So, is there really any serious development work going on with OS/2? Maybe. The IBM Software Choice Catalog indicates something is going on; several developments have been introduced this past Spring:

• IBM OS/2 Warp Developer Kit, Java(TM) 2 Technology Edition, Version 1.3 was updated on April 3rd. Version 1.3 incorporates the latest in performance and function. IBM's Developer Kit enables you to create stable Java applications. Features like Swing, JAAS, and RMI-IIOP have been built into this release.

• IBM Web Browser was introduced March 20th. The browser is based on Netscape's open source project - Mozilla (Netscape v6.01) providing XML 1.0 support. In addition, it includes updated Internet standards support and features such as: HTML 4.0 (W3C standard), DHTML, DOM 1.0, JavaScript 1.5 (ECMAScript), XML 1.0, Cascading Style Sheet level 1, Cascading Style Sheet level 2 (partial support), and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) version 3.1

• IBM HTTP Server for OS/2 was updated March 29th, representing a web server based on the Apache Web server. IBM HTTP Server provides support for Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) using 128-bit encryption and includes a loadable module that enables you to use IBM HTTP Server as the web server for WebSphere(R) Application Server 3.02.

• IBM Networks Primary Logon Client 4.4 for Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 Professional was updated February 5th; this is an e-business feature, allowing Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 clients and Windows 2000 Professional clients to use OS/2 Warp Server for e-business and DCE Cells for logon and resource access.

• TCP/IP Version 4.3 for OS/2 Warp Server for e-business was also updated February 5th and provides enhancements to the TCP/IP stack that include multiple LAN adapter support, token ring backup support, Intel PreBoot eXecution environment (PXE) 2.1 support, spam (unsolicited e-mail) prevention, and FTP data transfer improvements.

These are nice, but modest, improvements over the product and are available to Software Choice subscribers (the "free lunch" is definitely a thing of the past). However, there is nothing of major substance here. And IBM's continued failure to communicate with its customers has grown annoying. As customers, we would like to either see the "OS/2 Warp Strategy for 2000" web page either updated, say for the year 2002 (after all, we're already half way through 2001), or taken down.

WARPSTOCK

The next OS/2 Warpstock User Conference has been scheduled for October 6th-8th this year in Toronto, Canada. This is an excellent selection as Toronto is one of the finest cities in North America, with excellent transportation and home to many OS/2 aficionados. Even better, the Warpstock Board of Directors is looking further down the road by soliciting bids for the following conference, Warpstock 2002, which will be held sometime around October 2002. Groups wishing to host Warpstock 2002 should indicate their intent to bid by sending an e-mail to bids@warpstock.org by June 1st, 2001. IBM may not have an OS/2 strategy, but at least Warp users know what they are doing.

Keep the Faith!