SOUND OFF!


The purpose of this section is to provide a forum for our readers to voice their opinions and thoughts on issues related to OS/2. If you have an observation, concern, gripe or compliment regarding something, please feel free to send them to the OS/2 CONNECT editor for inclusion in this section, at: Title & Publisher or complete the form at the bottom of this page.

The opinions expressed in this section are those of the individual writer and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editor or publisher of OS/2 CONNECT. NOTE: Letters may be edited for inappropriate or offensive language.


LICENSING OPERATING SYSTEMS

I'd like to see a reasonable approach to licensing of operating systems and applications. It should be possible to use both on your primary computer, your laptop and a secondary computer without having to either ignore the licensing or buying full priced licenses for computers that are used occasionally or primarily as back-up units. I've got two Warp 3 licenses. With the apparent lack of concern by IBM, I really don't see any reason to upgrade to 4.0. However, if IBM hit the stores with a sales blitz for Warp 5.0 (or whatever they wish to call it to quit paying Paramount) and it was really only 4.0 with all of the FixPaks applied on a CD with Netscape 4.0 for OS/2, I'd be interested. If the licensing was right and it autoconfigured the PCMCIA slots on my laptop and included a reasonably wide choice of PC card modem drivers, I should definitely buy it.

- Charles J. Lingo
San Jose, CA, USA
July 20, 1998

TIME TO RETHINK THE STRATEGY?

Once again, a computer magazine reports a reduction in OS/2 sales. But this time -- Surprise! -- it's not the OS/2 client. It's a drop in Warp Server sales.

Why does this kind of thing happen? After all, OS/2 Server is the most robust, proven, scalable system that also runs Java, and almost all legacy apps except Win32. That gives it the best combination of check-offs between Unix and NT. In fact, OS/2 Server can work along with these other systems and make them better.

But there's a problem with this line of reasoning -- it assumes that people make computer buying decision in a rational, logical, reasonable manner. Sadly, it just ain't so, for the most part. Some decision makers just don't know the facts; however, even among those who do, the preferred option is just to ignore them. The standard decision making process involves not convincing someone of what is the best choice, but rather what choice makes the boss feel the most comfortable. Its hard to make somebody comfortable about a product that's called "dead" every six months.

This means that IBM by now should begin to finally realize its error in ignoring the OS/2 client. If the client is invisible, it is assumed to be "dead." If the client is dead, the feeling is that the server is, too. Remember, its not about reality. Its about feelings and perceptions. Its stupid, of course, for businesses to make their decisions that way. Sadly, stupidity seems to win out over intelligence these days. Smart people will recognize that and ensure that whatever they're selling will appeal to stupid people, too.

- Tom Nadeau
VOICE Marketing Director
OS/2 Headquarters
July 12, 998

DON'T BADGER IBM

I too am disheartened, with the lack of support, lack of information, and lack of direction regarding OS/2. I placed an e-mail, as a matter of fact I have placed a number of e-mails to Lou Gerstner, but he of course never gets the information, and always has one of his reps contact me. I was told by one of IBM's reps that IBM OS/2 will not be supported by Novell in the near future, to add to the list of the companies that have dropped this steller OS. I agree with the previous writer that OS/2 code should be distributed as "Freeware" but then again, nothing is stopping the general populace of OS/2 users from coding their own apps, and distributing them for free. This is the real problem with OS/2. There are a lack of good applications, and functionality within the OS/2 system. I have started trying to put together a few things myself. It does no good to continue to badger IBM, and Gerstner, to do what they seem not to want to do, but it does do a lot of good to invest in your investment. OS/2 freeware can become a reality, but only if we put the same energy in developing as we have in complaining.

Charles Jefferson II
OS/2 Systems Consultant
July 6, 1998

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