Hi there all you OS/2 fanatics! Yep, it's the nut on the southern tip of Africa again. I hope you all had a good OS/2 month!
Last time around I talked about the problems that OS/2 experienced over the years. This time I'll be more positive and lets take a look at what is counting in OS/2's favor. Just remember, everything I say here is only my own opinion and sometimes not even my own opinion, but something I pick up from talking to a lot of people.
Last time I said: "One other thing that is hurting OS/2 today as well is IBM's stated direction that OS/2 is aimed at the middle to big corporation. Sorry for all the small guys, but no more marketing to you and almost no support for you." Well, maybe I was a bit harsh saying this. In one way this was also the savior for OS/2. A lot of big OS/2 companies see this as a commitment to the corporate environment. They see OS/2 not as a Mickey Mouse SOHO environment, but share IBM's view of an industrial strength corporate tool to get the job done.
I also think that more and more people in the corporate environment are clearly seeing the enormous strength that lies within OS/2. The IBM Internet vision, network computing drive, middleware drive etc. are all nicely packaged with OS/2. It is very important to make the distinction here between a home PC and a corporate connected PC.
Software lock-in: I think the Microsoft environment is designed around the fact that it must lock the user into Microsoft and Microsoft compatible environments ONLY. This will also caught the unsuspected user into a never ending upgrade cycle. If you buy a new X you must also buy a new Y and Z and because you use a new Z your buddy can't read your very important doccies and so he must buy Z, but to use Z he must also buy X and Y etc. etc. etc. Now, the funny thing about OS/2 is that I can still use almost all my old OS/2 programs from previous versions. Do you know you can read and edit more previous versions of Word documents with WordPro for OS/2 that with the latest version of Word itself? Funny crazy world hey?
Hardware upgrades: Is anybody pointing out to the end user that every new version of the Microsoft operating system requires a MUCH bigger and more powerful PC to run on? Yes, OS/2 is doing the same, but NOT at the same incredible rate! I think all the hardware guys out there must smile very wide when they learn about the next wonderful release of anything from Microsoft.
I must conclude by saying that my home PC is today still OS/2. For how long it will stay like that I've got no idea. I think as soon as my little boy is big enough to start to use the PC I'll be forced to install something else. Until then (doomsday?) I'll use OS/2 everywhere!
Have fun and support the Cape Town Olympic bid for 2004! Remember, we are now in the last five, and we'll MAKE IT !!!
Please do not hesitate to send me any news and information pertaining to South Africa you would like mentioned in this column.
Francois van der Merwe was the South African Country Coordinator
for the "Connect the World with Merlin" project. He is also an
active member of the OS/2 Users Group in Cape Town and Team OS/2.