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- THIS IS A TRANSCRIPT OF A CONFERENCE WHICH TOOK PLACE ON THE COMPUSERVE
- INFORMATION SERVICE THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 1991. WHILE WE HAVE FREE
- DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS, THIS TRANSCRIPT REMAINS THE PROPERTY OF THE
- COMPUSERVE INFORMATION SERVICE.
-
- % The The Blue Ninja Conferenc conference is beginning
-
- Your moderator is Job 9 Brian
-
- (Brian) Welcome to the CompuServe Convention Center! I'm Brian...
- (Brian) Proffit, and I'll be your host/moderator this evening.
- (Brian) We have a very special speaker with us, but before we begin, ...
- (Brian) there are some administrative things I need to cover.
-
- (Brian) First, smoking is only allowed in the left side of the auditorium.
- (Brian) Hmmm, wrong notes. Sorry...
-
- (Brian) This will be a "moderated" conference, to avoid confusion and...
- (Brian) interruption. This means that anyone that would like to ask...
- (Brian) our guest a question must enter the /QUE command to be placed...
- (Brian) in the question queue. I will recognize people from the queue...
- (Brian) one at a time. As new people ask their questions, spots will...
- (Brian) open in the queue for more, so if you don't get into the queue...
- (Brian) when you first try, please keep trying. I will ask the IBM'ers...
- (Brian) in the audience to hold their questions and allow other guests...
- (Brian) to proceed first.
-
- (Brian) One you are in the queue, I urge you to go ahead and type...
- (Brian) your question in advance, if your software allows it. That way...
- (Brian) when I recognize you, you will just have to press ENTER to send...
- (Brian) your question. Also in the interest of speed, I encourage you not...
- (Brian) to worry about spelling. We at this end won't worry about spending...
- (Brian) time backspacing to correct errors, and I ask that you don't...
- (Brian) either. Besides, I can edit the spelling before the transcript...
- (Brian) becomes public anyway <smile>.
- (Brian) We will try to adhere to CIS protocol, using the ellipses ("...")...
- (Brian) to indicate there is more to say, and the go ahead ("ga") to...
- (Brian) indicate we are finished.
-
- (Brian) Well...enough of that. We're very privileged to have as our guest...
- (Brian) this evening IBM's Asst. General Manager of Programming for...
- (Brian) Personal Systems, The Blue Ninja, ...
- (Brian) Mr. Lee Reiswig. ga Lee
-
- (Brian) Oops <blush> moderator error...
-
- (Ninja) Hi everyone, sorry for the delay, this is my first conference and
- (Ninja) we had a small
- (Ninja) glitch. I'm really looking forward to our time tonight,..
- (Ninja) and to having a frank and open Q & A session. Let's begin.
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #1
- Brad Struss <50>
-
- (Brian) Go ahead, Brad
-
- (Brad Struss) Can you be more specific about "better windows than Windows"?
- (Brad Struss) ga
-
- (Ninja) There are many ways that OS/2 can be a "better Windows than Windows"...
- (Ninja) The DOS capabilities of OS/2 are highly advanced from the 16 bit DOS...
- (Ninja) in DOS 5 and that will help windows users with better performance and
- (Ninja) better responsiveness. Also the protection that OS/2 MVDM offers will p
- rotect..
- (Ninja) Windows apps from each other and will allow OS/2's preemptive multitaski
- ng to
- (Ninja) provide more consistent and responsive service to the user and lastly...
- (Ninja) the DDE capabilities of OS/2 will allow PM apps to interact with Windows
- ..
- (Ninja) appps and permit better integration and a wider app. selection for the e
- nd
- (Ninja) user... ga
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #2
- Shawn L. Morrissey <13>
-
- (Brian) Thanks for the question, Brad. Shawn?
-
- (Shawn L. Morrissey) How will the os/2 2.x family fit into the "Pink" platform i
- n...
- (Shawn L. MorrisSey) the future?
- (Shawn L. Morrissey) ga
-
- (Brian) Good question, Shawn. Let's clear this up.
-
- (Ninja) That is still a long way off with much to be done before the "Pink" syst
- em is...
- (Ninja) complete or available. Our objective will be to be able...
- (Ninja) to run All OS/2 applications and to bring the new object oriented applic
- ations
- (Ninja) enabled by "Pink" to the same desk top. ga
-
- (Brian) Thanks for the clarification, Lee. Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #3
- Christopher Pelley <14>
-
- (Christopher Pelley) ok
- (Christopher Pelley) Will OS/2 2.0 have built-in support for co-processors...
- (Christopher Pelley) and floating point emulation?
