Xref: utzoo comp.misc:6438 comp.sys.ibm.pc:30767
Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!watdragon!violet!afscian
From: afscian@violet.waterloo.edu (Anthony Scian)
Newsgroups: comp.misc,comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: PC-WEEK Article / OS/2 obituary?
Message-ID: <14774@watdragon.waterloo.edu>
Date: 28 Jun 89 15:18:25 GMT
References: <238@imspw6.UUCP>
Sender: daemon@watdragon.waterloo.edu
Reply-To: afscian@violet.waterloo.edu (Anthony Scian)
Organization: U. of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 34

In article <238@imspw6.UUCP> bob@imspw6.UUCP (Bob Burch) writes:
>2)  RISC?  Microsoft has been trying for two years to get a 386 version of
>OS/2 together, apparently with little luck.  Kind of like they can't build
>a wagon and you're talking about them building Ferrarris and Maseratis.

Microsoft is currently translating the 100 000+ lines of 286 assembly
language to C so that they can port it to the 80386, never mind
future RISC machines. Microsoft will probably be trying for another
2 years before a 386 version arrives.

>What I see really killing OS/2 dead is the following consideration:  that in
>the next few years, wherever you go, you'll see mid-sized computers all
>running UNIX, database engines (such as the 100 tps Sequent) running UNIX,
>workstations like the Suns and Appollos all running UNIX, and scores of 386
>and 486 desktop machines, and some poor slob will have to tie all of those
>things together.  He's going to think to himself: "Now, do I want those
>desktops running OS/2 and me have to deal with two totally different software
>worlds forever and with connecting them forever, or would it be simpler
>to just run UNIX on everything and use simple uucp connections?"  

I second this. IBM appears to be having the same feelings because 
AIX (or future OSF derivative) is AVAILABLE NOW on everything 
above (and including?) a PS/2. What possible benefit would OS/2 
give to users that AIX (or XENIX) with a NeXT windowing 
environment (which IBM has licensed from Next Inc.) wouldn't satisfy?
DOS programs? Yea, right. People are figuring out
that they will have to buy new software for OS/2 regardless, so 
they are choosing their next platform with much more care.
The availability of UNIX on many machines, with its
maturity and wealth of software (networking/e-mail/etc.)
must certainly tip the scales AWAY from OS/2.

//// Anthony Scian afscian@violet.uwaterloo.ca afscian@violet.waterloo.edu ////
"I can't believe the news today, I can't close my eyes and make it go away" -U2