Quite a few readers have asked me why I don't use my "Keep the Faith!" sign-off anymore in this column. Others have accused me of becoming overly pessimistic about OS/2. Well, let's set the record straight right now: I wholeheartedly believe OS/2 is far and away the best operating platform available today. I don't even want to enumerate the features making it technically superior. Suffice it to say it is the most advanced, reliable and durable 32-bit operating system available today. Second, it represents the most credible challenge to Microsoft's dominance of PC operating systems. We believe in OS/2 so much, that we converted all of our products over to it and migrated our key internal systems to OS/2.
As you can see, I don't have a problem with the product, I am actually a quite loyal and dedicated user of it. However, I am highly critical of the company who develops, supports and markets it; IBM. Like many other loyal OS/2 users, I am bewildered as to why IBM has botched OS/2. It would be one thing if OS/2 was nothing more than a mediocre "also-ran" product; but it is quite another when a superior product loses market share to a vastly inferior product.
Let's take the Winter Olympics in Nagano for example. There, OS/2 is an intricate and key part of the information systems in Nagano. Instead of capitalizing on OS/2's key role in the Olympics, IBM downplays it and buries any mention of it in this highly visible worldwide event. Why? Is it not doing a good job for them? My IBM sources tell me that OS/2 is vital in Nagano and has been working incredibly well over there. Again, here is another example of a botched marketing opportunity by IBM.
Recently IBM held its annual Kickoff meeting for its sales personnel in Orlando. The purpose of the meeting is to showcase product developments and discuss marketing strategies for the year. In past Kickoffs, OS/2 was featured in nearly half of all the product sessions. This year, it had a low profile and was barely mentioned in a scant few sessions. This is just another indication of how severely OS/2 has dropped in the eyes of IBM. How can we as customers in good conscious "Keep the Faith" when the vendor by all outward appearances has washed its hands of the product?
What IBM has done to this product borders on criminal negligence. One cannot help but think there is a conspiracy to destroy OS/2 in favor of Microsoft by senior IBM executives (payola perhaps?). Some people would accuse me of being paranoid. Maybe so, but if OS/2 is to survive it will require inspired leadership from the vendor, and I for one do not see this forthcoming.
As a devoted OS/2 user, am I bitter? Not yet, but I am mad as hell as to what is going on, as should all OS/2 users. To paraphrase Mark Twain, "I am not a pessimist; I am an optimist who has not arrived."
Copyright © MBA 1998