- (Christopher Pelley) ga
-
- (Brian) Yes, that's something we didn't see in 1.x...
-
- (Ninja) OS/2 will support floating point emulation. There is no 2.0 planned supp
- ort
- (Ninja) specifically for MP. Application specific MP support...
- (Ninja) will be available from a number of sources. ga
-
- (Brian) Okay, Chris? Next!
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #4
- scott gurvey <47>
-
- (scott gurvey) Welcome and welcome to the "new" IBM. Can you tell us how quickl
- y
- (scott gurvey) we will see 32-bit languages and if the rumors about PL/I (which
- is
- (scott gurvey) an SAA language) for OS/2 are true? ga
-
- (Brian) The New IBM lives, right? This conference proves it!
-
- (Ninja) Hi Scott, we have 32 bit C now in the 2.0 SDK. You will see 32bit C++ fr
- om..
- (Ninja) Borland later this year and you'll see more ..
- (Ninja) languages from IBM and others later this...
- (Ninja) year and early next year. I'm not able..
- (Ninja) to give a date for PL/I now. Watch this space..
-
- (Brian) Not to mention that Micro Focus has committed a 32-bit version...
- (Brian) of their COBOL, and Zortech has committed a 32-bit version of their...
- (Brian) C++!
- (Brian) Thanks for the question. Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #6
- David Maritz <35>
-
- (David Maritz) You said "better Windows than Windows", but will you run Win apps
- ...
- (David Maritz) which require enhanced mode Windows, in OS/2 2.0 this year? GA
-
- (Ninja) David, I would think you MS guys would know the answer to that!
-
- (David Maritz) Just checking
-
- (Ninja) But for the record, we will run standard mode...
- (Ninja) windows since OS/2 provides the "enhanced" support that windows
- (Ninja) provides and more. ga
-
- (Brian) Thanks, David
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #7
- Marc Perkel <15>
-
- (Marc Perkel) Will IBM switch from MS DOS to DR DOS 6 and sell it as a
- (Marc Perkel) companion to OS/2? ga
-
- (Ninja) We have no plans to do that now. We do support DR DOS running on
- (Ninja) our PS/2 systems and we do support it running
- (Ninja) under OS/2 in a MVDM.
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #8
- Peter Waite <51>
-
- (Brian) Welcome, Peter. A question for The Ninja?
-
- (Peter Waite) Is IBM committed to, (unlike Mcrosoft seemed to) providing the too
- ls necessary...
- (Peter Waite) to write OS/2 applications to on the street programmers...
- (Peter Waite) like myself. ga.
-
- (Brian) Good question, Peter. And remember we lowered the price of OS/2...
- (Brian) itself!
-
- (Ninja) Peter, if you're referring to the price of the tools
- (Ninja) we are concerned about that and we're working to
- (Ninja) get it lower. We're also encouraging
- (Ninja) other tools vendors (like Borland) to
- (Ninja) provide their tools at attractive prices as well. ga
-
- (Brian) Okay, Peter? Next
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #9
- David Anderson (HSI <23>
-
- (David Anderson (HSI) How about some coordinated shirts or sweaters (the tees we
- re such a hit)...
- (David Anderson (HSI) to show solidarity(?) or at least to show where existing 1
- .3 and 2.0...
- (David Anderson (HSI) apps can be found on the floor. ga.
-
- (Brian) <smile> good question, David. There've been a lot of requests!
-
- (Ninja) We're working with the vendor now and when we get it set up
- (Ninja) we'll announce it here on CompuServe, We'll also
- (Ninja) be getting signs for vendors to show in their
- (Ninja) booths when they're running OS/2. ga
-
- (Brian) Great news, Lee!
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #10
- Larry <12>
-
- (Larry) Can you address the controversy over the windows and PM APIs? ...
- (Larry) While I personally prefer the PM API, there's certainly quite a bit ...
- (Larry) of confusion in the developer community over which platform they ...
- (Larry) should use for development. Since OS/2 2.0 will run windows apps, ...
- (Larry) why should anyone bother developing for the PM API? ga
-
- (Ninja) Good question...
-
- (Brian) Good question, Larry.
-
- (Ninja) The 32bit PM API's offer much higher performance and function
- (Ninja) than the 16bit Windows API's. They're here now inthe SDK and they'll
- (Ninja) be available generally this fall. My last OS/2 Live demo at
- (Ninja) PC EXPO showed the value of 32bit PM vs 16 bit windows
- (Ninja) with the Describe application. We'll make copies of the
- (Ninja) video available for everyone to see what it can mean. ga
-
- (Brian) Realistically, market pressures will force developers to produce...
