Re: New PC - What MS OS? -- MIDRANGE-L

Hello Larry,

Does that dinner offer include getting me there? :)  I can't win 'cause I can't 
prove but IBM have not 
publicly announced no new client.  They make noises but there is a user demand 
and maybe they'll listen.  
There are indications a new client is likely.  I'd put money on a new Warp 
client before we see a production 
release of Windoze 2000 (or whatever they end up calling it).

External impressions of IBM's support of OS/2 depends very much on who you talk 
to -- although I will agree 
that getting OS/2 support from IBM is like drawing hen's teeth.  Here is what I 
understand.

IBM have invested too much money in OS/2 to kill it -- over a billion US 
dollars.  We may never see another 
desktop release but it will morph into other server related products -- with an 
emphasis on Java.  There are 
too many large customers, mostly European, who still rely on OS/2 as the NOS 
(and who have no intention of 
moving to NT) who will not allow IBM to kill it. (Anyone know of still active 
DOS/VSE installations ??? or 
the Advanced/36 for that matter.)

Warp Server 5 (Aurora) is available.  A number of large European firms are 
putting pressure on IBM for a 
client at the same level.  Negotiations are supposed to be happening with 
Stardock to rip the server 
specific stuff out of Aurora and package it as a client (a bit like NT WS).

Go here <http://rover.wiesbaden.netsurf.de/~meile/los2cl.html> for a list of 
large customers using OS/2.

Financial institutions are still selecting OS/2.  "SouthTrust Bank, a major 
U.S. bank with 650 branches in 7 
southern states, has decided to standardize on IBM OS/2 Warp 4.0 for all 
branches.  This upgrade will be 
rolled out over the next six months as part of SouthTrust's ongoing Y2K 
compliance program." (Quote from 
WarpCast 28 Jan 99). "Banca Popolare dell'Emilia Romagna (Italy) recently 
upgraded their LAN. Now they use 
OS/2 over their servers and also over all clients with all native OS/2 
softwares solutions.  Another bank 
that choose quality!" (Quote from WarpCast Jun 98).

There is a group of people at IBM who are committed to OS/2.  There is a larger 
group who simply want to make 
money to keep shareholders happy (and collect those fat options).  Much more 
money can be made from 
supporting another company's suspect operating system than by pushing OS/2.  
The question really becomes 
"Should we recommend what is good for the customer or recommend something else 
which is OK but requires a lot 
of service to support?".  All the major consulting firms are in the same 
trough.  They will recommend the 
product that keeps more of their bodies employed.  IBM may be a large hardware 
company but most of their 
revenue comes from software and services.  It is also easier to sell what 
people think they want rather than 
persuade them otherwise. (But we've already had the discussion about people 
being wrong)

This I think is the primary source of confusion over OS/2 and Win-whatever.  If 
IBM sell, support, and 
recommend (and design hardware specifically for) Win how can anyone choose 
OS/2?  A new client will serve the 
purpose of indicating OS/2 is still alive and satisfy those customers who will 
not move.  It may not take 
over the world but it does give a choice to those who abhor the unwashed hordes.

If IBM want OS/2 to succeed then now is another chance due to Y2K.  Does anyone 
really believe MS have their 
products Y2K compliant?  And if not what is the MS strategy?  Upgrade to the 
Y2K version?  Expensive process.

===================================================
http://www.zdnet.com/sr/stories/news/0,4538,2140718,00.html
====================================================

==================================================
Javaworld magazine evaluated Java VM performance and scalability. It turns out 
that... IBM's OS/2 Java VM 
running over OS/2 Warp Server for e-Business ('Aurora') tops the speed tests!. 
It is faster than IBM's own 
Java VM for NT, faster than Microsoft's Java VM, and faster than Redhat Linux!. 
It didnt get Hs high as 
solaris on the scalability test but due to an acknowledged bug in the Aurora 
uniprocessor kernel (which IBM 
says will be fixed).

A couple quotes:

> Is it fast?
> Each time I run a set of VolanoMark tests against the
> latest batch of Java virtual machines I find some 
> surprises, and this time is no exception. IBM now
> dominates VolanoMark performance, whether on Windows
> NT 4.0 or on its new OS/2 Warp Server for e-business.
> IBM's Java virtual machine for Windows NT is a
> remarkable 20 percent faster than the alternatives
> from Microsoft and Sun. On OS/2 Warp Server it even
> beats Tower Technology's TowerJ static compiler, 
> showing that it is possible for normal Java virtual
> machines to surpass native performance, even if
> that's not yet happening on the same operating
> system. 

See for yourself the amazing results and charts at:

http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-03-1999/jw-03-volanomark.html
===============================================================

I'd like to see the AS/400 in these tests too!

Usual caveats apply:  All the above is only my opinion, blah, blah, blah, 
<insert legal escape clause here>.

Regards,
Simon Coulter.

��������������������������������������������������������������������
�� FlyByNight Software         AS/400 Technical Specialists       ��
�� Eclipse the competition - run your business on an IBM AS/400.  ��
��                                                                ��
�� Phone: +61 3 9419 0175      Mobile: +61 0411 091 400           ��
�� Fax:   +61 3 9419 0175      mailto: shc@flybynight.com.au      ��
��                                                                ��
�� Windoze should not be open at Warp speed.                      ��
��������������������������������������������������������������������
//--- forwarded letter -------------------------------------------------------
> X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.04 [en] (OS/2; I)
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> Date: Tue, 02 Mar 99 22:05:11 -0500
> From: "Larry Bolhuis" <lbolhui@ibm.net>
> To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
> Reply-To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
> Subject: Re: New PC - What MS OS?

> 
> Booth,
> 
> It is my understanding from highly placed sources within IBM that there is No
> release 5.  There may be more server level stuff but the desktop is
> 'functionally stable'.  There will also be no support for Merced when it ever
> arrives. Sorry. (yes I truly am!)
> 
> Sure there are devices driver updates and some minor functions added via 
>service
> packs but that's all she wrote.
> 
> Anyone who proves me wrong is up for a free dinner in SFO!  Find me at CUDS 
>any
> night.
> 
>  - Larry
> 
> boothm@ibm.net wrote:
> > 
> > You're running OS/2?  Have you heard anymore about a release date for OS/2 
>version 5?  Is it this spring, 
or will it be held back to coincide with NT's version 5?
> 
> -- 
> Larry Bolhuis         |
> Arbor Solutions, Inc  | Two rules to success in life:
> (616) 451-2500        | 1. Never tell people everything you know.
> lbolhui@ibm.net       |
> 
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