Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!pacbell.com!tandem!zorch!vsi1!teda!netcom!resnicks
From: resnicks@netcom.COM (Steve Resnick)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
Subject: Re: Request for information from OS/2 neophyte
Message-ID: <1991Apr24.214625.12397@netcom.COM>
Date: 24 Apr 91 21:46:25 GMT
References: <1991Apr22.211632.4960@colorado.edu> <1991Apr24.125818.26340@watson.ibm.com>
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  UNIX System {408 241-9760 guest}
Lines: 68

In article <1991Apr24.125818.26340@watson.ibm.com> larrys@yktvmv writes:
>>1.  I'm fairly convinced from what I've read that OS/2 is
>>        a Good Thing.  Where can I buy this software?
>
>Yes, it is a good thing.  Unfortunately, other than an official IBM
>dealer, no one else carries OS/2.
>
>>2.  Is the rest of the world (software vendors, in particular)
>>        as ignorant as my local software stores about OS/2?
>
>Not really, although there are a lot of misconceptions about OS/2:
>        (Seen in a trade mag) OS/2 is not a preemptive multitasking
>        operating system.  Windows is.
	
	Windows is not preemptive multi-tasking. OS/2 is. 
>
>        There are no applications for OS/2.
>
	There are several MS applications and other vendors who support
	OS/2.

>        It is more difficult to program for than DOS+Windows.
>
	Are we talking PM or OS/2? PM offers a richer API than Windows,
	and OS/2 offers a richer API than DOS. 99% of my code which I have
	written in C for DOS ports directly to OS/2.

>        etc...
>
>>3.  Is it supported for non-IBM hardware?  If not (I've heard
>>        it isn't), does it run on non-IBM hardware?  In particular,
>>        I've got a fairly generic Klever 386 motherboard and
>>        Phoenix BIOS.
>
>I don't think it is supported on non-IBM hardware, but my housemate has
>1.3 running on a clone, so it will work, even though you might have to do
>some black magic to get it to work.
>
	I don't know about 1.3, but 1.2 ran on my Weitek 386/20 w/ Award 3.11
	BIOS out of the box. 

>>4.  Is it true that IBM has lowered the price to $150 for
>>        the standard 1.3 release?  The Wall Street Journal says
>>        yes, the software store says no.
>
>The software store is wrong.  Tell them your fairy godmother told you so.
>
>>5.  Is it really likely that if I bought it now that it will
>>        still be supported a year from now?
>
>Most definately.  If past actions are any indication, you will probably
>be able to upgrade to 2.0 for free, should you buy 1.3 now.

What you've said here almost entirely contradicts my experience with OS/2.


- Steve

-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
	resnicks@netcom.com, steve@camphq, IFNA:	1:143/105.0, 
USNail: 530 Lawrence Expressway, Suite 374 
        Sunnyvale, Ca 94086
In real life: Steve Resnick. Chief Software Architect, Process Scientific, Inc
Flames, grammar and spelling errors >/dev/null
0x2b |~ 0x2b, THAT is the question.
The Asylum OS/2 BBS - (408)263-8017 12/2400,8,1 - Running Maximus CBCS 1.2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------