- (Brian) full function 32-bit applications, because people running 2.0 won't...
- (Brian) be satisfied with "emulations".
- (Brian) Next?
-
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #11
- WinMan <58>
-
- (Brian) WinMan, could you identify yourself for us, please?
-
- (WinMan) David L.
- (WinMan) I do not work for ms ...
- (WinMan) OK?
-
- (Brian) Fine, go ahead
- (Brian) (It's ok if you did, by the way...)
-
- (WinMan) IBM has a growing suite of Windows applications, will we see...
- (WinMan) new IBM Windows aplications in the future? ga
-
- (Ninja) I can't speculate on other development in IBM, but I...
- (Ninja) can say that when ther's a business opportunity...
- (Ninja) then IBM will pursue it. We think that there's room...
- (Ninja) for windows and OS/2 and that they'll both coexist...
- (Ninja) for some time, maybe even to the end of '92! GA
-
- (Brian) Okay, Larry? Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #13
- Bruce Weise <30>
-
- (Bruce Weise) Reports of the last os2 2.0 beta are disappointing, and 2 more bet
- as are...
- (Bruce Weise) due before 2.0 is GA. At the rate that betas are coming out....
- (Bruce Weise) can we expect that IBM will make 4Q91 GA of 2.0? ga
-
- (Ninja) I'm sorry to hear you're disappointed, but I assure
- (Ninja) you that you're in a minority from my point of view.,,,
- (Ninja) The reports here on CompuServe are certainly positive by
- (Ninja) a wide margin. Were on an aggressive plan for this fall..
- (Ninja) and we're commited to make it. ga
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #14
- Doug Henrich <11>
-
- (Brian) Welcome, Doug. Question?
-
- (Doug Henrich) Better DOS than DOS took a long time for IBM and MS to....
- (Doug Henrich) achieve, aren't you very concerned about first seeing....
- (Doug Henrich) standard mode Windows support in the final beta of 2.0?..ga
-
- (Ninja) We have standard mode running now in the development lab....
- (Ninja) but, its not ready for a beta. I am concerned that it be high..
- (Ninja) quality when we release it for GA and for Beta. We think that..
- (Ninja) it will be ready this fall. I'd sure like to know more about..
- (Ninja) MS' plans for 3.1 so I'd better be able to stage that support...
- (Ninja) as well. ga
-
- (Brian) Any answers, Doug?
-
- (Doug Henrich) yes
- (Doug Henrich) Isn't MS plans for Win31 very public now?
-
- (Brian) Not from the questions I've seen on CompuServe!!
-
- (Ninja) I don't think that MS has said when 3.1 will ship. ga
-
- (Doug Henrich) Doesn't IBM have access to Win31 under the cross liscensing agree
- ments? ga
-
- (Ninja) Yes, we do. But I don't necessarily think we should ship it
- (Ninja) before MS does!!
-
- (Brian) Thanks, Lee! Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #15
- Warren Hairston <46>
-
- (Warren Hairston) We had major problems just locating someone who sold 1.3 here
- in West...
- (Warren Hairston) Virginia. Even the local IBM office wasn't much help. We want
- to help our...
- (Warren Hairston) customers avoid the same problems. How will 2.0 be marketed?
- ga
-
- (Brian) There have been some problems like that in the past. The good news...
- (Brian) is that we've begun marketing through new channels such as Egghead...
- (Brian) 800 Software, and ASAP Software Express. Even better, we announced...
- (Brian) today that you can order 1.3 directly from IBM. Just call...
- (Brian) 1-800-3IBM-OS2! We are working on all of these channels for 2.0. We...
- (Brian) will be very aggressive in getting 2.0 into the hands of customer. ga
-
- (Warren Hairston) Sounds great! looking forward to 2.0! ga
-
- (Ninja) Were committed to make 2.0 available to the "Masses" and we'll be...
- (Ninja) announcing those plans this fall.
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #16
- Peter Waite <51>
-
- (Brian) Question, Peter?
-
- (Peter Waite) As a Windows user I got very excited by the announcement of OS/2..
- (Peter Waite) however, being a Canadian or in a remote area, I have not even see
- n..
- (Peter Waite) 1.3 in operation, this boils down to poor marketing, which has bee
- n...
- (Peter Waite) addressed, is IBM doing a global ship date, or will I have to wait
- ..
- (Peter Waite) for reports to trickle across the border, also what direction..
- (Peter Waite) does IBM want to take OS/2 towards over the next year... ga
-
- (Brian) Good point, Peter.
-
- (Ninja) Sorry to hear that you're having trouble finding OS/2. We'll work on tha
- t. We are working a worldwide...
