1997 is a good OS/2 year
This time it's real fun to write this article, specially after reading Tim's Editorial last month. OK, I have to admit, that he wrote exactly what most of us were thinking. But what happened in the mean time since the last articles were written? A lot I think:
... continuing this list would fill my column easily
The successful COMMON Switzerland home page
Being responsible for the COMMON Switzerland home page (http://www.common.ch/) it was really a great pleasure to analyze the number of hits since we are on the net. According to this analysis, the number of hits from OS/2 machines is 35%. This is great, specially when you see the other figures which are all less. Another astonishing figure is the number of hits done using Netscape, which is around 86%. All the rest is being shared between MSIE, Unix, Macs and so on. Of course there are enough reasons to visit our site:
Why is COMMON also important for OS/2 users?
After IBM reorganized their AS/400 and Software departments in central Europe, creating one organization for the German language countries and eastern Europe, we thought this a good idea and started working together with COMMON Germany (http://www.libra.de/common) and COMMON Austria (http://www.assoft.com/common/info.html). One of the things we are going to do is using the synergy out of this cooperation and we will come together in an OS/2 committee. I know, because I was volunteered to lead this committee. To prove, that we are serious about OS/2, we had a presentation on Bluebird and other (OS/2) matters on networking from Thomas Seitz. You might have seen, that we will organize an OS/2 Seminar again in December (watch our site) and Thomas Seitz will be there again. I didn't have a talk about this next seminar with Andy Brunner from Infoline, who did some very successful OS/2 and Notes presentations in the past, yet, but I'm sure that after he reads my column here, he will agree on being there too. I know, this is pure blackmail, but if it serves OS/2, who cares?
What about the OS/2 User Association?
Don't forget to go to their forum on October 21, 1997. Unfortunately, this is my wedding day, so I will not be there, but I hope that you let me know the details of the forum. If you want to know the details on this forum, please visit http://www.inserto.ch/os2ua/index.html. The monthly events will be held (as usual) on each first Tuesday.
The mission is critical
A little while ago I posted a message to one of the OS/2 newsgroups saying, that Microsoft is NOT running their mission critical application SAP R/3 on NT systems, but on AS/400 machines. At the end I stated, that I wasn't expecting a confirmation from either side, IBM or Microsoft. This was a good expectation, because Timothy Sipples replied, that IBM does not confirm this message. Microsoft does obviously not visit those newsgroups or is too afraid to react. BTW. Did you know, that a lot of official money machines in Switzerland are running under OS/2? The banks even use (partially) the Operating System of the Nineties as Bill Gates used to name OS/2, the version from Microsoft.
Expiration?
Finally, the statement I heard a few weeks ago: Windows 98, the second Operating System with a printed expiration date on it.
And the box said: Requires Windows 95 or better; I use Warp: better, much better!
Please do not hesitate to send me any news and information pertaining to Switzerland you would like mentioned in this column. I'll take correspondence in English, German and Dutch (and will respond in the same language).
Rene is an AS/400 technical consultant, an IBM Certified OS/2
Engineer, and a proponent of OS/2 on the PC. Rene also serves on the board
of directors for the 'COMMON Switzerland' (AS/400 user group).