FIXPAK 13: ANOTHER DUD
Shortly after I wrote last month's editorial on OS/2 FixPaks, IBM released FixPak 13 (on April 4th). Larry Lavins of the Philadelphia Area Computer Society (PACS), OS/2 SIG has kept me abreast of how it has been received by the OS/2 community, which evidently is not very well. There is a lot of grousing that FP13 is buggy; so much so that many faithful OS/2 users are backing away from the upgrade. This only confirms I was correct in my last column not to upgrade beyond FixPak 8.
USB SUPPORT
Larry was also the first to point out IBM's new USB Printer Support Package (dated 4-04-00) available via the IBM OS/2 Device Driver Pak or, more specifically, at: http://service.software.ibm.com/os2ddpak/html/6218FF37981954BC872568B90069B9B6.html.
This is an important update for OS/2 users in that it provides support for "all the USB printer class devices which meet USB printer specifications." The README.TXT file accompanying the package states the software was tested on the following USB printer devices:
News of this release is welcomed by OS/2 users.
STAR OFFICE FOR OS/2 ENDS AT 5.1a
According to a note circulating on the various Internet newsgroups, it appears Sun is finally pulling the plug on OS/2 support for StarOffice. According to reports, Sun's position is as follows: "As part of the long-term planning for StarOffice, Sun has assessed platform demand, momentum in the marketplace, the cost of porting to those platforms, as well as the business case for adding or dropping platforms. Based on this analysis, Sun will no longer release future versions of the StarOffice Suite on OS/2. Version 5.1a will be the last version of StarOffice on OS/2. Sun will provide a range of support and transition assistance to OS/2 customers. StarOffice software will continue to be available on the Solaris operating environment, Linux and Windows 2000/98/95/NT."
Basically, we're witnessing another casualty as a result of IBM's inability to market OS/2. What a shame.
OS/2: A NEW RELEASE IN NOVEMBER?
In an April 11th article by Sm@rt Reseller magazine, it appears IBM has announced they are going to try and bundle several updates and fixes into a release for the Fall. Although it is most likely not the major "Warp 5" release OS/2 users have been longing for, it will represent a significant release for IBM who has basically stalled on OS/2 development in recent years. According to the article, the release will include all the previous fix patches, and improvements to the Web Browser, the Java Virtual Machine and TCP/IP.
Keep your fingers crossed.
IBM PRESS RELEASES: MUM IS THE WORD
As indicated by the Sm@rt Reseller announcement and reports from Larry Lavins, news reports related to OS/2 are few and far between. Even IBM's stalwart Timothy Sipples, who had previously been the unofficial disseminator of OS/2 information, seems to have taking a hiatus from releasing any substantive news. This only sows the seeds of doubt in users minds when the vendor is tight-lipped over his own product. It is sad when a major computer vendor like IBM has to rely on its customer base to distribute its news.
THE EFFECT OF THE +1Ghz CHIPS
The press is full of stories regarding Intel and AMD developing new 32-bit chips that perform in excess of 1Ghz. These new chips which should become readily available to power hungry users in the next few months. As for me, I see it extending the life of 32-bit technology and OS/2. If these faster processors become as popular as many believe they will, then development of the 64-bit chips will be delayed, thereby giving OS/2 an extended life. As you probably know, IBM has not committed to migrating OS/2 to 64-bit technology. For OS/2 users, therefore, the 1Ghz announcement is welcomed news.
GATES & COMPANY
Now that Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson has officially made his decision regarding Microsoft, the company has started the agonizingly long appeals process. What is interesting here is that Microsoft is appealing the case to not only the higher Federal Courts, but is also taking it to the court of public opinion, where the Microsoft public relations crew is working overtime to change the country's perception of the company. To me, it is very reminiscent of the tactic taken by Bill Clinton when he was impeached over the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Even though Clinton was impeached by the House, he dragged it out in public opinion polls forcing the Senate to drop the matter. This seems to be the same tactic used by Bill Gates; even though he lost the first round to Judge Jackson, he hopes to sway public opinion in the hopes that it will exert influence on Congress to step in and drop the case against them. Gates is probably saying to himself, "If Clinton can do it, so can I." If he continues with this "I'm above it all" type of arrogance, it will certainly cost him in public opinion polls. As I mentioned in my December editorial, look for Gates & Company to resist the decision to the bitter end, turning it into a "no holds barred" fight.
Regardless of the tactics used in appeal, the bottom-line question everyone should be asking is, Has Microsoft damaged the industry? Gates & Company says No, Judge Jackson and the prosecution say Yes. I have to side with the Judge and prosecution on this, here's why:
Because of Microsoft's predatory tactics, they virtually forced every major PC manufacturer, including IBM, to abdicate a superior operating system (OS/2) in favor of an inferior product. Consumers, not knowing any better, have become complacent and have come to accept Microsoft as the technology leader by default. They have also come to believe that PC crashes and lock-ups are commonplace events and acceptable behavior for PC's. They also believe Microsoft software products are superior in design, most notably in the areas of web browsers, office suites, and multimedia, when, in reality, they are actually inferior. Consequently, arguably superior products, such as Lotus SmartSuite, Netscape, StarOffice, and RealProducts, go practically ignored. Further, Microsoft has tried to undermine development of Java because it is perceived as a potential threat to its domination of operating systems. In other words, superior technology loses out to inferior technology. Microsoft calls this "innovation", I call it monopolistic practices. Think about it, if these superior products were allowed to flourish properly, as opposed to rechannelling resources to fend off the Microsoft marketing juggernaut, we would probably already be experiencing such things as 64-bit computing and universally applicable programs. From this perspective I believe Microsoft has hurt the industry, simply by forcing it to stall.
Like Clinton, Gates is counting on the American public to act as sheep and not think for themselves. Should Congress intervene? Absolutely not. Let the American justice system work its way through the case, and let's not let Bill Gates derail it.
Keep the Faith!
Copyright © M&JB 2000