- (Ninja) plan for 2.0 availability this fall with translated versions....
- (Ninja) So I'm hopeful that you'll be able to get it by the end of the year...
- (Ninja) I think '92 will bring exploitation of more and more...
- (Ninja) 2.0 features. There are a lot of things on our list but...
- (Ninja) we've got our hands full this year to exceed all of your expectations...
- (Ninja) and ship the most exciting product for the PC in 10 years!
- (Ninja) ga
-
- (Brian) And for those of you outside the U.S., we'll work to...
- (Brian) announce an order line for OS/2 that isn't an 800 number.
-
- (Brian) For those of you watching the clock, CompuServe has graciously...
- (Brian) allowed us to continue for a while.
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #17
- Tom <87>
-
- (Brian) Question, Tom?
-
- (Tom) When can we expect to see a release of OS/2 that is secure...
- (Tom) (government certified at the C2 or better level), multi-processor...
- (Tom) enabled, and fully 32 bit? ga
-
- (Ninja) Well, we thought that MS was committed to that with 3.0, but ...
- (Ninja) now I'm not so sure anymore. We are pursuing these requirements...
- (Ninja) and we'll incrementally enhance 2.0 with them past the 2.0...
- (Ninja) ship. ga
-
- (Brian) Thanks for the question, Tom. Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #18
- Len Greenberg <91>
-
- (Len Greenberg) Will 32 PM Apps truly multitask or..
- (Len Greenberg) will they "cooperatively" multitask as in 16bit PM..
- (Len Greenberg) and in Windows? ga
-
- (Ninja) Beg to differ, PM is preemptive in both 16 and 32 bit...
- (Ninja) Windows is cooperative in 16 and who knows what 32 bit..
- (Ninja) will be? ga
-
- (Brian) Hard to judge what you can't touch, right? Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #19
- Kevin "Kevlar" Eaga <77>
-
- (Brian) Kevlar as in bulletproof?
-
- (Kevin "Kevlar" Eaga) Flexible AND bulletproof
-
- (Kevin "Kevlar" Eaga) When will OS/2 support "Pen Computing...
- (Kevin "Kevlar" Eaga) and MultiMedia features...
- (Kevin "Kevlar" Eaga) ala Windows today!
- (Kevin "Kevlar" Eaga) ga
-
- (Ninja) The Windows MME's and Pen/Windows are not available today. We've...
- (Ninja) said that we'll ship 32bit multimedia tools..
- (Ninja) for 2.0 to developers this year. We havn't yet commited...
- (Ninja) Pen/PM. ga
-
- (Brian) Thanks for the update, Lee. Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #20
- Rich Todd <16>
-
- (Rich Todd) Are you concerned that people might delay upgrading to 2.0 until the
- ...
- (Rich Todd) 3.0 development question has been resolved. Also, will 2.0 run on m
- y Zeos?
- (Rich Todd) ga
-
- (Ninja) No, I'm not...
- (Ninja) 2.0 brings dramatic value to our...
- (Ninja) customers NOW. I don't think they'll wait to get something..
- (Ninja) that's so ill defined. ga
-
- (Brian) And several vendors have announced support for 2.0 on their hardware, ri
- ght?
-
- (Ninja) Yes, were committed to make 2.0 available on OEM's this year...
- (Ninja) broadly... There will be more to come on specifics later this fall. ga
-
- (Brian) Good news! Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #21
- Marc Perkel <15>
-
- (Marc Perkel) As a small software developer, I have resented MS stuffing Windows
- down my ...
- (Marc Perkel) throat. I hope IBM won't do the same. How an I to port my 20 megs
- of..
- (Marc Perkel) Turbo Pascal Source code to the OS/2 environment?
- (Marc Perkel) ga
-
- (Brian) Jensen & Partners TopSpeed Pascal has a Turbo translator that will move.
- ..
- (Brian) approximately 95% of your code to their compiler. It is a Pascal...
- (Brian) compiler with object extensions, including multiple inheritance...
- (Brian) and interlanguage calls with their C, C++, and Modula-2. ga
-
- (Ninja) We all need to convince Phillipe that a 32bit Pascal would...
- (Ninja) really be a TURBO Pascal <smile>. ga
-
- (Marc Perkel) thanks
-
- (Brian) Thank you, Marc. Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #22
- Ashraful Huq <75>
-
- (Ashraful Huq) Why is there such a long wait between when the EEP's and the rest
- of...
- (Ashraful Huq) us developers get the Beta?...
- (Ashraful Huq) I am a member of the DAP and also went to...
