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The Return of OS/2 Warp Set For 2016 (techrepublic.com)
An anonymous reader writes: We all know the ill-fated history of IBM's OS/2 Warp, while some others may not know about the first OS/2-OEM distribution called eComStation. Now a new company called Arca Noae, not happy with the results of this last distribution, has signed an agreement with IBM to create a new OS/2 version. They announced a new OS, codenamed "Blue Lion," at Warpstock 2015 this last October; this will be based on OS/2 Warp 4.52 and the SMP kernel. The OS/2 community has taken this news with positivism and the OS2World community is now requesting everybody that has developed for OS/2 on the past to open source their source code to collaborate.
>> The OS/2 community has taken this news with positivism
WTF is "positivism"? It sounds like a drug advertised during football games.
I never used anything past Warp 3, but it was great running Win 3 software alongside OS/2. This was also stated as its biggest downfall, although this is really overplayed. I don't think any party not inclined to develop for OS/2 was influenced by this at all.
The DOS compatibility was exceptional.
Wine is really good now. I don't see this impacting Linux development in the slightest.
Not my joke, just upgraded this one: https://twitter.com/MatiasDuarte/status/661317886594519040
I'll stick with my Amiga, thank you.
Draconic, fascist Windows 10 comes out and Microsoft proceeds to try to force it down everyone's throat, and out of left field comes, after what seems like a geologic age, a new version of OS/2. Wow. Not sure what to think of that timing.
Are YOU using the TOOL, or is the TOOL using YOU? Think about it!
I liked OS2. I really did. I ran it for years as my main desktop. But its time has come and gone. At this point it is mostly a historical oddity except for those few people who are stuck on the dead end job of maintaining something with it.
You can quibble over why it ended up the way it did. We all have our theories. But the fact is 'its done put a fork in it'.
When you watch the video, advance to the scene at 46:37....look at the people that are attending the conference, that sums up OS/2.
I remember 2.0 back in about 92 or 93 and it was alright but not really special. And then it pretty much died. I can't imagine there are any significant projects still using it. Though I'll probably be told about several who never gave up on it. After all, there are still projects running Motif...
This is interesting, but maybe we could have some grammatical editing before throwing up a story on the main page?
They should ask citix to open source their old product multi user based off of os2 which they licensed from ibm.
I've been a long-time Linux user, but now that we're in the GNOME 3 and systemd era, my experience has been getting worse and worse. I basically just want what I had with Debian 7: a relatively modern Linux distro that's easy to update, that's pretty reliable, and that does what I need it to without getting in the way. Well, I upgraded to Debian 8 a while ago and things haven't been good. Systemd has caused me many problems. My desktop isn't as reliable as it was. Some of my laptop's functionality that used to work no longer works. The great experience that Linux once delivered for me has become seriously compromised to the point where I'm considering abandoning Linux. I've tried Slackware, but it's too primitive. I don't have that much time to spend just getting my system working. I've also tried Gentoo, but the compilation takes way too long.
So until I heard about this, my only real options were FreeBSD, OS X and Windows 10. I don't want to have to buy new hardware just to run OS X, and I don't like what I've heard about Windows 10. I don't want to give up Linux, but all of the Linux distros and major projects are doing everything they can to make Linux a total non-option for me. So I think I'm going to try FreeBSD, and if that doesn't work out, then my only choice left will be OS/2. I hope that this company can do great things with it because it's getting to the point where it may be my only option for an operating system that actually kinda sorta works!
It's some very nuanced shit somewhere between nouveau-modernism and post-primitive relativism that is popular in New York. It has to be viewed through thick black glasses while sipping PBR and smoking American Spirits.
I'd tell you more about the movement, but at 42, I can't skateboard as fast as I used too.
Gotta get home!
Cool! Hopefully they change the interface to a more modern one. Because no matter how good the underlying kernel and system is, it will totally ruin the overall experience for sure.
It doesn't have to be like this. All we need to do is make sure we keep talking.
Surely the submitter meant "positively", because the actual word printed in TFS indicates that the OS/2 community is taking this news in by interpreting the sensory phenomenon of its announcement using deductive logic.
The release is probably mostly for embedded use where OS/2 had quite some use since it was so much better and stable than contemporary MS Windows.
