive about it.