- (Ashraful Huq) the Tech Seminar. Still am waiting for 6.149. Are the DAP'ers and
- Tech Seminar
- (Ashraful Huq) Attendies on the bottom of the list?
- (Ashraful Huq) ga
-
- (Brian) The copies of the last beta drop were all manufactured at the same...
- (Brian) place. The copies for EEP members were sent straight to the EEP folk...
- (Brian) while the DAP copies were sent to a separate fulfillment house...
- (Brian) Many/most of the DAP (Developer Assistance Program) members...
- (Brian) have received 6.149, and we've seen great reports from them...
- (Brian) in our IBMOS2 forum here on CompuServe. If you haven't received...
- (Brian) your copy by the end of the day tomorrow, let me know and I'll...
- (Brian) see to it personally. ga
-
- (Ashraful Huq) thanks. ga
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #23
- Bruce Weise <30>
-
- (Bruce Weise) Will the OS/2 2.0 Extended Services be GA at the same time as 2.0?
- ga
-
- (Ninja) We are working to make ES and Lan Server available in the same...
- (Ninja) "timeframe". That's IBMSpeak for close but not necessarily...
- (Ninja) on the same day. ga
-
- (Brian) Will that be a shorter gap than we've seen in past versions, Lee?
-
- (Ninja) What's this an IBM question?????
- (Ninja) We'll we're working to make them real close...
- (Ninja) but there is some regression testing required after all. ga
-
- (Brian) In the interests of my career, I'll let someone else ask the...
- (Brian) next question! Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #24
- Steve Benda <19>
-
- (Steve Benda) When MS comes out with Win3.1 and developers begin to write to wha
- t I ASSUME
- (Steve Benda) will be and enhanced API, are you committed to updating the WINDOW
- S box to run
- (Steve Benda) the 3.1 apps in a TIMELY manner (since you said you will have earl
- y access via...
- (Steve Benda) your cross licencing agreement with MS? GA
-
- (Ninja) Yes, we are fully aware of 3.1. We have the source and we have...
- (Ninja) it running now under 2.0. But as I said earlier, MS must ...
- (Ninja) complete it before we can make it available, ga
-
- (Brian) Good news, Lee! Thanks! Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #25
- Bruce Gordon <14>
-
- (Bruce Gordon) Printing under 1.3 is problematic. Our users for our new applicat
- ion
- (Bruce Gordon) will perceive our application as being buggy. When will this lon
- g
- (Bruce Gordon) running problem be finally fixed (we're on csd 5015). ga
-
- (Ninja) This is a long journey....
- (Ninja) There are really no reliable specs for graphic printing...
- (Ninja) and thus we're stuck with exhaustive (and exhausting) testing...
- (Ninja) There are many more and improved drivers in 2.0. We need to...
- (Ninja) work with you through the DAP to be sure we know your problems...
- (Ninja) and get them fixed before this fall.. ga
-
- (Bruce Gordon) Well, I'm just exasperated. Nothing more. ga
-
- (Brian) For those who don't know, the Developer Assistance Program (DAP)...
- (Brian) is a program for developers making products for resale. There...
- (Brian) are a range of benefits for members. For more information...
- (Brian) download DAP.ZIP from IBMOS2 forum, lib 17. Sorry...
- (Brian) commercial over!
- (Brian) Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #27
- Ed Gaito <94>
-
- (Ed Gaito) You mentioned earlier that OS/2 2.0 would be made available to the ma
- ssess...
- (Ed Gaito) can you describe any plans to support the masses, end users, small-sh
- op...
- (Ed Gaito) programmers etc...ga
-
- (Ninja) It's pretty hard here in this slow typing mode, but ...
- (Ninja) We are going to work on distribution channels to make...
- (Ninja) 2.0 available much more broadly than OS/2 has been...
- (Ninja) We are pricing it so that price won't be and issue...
- (Ninja) and were working with OEMs to have it broadly available...
- (Ninja) on their systems. We'll advertize more than we have..
- (Ninja) we'll offer an number of promotions to make it ...
- (Ninja) even more attractive with applications, etc etc. ga
-
- (Brian) In other words, it's fair to say that this will be the most...
- (Brian) accessible version of OS/2, as well as the version...
- (Brian) that runs on the most platforms, right?
-
- (Ninja) Hmmmm another IBM question, eh Brian!
- (Ninja) Yes, this will be the most broadly supported PC...
- (Ninja) product that IBM has ever delivered. ga
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #28
- Tom <87>
-
- (Brian) Thanks. Next?
-
- (Tom) Cowabunga, dude!
-
- (Brian) I think the Ninja stuff got to Tom
-
- (Tom) IBM currently supports PenPoint (an incompatible OS)...