I quite liked OS/2 in its time and found it very superior to contemporary Windows versions.
I work for one of the big three car companies, and OS/2 Warp was just recently retired. It may still be in use at a few plants for specific tasks though. PC-DOS is still going strong though.
RTFA, this isn't IBM releasing a new version of OS/2, it's a small company that has gotten a license for OS/2 and is making a release. OS/2 is still as dead as it has been for years.
if the production value of the YouTube announcement linked to above is any indication, this is a tiny company run by people who are a little out of touch with current tech.
The deposition and testimony provided by Garry Norris - IBM's chief negotiator with Microsoft before and after the introduction of Windows 95 - has provided a cornucopia of fascinating evidence in the Microsoft trial. Much of it was previously unknown or unconfirmed. His evidence showed how Microsoft effectively controlled IBM's PC hardware and software businesses by making the price of Windows considerably higher than for other comparable PC makers. Mr Norris described in detail to Philip Malone, counsel for the Department of Justice, five cases where Microsoft had succeeded in modifying, or had attempted to influence, IBM's choice of ...
Rejoice, power companies! Your crappy old OS/2 systems can be supported again!
I used OS/2 for a few years, from 1995 to around 2001, it was a lot of fun. A lot of the technologies were interesting, but now antiquated. If it was open source, it could be something fun to run in a VM and tinker with.
The system they use to make the ID cards still runs OS/2. It's running on a new-ish Lenovo desktop with a modern camera (probably 1 or 2 years old).
The ID card printer, however, looks like something built from the latest in East German technology. That's probably what the OS/2 is for. That thing probably printed Markus Wolf's passport. All 26 of them.
Started my career with OS/2, and IBM's C++ compiler. Worked on some really nice systems in the 90s that used OS/2: automated trains, banking systems, robotics. But I was burned by IBM: first when they killed OS/2, then when they killed off OCL and their C++ suite for both Windows and OS/2. Jumped to linux in 2001 and haven't looked back since. But lesson learned: I'd have a hard time trusting an IBM OS or compiler suite.
What does bringing back OS/2 do today? Nothing. It would need something really innovative to make it worthwhile again. E.g., let it run Linux binaries and Win64 .exe files? Having some kind of package translation layer that allows people to install .rpm or .deb files to take advantage of existing Linux repos and software?
It is unfortunate that IBM gave up on both OS/2 and OCL/Visual C++ when they did. But "OS/2" is now 15-20 years behind the curve. Go ahead and make it available as a toy to remember the old days if you must, but I suspect it would take non-trivial development investments to re-awaken it.
Even OS X has become bloated in the last few updates. I think the last true great one was Snow Leopard, maybe Mountain Lion.
Fight for your bitcoins!
I had LASIK in Ukrane 2014. Machine that control LASER running OS/2. Still work fines.
What about BeOS/Haiku?
Fight for your bitcoins!
Just imagine, if you could get OS/2 running on an Amiga and call it BeOS, all the "positivism" that would ensue.
"He who would learn astronomy, and other recondite arts, let him go elsewhere. " -- John Calvin, commenting on Genesis 1
So that this for-profit company can use it to make a bunch of money off of it, without giving me a dime for my work?
Tell me again why I should go along with this?
Oh that's right, we're all supposed to be into communism now...
Not as long as MS is still holding the FS and DDK hostage.
ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI!?
. I don't have that much time to spend just getting my system working.
Try switching to Linux Mint. I recommend the KDE version, but if you don't like that, there's 3 other variants: Xcfe, MATE, and Cinnamon.
There's a lot more distros out there than just Debian and Gentoo.
Dragging out its frozen carcass and try to revive it just isn't going to fly.
At least with Frankenstein, he was using fresh corpses.
IIRC, IBM used their compiler to compile Microsoft's Win 3.1 code and the resulting product ran much faster and more reliably in OS2 than DOS. Also, I'm not sure exactly what the controversy was, but did Microsoft develop NT in parallel with IBM's and MS's co development of OS2? Did NT have any OS2 code? Comments, anyone.
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. George Orwell
Positivism is an FDA-approved therapy for Negativism.
