EDITORIAL PAGE

The July 5th issue of InfoWorld magazine included a review of the new OS/2 Warp Server for e-business, "Pricey Warp Server Disappoints," by Tom Yager (http://www.maxx.net/) for the InfoWorld Test Center. Theoretically, the InfoWorld Test Center performs an impartial analysis of pending or recently released software, such as the latest version of Warp Server. Unfortunately, this was not the case with Mr. Yager's report, making InfoWorld's credibility highly questionable.

As a small example, Yager takes several swipes at the OS/2 Presentation Manager interface:

"Like Windows NT, this version of OS/2 crams a lot of functionality into one bundle. But unlike with NT, you pay for that power by enduring an outdated user interface, scattered and concealed features, abominable documentation, and a tiny set of third-party applications."

"The OS/2 desktop is still painted by Presentation Manager, a Windows 3.1 contemporary. The default desktop's root window icons and taskbar menus look haphazardly laid out by a dreadfully disorganized user. Essential functions are buried in submenus, and administrative tools and utilities are scattered and concealed in the pages of anachronistic on-screen notebooks. It is a GUI OS/2 fans have learned to love, but a hard taste to acquire if you are accustomed to Windows 98 or Linux's Gnome."

A "Windows 3.1 contemporary?" Hardly. As any true computer professional knows, OS/2's desktop is far superior than anything coming out of Redmond. The System Object Model (SOM) behind OS/2 provides a true object oriented desktop, the envy of Windows users. As OS/2 users, we have been spoiled by the product's Warp Center, drag and drop, adjustable properties notebooks, and "shadowing"; simple features that are severely crippled in the Windows world. Unlike Windows, OS/2 users can organize the desktop any way their hearts desire. Yager just doesn't get it.

Yager's comments, which may appear innocent to the naive, tip him off as a Windows evangelist thereby making him highly unqualified to review OS/2. I would even go so far as to suggest that he is a Microsoft plant to perpetuate the company's anti-OS/2 crusade.

What is more bothersome here though is that IBM is lethargic in reprimanding InfoWorld and Yager. In the mid-1990's such inflammatory evaluations of OS/2 would cause IBM to respond with terse letters contradicting the author's remarks. But where is the official rebuke of Yager this time around? I haven't seen it yet. Does IBM accept Yager's conclusions? I hope not. OS/2 Warp Server for e-Business is a fine product that can run circles around Windows NT (even during its initial beta-test a few years ago). Its bad enough that IBM doesn't know how to toot its own horn, but its even worse when irresponsible articles written by pseudo-experts go unanswered.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

As you may have heard already, there are a couple of OS/2 specific developments that have surfaced recently:

• FixPak-11 (XR_M011) for OS/2 Warp 4 was posted June 30th; for download: ftp://service.boulder.ibm.com/ps/products/os2/fixes/v4warp/english-us/xr_m011/

• A preview of Netscape Communicator 4.61 for OS/2 Warp, can now be downloaded from: http://www.ibm.com/software/os/warp/netscape/

I have not personally tried these features yet so I cannot in all honesty recommend or reject them (unlike some pseudo-experts I know).

Keep the Faith!

Copyright © M&JB 1999