OS/2 Shareware BBS: 16 Announce/16-Announce.zip/94101101.zip/94101101.ANN

Text File | 1994-10-13 | 16KB | 205 lines

CATEGORY: OS/2

TITLE: {Press Release} IBM's New OS/2 Warp Opens Worlds of Computing to Users

     NEW YORK, Oct. 11, 1994 . . . IBM today delivered on its
promise to bring the power of its OS/2* operating system to
millions of new users.  The compact, easy-to-use and value-packed
OS/2* Warp made its official debut worldwide today, with major
events in New York, London and Sydney.

     The third generation of IBM's award-winning 32-bit operating
system has impressive new usability features, slimmed-down system
requirements and comes with a BonusPak* of more than a dozen
popular applications, including easy access to Internet and
CompuServe** via the IBM Information Superhighway.

     IBM also announced that OS/2 Warp will come preloaded on
systems from the IBM PC Co., Toshiba, CompuAdd and other PC
manufacturers, and that Dell will offer Warp as a preload option
to customers when they order PCs.

     Warp has all the multitasking, crash-protecting power of
OS/2, runs 32-bit and 16-bit DOS, Windows** and OS/2
applications, requires as little as 4MB of memory and will be
available in two editions. The product will ship in mid-October
for users who already have DOS or Windows, with a list price of
$129 and an expected retail price of less than $80. The second,
"fullpack" edition, for users without Windows, will be available
shortly thereafter at a list price of $199, and expected retail
price of less than $130.  Both editions will ship with a
BonusPak* of popular applications.

     "If you're not using Warp, you're not getting the most out
of your PC," said Lee Reiswig, president, IBM Personal Software
Products.  "We've improved a time- and market-tested product,
giving customers more features at a greater value without giving
up any of OS/2's power.  The product's ease of use and small
memory requirements make it attractive to mobile users, medium
and small businesses, and home users. For PC users, Warp is the
right product at the right time."

     The Internet offering draws on IBM's expertise and
networking technologies from several IBM organizations, including
PSP, Networking Software, Software Solutions and IBM Global
Network, to provide a ground-breaking software and service
combination for customers who can benefit from this valuable
electronic resource.

     For connected environments, OS/2 Warp contains the
foundation necessary for customers who need a versatile desktop
client.

                    Everyone Gets a BonusPak

     A new BonusPak now ships with every copy of the operating
system, giving users the immediate opportunity to experience the
advantage of native OS/2 applications. In addition to a variety
of popular applications, the BonusPak includes a choice of
utilities for intuitive access to the Internet and other online
services by clicking on the IBM Information Superhighway icon.

      Internet Connection for OS/2 includes TCP/IP communications
software, Internet access utilities such as Gopher, File Transfer
Protocol, Telnet, NewsReader, and a graphical web browser called
WebExplorer. The package includes three free hours of Internet
access.  The web browser, which helps users navigate the Net,
will be available for download to subscribers in November. This
utility also provides one-button registration and access to the
IBM Global Network.  CompuServe Information Manager** for OS/2
allows users to access information, book travel, download games,
or participate in the many electronic bulletin boards available
on this popular online service. Hilgraeve's HyperACCESS Lite**
for OS/2, a popular communications product, gives users easy
access to a variety of other online services, PCs and mainframes.

     "In today's business community, the Internet is as important
as the worldwide telephone system and the worldwide postal
system," said Harley Hahn, consultant and author of The Internet
Complete Reference and The Internet Yellow Pages.  "Companies of
all types are creating a presence on the Net and many businesses
find that a well-connected Internet address is as much a
necessity as a fax machine or even a telephone.  For such
businesses, it is crucial that Internet tools be reliable, easy
to use and built into the system software."

     A core component of the BonusPak is IBM Works, an
object-based suite of applications for word processing, database,
charting, graphics, spreadsheet, report writing and personal
information management. They are easy to use and maximize the
inherent power of the 32-bit OS/2 operating environment.