[ Pictures of senior citizens doing yoga on the beach ]
Users of positivism should limit alcohol consumption and wash hands after using the restroom. Positivism may cause drowsiness, and users of positivism should refrain from operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Positivism may cause restless leg syndrome, chronic fatigue, Morgellons syndrome and may lead to problem gambling. Users of Positivism have reported an increased incidence of hang nails. Positivism may cause death. Report these problems to your doctor immediately.
Positivism. Experience the one true you (tm).
July 1991: 'SteveB went on the road to see the top weeklies, industry analysts. The meetings included demos of Windows 3.1 (pen and multimedia included), Windows NT, OS/2 2.0 including a performance comparison to Windows and a "bad app" that corrupted other applications and crashed the system".'
'The demos of OS/2 were excellent, crashing the system had the intended effect -- to FUD OS/2 2.0. People paid attention to this demo and were often suprised to our favor. Steve positioned it as -- OS/2 is not "bad" but from a performance and "robustness" standpoint, it is NOT better than Windows.' ref
I kicked off the last 4 OS/2 Warp off the network 4 years ago. They were running something that someone absolutely had to have.
The only saving grace was that no one was writing malware for it.
Wouldn't it be simpler to write a perl script to fud Linux?
Who is financing this effort and why?
4wdloop
OS/2 need windows 32bit working MS broke win32's with updates to hurt os/2.
Also maybe a better way to install fixpacks / updates as well.
A real safe mode.
Better config.sys
etc
The OS/2 4.52 kernel is hopelessly dated. No drivers for new hardware, no x86-64, no nothing of these shiny new features that appeared during the last decade. The source code for the kernel is closed. IBM won't open it, nor will it release more updates. The rumor is, the rights for OS/2 are partially owned by Microsoft, and they won't agree to make it open source. Unless something changes, projects like this one make no sense.
Stop trying to run it with only 1 gb
ATM's also went to USB and more network based as well.
Older ones used to be dial up where they dialed when used or only dialed at the end of the day.
Aside from the hobby/challenge aspect, why OS/2? What does OS/2 have that modern contemporary operating systems don't?
Arca Noae just posted his formal announcement about the project: https://www.arcanoae.com/blue-...
OK this is a little off topic, but what the funk is "...with positivism..."?
Maybe you meant "happily" or "is pleased"?
Is editor just a synonym here for 'monkey trained to cut, paste, and hit 'post to page'"?
-Styopa
You'll be wanting PC-BSD, then. It's FreeBSD with tweaks for desktop use, a different installer, and some extra utilities. It's more of an add on to FreeBSD than a separate project like Ubuntu is to Debian.
If you're used to Debian, bear in mind that updating FreeBSD isn't as streamlined as running apt and walking away. It's not difficult, but it's not as automated as Debian.
My advice: stay away from ports unless you need specific options for a piece of software. The way ports interacts with the package system is a bit unintuitive; it works fine, but it'll confuse you if you're not accustomed to it. If you do use ports, only make the changes you actually need - sometimes the options it gives you will make the port not compile.
As an aside, you do realize that you can run Debian with pretty much any desktop, right? It doesn't have to be GNOME 3. If you can live with systemd (most people don't have too much trouble with it - I only had trouble when migrating to it), that might be the best option for you.
Those who can't do, teach. Those who can't teach either, do tech support.
If yes, this could potentially be interesting. Microsoft has thoroughly turdified Windows since Windows 8.0. Windows 10 is a huge putrid bag of Don't Want.
"The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
That would be OS/2 2.1 or 2.11, released May 1993 or July 1994, respectively.
I used to use OS/2 many years ago and it was great compared to the microsoft alternatives but the world has moved on and OS/2 hasn't. If you want an alternative to MS use Linux or OSX.
The next time a similar story comes out for BeOS, I'll probably be interested.
rofl wat? another closed source OS? fuck no.
Yes, but will it come on 44 3.5" floppies?
n/t
Not as long as MS is still holding the FS and DDK hostage.
Why is it so many people around here aren't able to make a point without ridiculous amounts of hyperbole? This idiocy of "information wants to be free" (oh except my information, that's private and doesn't want to be free) along with the idea that there is some ransom situation going on with the FS and DDK (which there isn't).
