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From: larrys@watson.ibm.com
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
Subject: Re: PM versions of MS Apps?
Message-ID: <1991Jun27.130945.3568@watson.ibm.com>
Date: 27 Jun 91 16:04:04 GMT
References: <1991Jun26.195830.28183@colorado.edu>
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In <1991Jun26.195830.28183@colorado.edu>, brannon@tramp.Colorado.EDU (BRANNON JAMES H) writes:
>
>I've been developing an application for Windows 3.0
>(a new numerical analysis technique) and have
>had about enough of it.

Join the club.

>                        I bought OS2 v1.3 and like
>it. Now I have 2 questions that some of you may be
>able to help with.

>1. I have MCS 6.0 already. Should I get the OS2 PM SDK?
>Or is there a better product (like Borland C++) out
>there? Should I wait for the Borland OS2 tools to
>come out?

I don't like any of the compilers for OS/2 that are currently on the
market, so I won't recommend any.  Borland has announced a C++
development environment for OS/2, and I strongly suspect it will be the
equivalent (if not better) of the Windows development environment.

>2. I can upgrade my copies of Word for Windows and
>Excel for Windows to PM for $50 each. Should I do
>this? Are the PM versions as good as the Windows
>versions?

Since Microsoft wrote them, I don't know.  I'm NOT saying this just
because I don't like Microsoft, but instead because I have read that the
OS/2 PM versions of popular Microsoft Windows applications were ported
using the Migration Kit, which DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
OS/2 SPECIFIC FEATURES.  Specifically, I am referring to multi-threading,
which can make a BIG difference.

>When v2.0 gets here (4Q91?) will I have to get new
>compilers and etc? For now, I have to try and keep
>expenses to a minimum.

That depends.  Rumor has it that IBM is development a "Workbench" which
will contain a set of development tools.  I'll assume that one of these
tools is a compiler.  If they do announce something like this, it will be
interesting to see if they include it with OS/2, or make it a separate
product (probably the latter).

Again, I don't know of any announcement to this effect, so take this with
a grain of salt.

Cheers,
Larry Salomon, Jr. (aka 'Q')            LARRYS@YKTVMV.BITNET
OS/2 Applications and Tools             larrys@ibmman.watson.ibm.com
IBM T.J. Watson Research Center         larrys@eng.clemson.edu
Yorktown Heights, NY

Disclaimer:  The statements and/or opinions stated above are strictly my
own and do not reflect the views of my employer.  Additionally, I have a
reputation for being obnoxious, so don't take any personal attacks too
seriously.