Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!ames!umd5!uflorida!usfvax2!whitley
From: whitley@usfvax2.EDU (John S. Whitley II)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: OS/2 Anyone?
Message-ID: <1084@usfvax2.EDU>
Date: 10 Jun 88 23:28:29 GMT
References: <1866@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu> <216100037@trsvax>
Reply-To: whitley@usfvax2.usf.edu.UUCP (John S. Whitley II)
Organization: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Lines: 49

In article <216100037@trsvax> johnm@trsvax.UUCP writes:
>
>[Person coming to grips with fact that OS2 is a sham deleted :-)]
>
    Whoever claimed that OS/2 was a plot by IBM to force all the PS/2 users
to pruchase new software was a sniveling jerk.  Two points:  1) IBM is out
for profit as the ultimate end, but they do not follow the motto: "The end
justifies the means"  2) But since when has IBM produced the bulk of sofrware
for their personal machines anyway??  They lay the foundation, and the rest
is filled in by other software corporations, and by YOU, the private sector.

>The reason for the vast quantities of PD and shareware stuff for the PC's is
>that the machines (at least the low end ones) are cheap and software for
>development (like Turbo or Quick C) is dirt cheap.  Thus anybody can get in on
>the act in their living room.  The same is not true of OS2 and the machines
>that run it.  Just the operating system itself is more than most people want
>to spend for ANY piece of software. Unless the cost of OS2, the machines to run
>it, and the development software are suddenly cut in half you can bet that you
>will NEVER see a significant amount of free software for the system.

Hogwash.  You forget that in the time period since the PC's were first
announced till now there have been many versions of DOS (1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 2.1,
3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, ...)  Now figure in the cost of each version, not all of
them, just a few major ones.  About 500 dollars or up to keep ahead of the 
game.  Now we are presented with OS/2, a big, extremely versatile operating
system, which costs about $350 or alot less if you have channels.  This
operating system is projected to change VERY little over the long haul,
i.e. no newer versions every few months.  This yields an approximate
savings over DOS of about 150 dollars, or more, plus the advantage of
no longer being tied down by an aging operating system.  Of course there
are going to be dollars out of your own pocket, but they darn sure will
be worth it several years from now, when DOS takes over CP/M's place in
obsolescence.  

   I do not support the idea that any UNIX variant for a PC/PS type machine
is suitable.  OS/2 with the Presentation Manager and the enforced machine
compatability from SAA is specifically designed for use on PS/2 class 
machines.  Unix is a wonderful operating system, but alas, I don't think
anyone will create a Unix based standard anywhere near as nice as the 
OS/2 & Pres. Manager combination(SAA).  Besides, the big compiler vendors
in the DOS market are making their compilers for OS/2 now, NOT Unix.  
Turbo C on Unix, I think not!  Nor anything with "Microsoft" on the label.
I would enjoy dicussion of possibilities concerning the future of Unix and
the personal environment, for I could easily be wrong! :-)

John Whitley II -- whitley@usfvax2.usf.edu


>
>John Munsch