I ran OS/2 Warp back in 1994 or whatever it was. Much better than the Windows offering back then, and I had a great experience with it. I am interested in seeing it, but won't be moving over to it. I'm very happy wiht linux right now.
Ignore Alien Orders
alive, current and used for POS, CAM, PBX and ATMs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Even less relevant than GNU Hurd. Honestly, OpenSolaris gets more interest than this.
See subject: I keep it on a 'computer curio display shelf' (fo lack of a better expression) I have here.
Per your reply:
I agree, & that was a selling point for it in "a better DOS than DOS" + it had the Windows 3.1 running in it too (& well but I liked Warp's "WorkPlace Shell" better actually).
I ran BOTH on a 486 Dx/4 133mhz CPU + 4-8mb of RAM (then 16 to 32)...
That's when RAM was $160++ for 4mb! I remember walking in the snow for many miles to buy it (car was done, that sucked... but I recall it like yesterday).
I recall it crashing MUCH less than DOS 5.0-6.22 & Win3.1-Win3.11 for Workgroups (faster filesystem by far on the latter) & just being something "new & neat"!
Which it was + yes, BETTER than MS stuff @ the time actually as far as multitasking & playing VIDEO (even though it was barely bigger than a postage stamp sized window for it, lol, it'd PLAY + YOU COULD DO OTHER TASKS TOO (whereas when disk I/O came into play on Win3.x, you had to wait, if ANY of you are old enough to recall THAT "pain")!
However, the software wasn't there as much for it - imo, this killed it the most.
I had a "DeScribe 4.0" wordprocessor (better than the decent enough built-in apps), Borland C++ for OS/2, GammaTech Utilities (defragger/backup type stuff - hard to recall it all but I still DO have the disks stored in my basement though somewhere)
Then, along came Win95 & NT 3.5-3.51 which took me away from it - it was where I made my money after all!
* Shame it didn't get the "hype" it should have... MS is a much better advertiser than IBM + it seems they "had the mindshare" of the software development houses too so, here we are!
APK
P.S.=> I'm fairly excited to see what happens here actually... apk
That allowed a single program to freeze the entire OS.
See subject: Usually I am on topic. Try it yourself sometime vs. trolling me as you unidentifiable trolls do dragging me off topic since I will "retroll you" to give you a dose of your OWN medicine...
* That is when you don't do so as UNIDENTIFIABLE ac posts (which you do since I've busted you up before & this is your only way to hassle me minus me throwing you blowing it vs. myself right back at you).
You're pitiful!
APK
P.S.=> I'm fine, you're not... apk
I've got a Fujitsu Stylistic ST4121 w/ a daylight viewable display which I had to quit using when Microsoft quit supporting Windows XP, and I haven't been able to find a reasonably priced replacement tablet w/ a real daylight viewable display.
OS/2 for Pens would be perfect for it.
Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.
Snow Leopard was the last one that could run PowerPC binaries, so I'd have to agree about it.
1995 is when I last used os/2. Never missed it. It was clearly better than anything microsoft had. All that stuff was still a cruel joke side of a real os like Unix/Linux.
my closet full of thinkpad 701s will return!! after that, my Osborne!!
Star Trek transporters are just 3d printers.
Okay, first, shouldn't it have hit OS/3 by now? Also, "warp"? Dated, lame name.
Furthermore, who is still using this dead-ass OS, and WHY?!? After a session of trying to do whatever it is one tries to do with OS/2 Warp Factor 9 or whatever... does one jump in the back of the buggy, whip the horse to get it to go, and once home, light up the gas-lamp with a taper from the boy who lights the gas lamps on the street, and crank up the old Victrola, watch a home movie made with one of those hand-cranked cameras, shovel a portion of coal into the burner in the basement, and compose a telegram to your great-aunt Abigail before drifting off to sleep?
I read this story about OS/2, and wondered, have I fallen into a fukken time-warp? Is it 1995 again? Because if so, I'm really going to kick myself for not having memorized the winners of the next 20 Superbowls, World Series, and whatever those fruit-cakes call the equivalent of those things in soccer and tennis.
OS/2 = Half the operating system
W = Without
A = Any
R = Real
P = Programming