OS/2 Archive

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.

Chris writes: "According to this press release, SciTech software is effectively taking over all OS/2 graphics driver development, validation, and support for Intel integrated graphics chipsets from Intel as of January 1, 2003. Given that OS/2 isn't really "dead" (as some have claimed), this is a substantial fillip for SciTech."

IBM's recent announcement, then un-announcement that OS/2 will be no more has brought the exciting, then doomed, then revived, then doomed, then doomed, doomed, mourned, and doomed some more operating system back into the limelight for a swan song. The Register today remembers OS/2 fondly, and remarks on why it never got its chance.

IBM refused reports that it was phasing out its OS/2 operating system, saying the company is merely changing the manner in which it distributes its software. OS/2 will still be available through IBM's licenseing program, and the IBM spokesman said the company plans to support the OS/2 OS "indefinitely". Read the report at ExtremeTech.

A major update to the eCS Maintenance Tool is contained in 1.10.5. In addition, the following packages are now available for download through www.ecomstation.com or by downloading eCS MT 1.10.5 and using its download capabilites.

eComStation (eCS) is an Internet enabled platform for business desktop computing. The focus of eCS is to provide an organization with a set of world class business applications and an application engine which can support multiple API sets. eCS is REXX enabled and comes with support for DOS, Java, Windows 3.1, OS/2 applications. Here are some screenshots of the installation process of the upcomming eComStation 1.1. We did a review of eCS 1.0 a few months ago. On a related note, IBM refreshed the Java Development Kit 1.3.1 for OS/2 (paid subscription required to download it).

"It’s hard to believe that the course of PC computing was irrevocably changed 10 years ago. On March 31, 1992, IBM release OS/2 2.0. While OS/2 ultimately lost out to Windows, its impact on OS interface design was extraordinary. Many Windows users today may be surprised to find out just how much of today’s Windows interface was borrowed from OS/2 2.0." Read Stardock's Brad Wardell editorial which includes a brief history of OS/2.

"IBM's first 32-bit version of its advanced PC operating system was released 10 years ago this month. It was better than anything around, yet it failed. Its hopes were pinned on many of the same things we hope today will bring Linux to the forefront. What lessons are to be learned? Will we learn them? A glimpse of a sorry chapter in computing history." Read the editorial at LinuxAndMain.

IBM's OS/2 has a great history as a workstation operating system, it was a major alternative OS in the '90s. At its peak time in the mid-'90s OS/2 had about 2 million users but the Windows NT and Windows 95 releases broke its further development. This year Serenity Systems has released a new client version of OS/2. This article will introduce you to what OS/2 is all about. You will learn its history, its user interface, and its power under the hood. The article is also accompanied by a number of screenshots.

IBM's OS/2 operating system was once lauded for its ability to run DOS and Windows applications. But, since the release of Windows 95, 32-bit Windows applications haven't been supported. That situation may change soon. Connectix Corp. Tuesday unveiled Virtual PC for OS/2, along with product development and marketing help from software developer InnoTek Systemberatung GmbH and the distribution support of Serenity Systems. The software promises to let corporate users run both Windows and OS/2 applications on one PC. Using Connectix's virtual machine technology, any x86 operating system can be loaded under the "host" operating system.

Some OS/2 fans are circulating a petition asking IBM to open the OS/2 source code. You can sign it here. Though IBM has become a good neighbor in the open source community, there are sometime tricky issues involved in open sourcing commercial software. For instance, IBM's one-time collaborator in OS/2, Microsoft, may still own some of the OS/2 technology, and may not want to see it open sourced. Nevertheless, make your voice heard. It can't hurt.