- (Tom) but doesn't support Windows for Pens (a compatible OS) ...
- (Tom) Why? ga
-
- (Ninja) I didn't say we wouldn't support PEN/Windows...
- (Ninja) I said that it was available yet. We decide what..
- (Ninja) to ship as we understand what our customers want...
- (Ninja) and need. We haven't committed general...
- (Ninja) availablity of GO yet either. ga
-
- (Brian) Thanks, Lee. Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #29
- Ronald S. Woan <81>
-
- (Ronald S. Woan) We have all read the press reports that the current beta does n
- ot include
- (Ronald S. Woan) the ability to boot multiple DOS verions or the ability to run
- Windows 3.0 applications without Windows. Can you definitively say that IBM
- (Ronald S. Woan) will not ship a version of OS/2 2.0 without all of these featur
- es
- (Ronald S. Woan) that it has promised to meet it's 4Q time announce date? Also i
- n your
- (Ronald S. Woan) earlier reply regarding release date you used the word "committ
- ed"
- (Ronald S. Woan) is that IBM'ese for pretty much guaranteed?
-
- (Ninja) We plan to ship everything I have demonstrated and more. ga
-
- (Brian) That kinda says it all when you see Lee's demo tape! Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #30
- Roger Loeb <68>
-
- (Roger Loeb) Lee, please comment on your understanding of the relationship betwe
- en
- (Roger Loeb) OS/2 and the Apple/Metaphor/IBM "object-oriented" what-ever-it-is
- (Roger Loeb) "operating environment." ga
-
- (Ninja) OS/2 is NOW, the object world is coming. We started with ...
- (Ninja) M4 (Patriot Partners) last year. The Apple deal strengthens...
- (Ninja) that direction, but doesn't change it. We're committed...
- (Ninja) to protect the investments that our customers make in 2.0...
- (Ninja) and to take them gracefully into the object world of..
- (Ninja) the late '90's. ga
-
- (Roger Loeb) Good answer, thanks. ga
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #31
- Dave Firth <76>
-
- (Dave Firth) My company programs software for industrial control and data ...
- (Dave Firth) acquisition markets. We're new to OS2 and chose it over ...
- (Dave Firth) UNIX, QNX, and <gag> Windows. Does IBM have plans to address ...
- (Dave Firth) the need for a leaner-meaner kernel OS2 to support real time ...
- (Dave Firth) performance? ga
-
- (Ninja) This is a tough tradeoff for us. ...
- (Ninja) We're really a general purpose OS. and I think our priority..
- (Ninja) will be to keep the focus there. But, we'd be happy to..
- (Ninja) understand the kind of things you'd like and see how they could..
- (Ninja) fit into our plans... You should work through the DAP to make...
- (Ninja) sure we know what you want. ga
-
- (Dave Firth) Thanks, Lee.
-
- (Brian) That's a realtime answer! Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #32
- Scott Adams <54>
-
- (Scott Adams) Some OS/2 functionalities (color selector) could be
- (Scott Adams) improved upon from a human interface perspective...
- (Scott Adams) Is OS/2 still evolving in this regard?...
- (Scott Adams) Or need we wait for the next OS?
-
- (Ninja) If you saw the April demo, you saw me demonstrate a ...
- (Ninja) much improved Color Selector that ought to make you happy. ga
-
- (Brian) And there are many other enhancements in 2.0 along those lines! Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #33
- Don Babcock <86>
-
- (Don Babcock) Will VDM net bios support coexist with Lan Requester in order to a
- llow us ...
- (Don Babcock) to preserve our large investment in DOS PC3270 and DOS - LAN based
- ...
- (Don Babcock) EMAIL software when going to OS/2 ? GA
-
- (Ninja) Good news! It will!...
-
- (Don Babcock) Yeah! Thanks! GA
-
- (Ninja) You can have simultaneous access from multiple...
- (Ninja) VDMs and from OS/2 appls. ga
-
- (Don Babcock) Thank YOU! GA
-
- (Brian) Glad you asked, right? Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #34
- Brian Jongekryg <83>
-
- (Brian Jongekryg) How will OS/2 defect and usage support be provided to the...
- (Brian Jongekryg) masses? Are there plans to expand the current support...
- (Brian Jongekryg) methods? ga
-
- (Ninja) Yes, were looking at electronic distribution and other means...
- (Ninja) but it's too soon for me to be more specific. ga
-
- (Brian) We're certainly working on it, Brian. Thanks. Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #36
- Sam Emrick <14>
-
- (Sam Emrick) What kind of customer feedback, if any, have you had regarding Comp
- userve...
- (Sam Emrick) IBMOS2 conference? Do you see this expanding in the future?
- (Sam Emrick) ga
-
- (Ninja) I think this is only the beginning of much more to come...
- (Ninja) It's a great way to communicate and get direct feedback...
- (Ninja) I'm personally committed to continue and I'll be back....
- (Ninja) here and on other services in the future. ga
-
- (Brian) Thanks for the support, Lee. It's been a great communications...
- (Brian) vehicle for us! Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #37
- Shawn L. Morrissey <13>
-
- (Shawn L. Morrissey) Me again... Thanks for the candidness, Lee. Do you see a
- time...
- (Shawn L. Morrissey) when there will be a version of OS/2 that truly takes advan
- tage of the...
- (Shawn L. Morrissey) MicroChannel Architecture? If so, can you explain which su
- bsystems...
- (Shawn L. Morrissey) you're focusing on to exploit? ga
-
- (Ninja) The system (OS/2) today is designed to be able to be exploited...
- (Ninja) by the Industry's machines including MC. There is much..
- (Ninja) exploitation in the IBM version today and there will...
- (Ninja) be more in 2.0 especiallly SCSI and the SCB architecture. ga
-
- (Shawn L. Morrissey) Can you be explicit about what is being exploited today? g
- a
-
- (Ninja) Overlapped I/O, data rates >5MB, XGA video drivers, 32bit SCSI, etc. ag
-
- (Shawn L. Morrissey) Thanks... Back to you, Brian. ga
-
- (Brian) Good answer. Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #38
- Ed Gaito <94>
-
- (Ed Gaito) Can you tell us what other langagages/countries will be supported by
- OS/2...
- (Ed Gaito) and when such support will begin to appear?ga
-
- (Ninja) We're working on 14 languages including double byte. All will...
- (Ninja) be available by 2Q92 with many this year. Can't be more specific...
- (Ninja) now. ga
-
- (Ed Gaito) With a good percentage of our market overseas, that sounds great! th
- anks!
- (Ed Gaito) ga
-
- (Brian) Thanks for the question, Ed. Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #39
- Brad Struss <50>
-
- (Brad Struss) In 2.0 will win apps and PM apps be able to communicate...
- (Brad Struss) through DDE and will the recently finalized OLE libraries...
- (Brad Struss) be available also to PM apps?
- (Brad Struss) ga
-
- (Ninja) We will support DDE and OLE between Windows and PM Apps. ga
-
- (Brad Struss) cool!
-
- (Brian) That pretty well says it all! Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #41
- Gary <28>
-
- (Gary) If this was covered while I was away a moment, I'm sorry. Are there any
- (Gary) plans on increasing the CM under ES to handle more host connectivity
- (Gary) sessions .
- (Gary) ga
-
- (Ninja) Sorry, I don't know if this is changing. How many do you need? ga
-
- (Gary) We have many Fortune 500's that would like to use our product line if we
- (Gary) could get at least 32 and maybe 48 host sessions from a single PC worksta
- tion
- (Gary) The current limit is 5 per board and only 2 boards at the same time
- (Gary) ga
-
- (Brian) Gary, send me mail and I'll connect you with people to carry this...
- (Brian) a little further. Be glad to help.
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #42
- Roger <48>
-
- (Roger) Sorry to be crass, sir... but..
- (Roger) can you tell me how I am supposed to sell OS/2 to my management....
- (Roger) when they see no applications, no trained programmers, a large...
- (Roger) retraining effort, and a fear that, if they make the expenditure to do..
- .
- (Roger) all of that, that IBM may make the product proprietary and lock
- (Roger) out much of the PCs floating around the place...
- (Roger) ga
-
- (Ninja) Roger, have you just joined us???...
-
- (Roger) no
-
- (Ninja) We certainly are not making OS/2 proprietary, many of my earlier...
- (Ninja) comments tried to make that clear. We have 22 OEM's...
- (Ninja) committed to our Extended services and Lan server...
- (Ninja) products.
-
- (Roger) such questions as specific use of the MCA scare the %$#%# out of me!
-
- (Ninja) We will run the broadest set of applications in the industry...
- (Ninja) DOS apps, Windows apps, 16 bit PM apps and new 32 bit apps...
- (Ninja) More than 40 vendors are commited to provide new...
- (Ninja) 32bit apps. As for the rest, I think you need to...
- (Ninja) try OS/2 2.0 for yourself and see if you think its as...
- (Ninja) good as I do. ga
-
- (Roger) That's what I need to hear! Thanks!
- (Roger) (I have, and I do like it, a lot!) ga
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #43
- Becky <90>
-
- (Becky) How will Microsoft's comments on OS2 effect IBM's plans regarding OS2?
-
- (Ninja) We are not dependent on Microsoft to deliver our commitments for OS/2...
- .
- (Ninja) We remain committed to the OS/2 strategy that we put in...
- (Ninja) place in 1984 and were more convinced than ever before...
- (Ninja) that its right for our customers. ga
-
- (Brian) You can't stop the train now! Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #44
- Mike Komar <89>
-
- (Mike Komar) Does 2.0 offer stock TIGA 34010, 34020 support?
- (Mike Komar) I know that Windows 3.1 does.
-
- (Ninja) I don't think so, but I'd have to check to be sure. I'll pass it on to t
- he..
- (Ninja) team. ga
-
- (Mike Komar) Hmmm, ok thanks!
-
- (Brian) If it's important, we can get more info on the IBMOS2 forum here. Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #45
- Don Babcock <86>
-
- (Don Babcock) As I understand it, purchase of 1.3 SE gets 2.0 upgrade free. Will
- those ...
- (Don Babcock) who have 1.3 EE / 1.3 LS get similar/same deals on ES / LS respect
- ively? ga
-
- (Ninja) Good news! They will! ga
-
- (Don Babcock) Alright! ga (done)
-
- (Brian) Says it all! Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #46
- Mike Selender <61>
-
- (Mike Selender) How does a person get into the OS/2 beta program.....
- (Mike Selender) I ask this for both individuals with and without IBM customer #s
- . GA
-
- (Brian) The Early Experience Program (EEP) is run by our marketing...
- (Brian) folk and has enrolled literally thousands of people to...
- (Brian) receive the beta code. Contacting your local branch office...
- (Brian) is the easiest way to get started there. If you are developing...
- (Brian) code for resale, our Developer Assistance Program is offering...
- (Brian) the beta code for $50 to members. Finally, all people who...
- (Brian) attend one of our OS/2 technical seminars are getting copies...
- (Brian) of the code. We're considering other ways, but I don't think...
- (Brian) we're ready to make announcements tonight. Of course, if...
- (Brian) the Ninja says it, it will happen!
-
- (Ninja) Not so fast Brian! We are looking and I think you'll see ...
- (Ninja) broader availability by the end of summer. ga
-
- (Mike Selender) Thanks.
- (Mike Selender) ga
-
- (Brian) You heard it here first, folks! Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #47
- Doug Henrich <11>
-
- (Doug Henrich) You mentioned 40+ new OS/2 2.0 applications. Can you....
- (Doug Henrich) tell us more about some of these, or put a list of them....
- (Doug Henrich) up on CompuServe for us? How many of these applications....
- (Doug Henrich) fully exploit OS/2's multi-threaded design?
- (Doug Henrich) ga
-
- (Brian) Doug, we will start a list on CompuServe of announced applications...
- (Brian) but the hard part is the fact that it will need to be updated...
- (Brian) so frequently because of the new commitments we're getting. ga Lee
-
- (Ninja) Great Brian, also, Doug, I meant to say there are 40+ VENDORS not...
- (Ninja) apps, should be more than 40 apps from them as well. Most of...
- (Ninja) these vendors will go 32bit plus some exploitation like threads. ga
-
- (Brian) Thanks, Lee. Next?
-
- % Moderator recognizes queue #48
- Warren Hairston <46>
-
- (Warren Hairston) Will 2.0 CM support any other communication protocols (YMODEM
- Batch) ...
- (Warren Hairston) and/or any OS/2 specific communication software (intelligent c
- ards like ARTIC,etc)?
- (Warren Hairston) ga
-
- (Ninja) I don't think YMODEM is there, but Artic is supported. ga
-
- (Brian) We're looking at a lot of things for the future of CS, Warren.
-
- (Brian) Thanks, folks, it has been great having this opportunity. Lee...
- (Brian) any closing comments?
-
- (Ninja) Thanks to all of you for your questions. Its been helpful to me...
- (Ninja) and to the other IBM'ers who are monitoring to hear from...
- (Ninja) you and to be able to get some realtime answers back to you...
- (Ninja) I look forward to seeing all of you here in the future...
- (Ninja) and a special thanks to you Brian for a great job! ga
-
- (Brian) Thanks, Lee! And remember everyone. We're working hard on this...
- (Brian) but we all know that by far the most software in the world has...
- (Brian) been shipped by a company in Redmond, Washington. I mean, of course...
- (Brian) Nintendo!
-
- (Brian) Good night, everyone!
-
- % The conference has ended
- Thank you for attending