     With FaxWorks*, users can send a fax from within an
application or from the desktop.  Because the application takes
advantage of IBM's System Object Model*, SOM, users just drag
documents from an application and drop them on the fax icon for
truly simple faxing.

     Person to Person* for OS/2  is a real-time, virtual
whiteboard which allows up to eight users in different locations
to view and revise the same document simultaneously.  Without
leaving their desks, users can achieve the efficiency,
productivity and personal interaction of a face-to-face meeting.


                  System Installation Made Easy

     Warp features a one-button install which loads the software,
identifies the hardware and configures the system. There also is
an advanced installation option for users who want to customize
and fine-tune the software to meet specific requirements.

     "Installation was a snap," said Robert Malmquist, an
electronics specialist in Lincoln, Neb.  "Basically, I just
turned it loose and let it install itself."

     To help users understand what the product can really do for
them, Warp provides an online, context-sensitive tutorial with
"practice" and "do-it" buttons which reduce learning time. The
tutorial can be invoked from anywhere in the operating system or
from applications running on it. For Windows users, the tutorial
offers a view of OS/2 Warp functions from a Windows perspective,
to demonstrate the advantage of working the Warp way.

           Graphics are Great in the Workplace Shell

     IBM has made significant enhancements to its acclaimed
Workplace Shell* interface.  Animated icons give users a visual
representation of system operations, and a symphony of new sounds
accompanies user interaction with the desktop. The OS/2 Warp
LaunchPad, a floating tool bar on the desktop, gives users easy
access to often-used applications, which can be launched with a
click of the mouse. Users can drag-and-drop application icons
onto the tool bar to easily customize it. To reduce desktop
clutter, when a folder is opened from within another folder, the
parent folder can close.

     "I really like the Warp LaunchPad," said Marc Slifkin of
Leviton Manufacturing, Little Neck, NY.  "I like the fact that
you can archive the desktop and the INI files.  You get a lot
more options with this, even a command line. It's really handy
and helps me work faster. As far as being user-friendly, it's
great."

     Warp also features a Plug & Play for PCMCIA utility that
recognizes which PCMCIA cards are in use.  Users can plug in
their PCMCIA cards while the system is running and the utility
will recognize the card without a reboot. Users also can
designate an application to be launched when a certain type of
PCMCIA card is inserted.  For example, a fax application can be
auto-launched when a fax-modem card is inserted.

     Mobile users will appreciate the modem output suspension.
While working remotely, users can queue up faxes, print jobs and
outgoing E-mail for execution when the computer is later plugged
in to its connected environment.

                   Multimedia and Games

     To make Warp the ultimate games platform, IBM has identified
more than 100 of the best-selling DOS and Windows game titles and
incorporated settings for each into the base operating system.
Games are given a high-performance boost when they run on Warp
because the operating system has been optimized for them.

     Warp includes the high-performance multimedia support
necessary to transform a PC into a television, or a photo-storage
system.  Multimedia tools include Eastman Kodak Photo CD**
support, IBM Person to Person for OS/2, a multimedia viewer,
WIN/TV card support, new audio device drivers, Ultimedia Video
IN* for OS/2 and industry-leading audio/video synchronization and
stretching technology. These capabilities make OS/2 the ideal
operating system for CD-ROM-based educational programs and games.

     For multimedia application developers, IBM also has included
MPEG support, a single DIVE API, built-in Autodesk animation
playback support and compressed audio support.

     Hardware requirements for OS/2 Warp include a 386SX or
higher processor with 4MB of memory. OS/2 Warp will allow OS/2,
Windows 3.1 and its updates, Windows for Workgroups 3.1, and DOS
applications to run on the same desktop.

            Service, Support, Prices and Availability

     With OS/2 Warp, customers receive 60 days of free service by
telephone, available every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the
customer's time zone. Customers also can receive Electronic
Support Services help in problem identification from an
800-number link to IBM Fax Service, TalkLink and CD-ROM packages.

     OS/2 Warp will be generally available in the United States
and Canada through IBM dealers, superstores and a variety of
general retail outlets by the end of October. Availability dates
vary for other geographies.  List prices for the products are:
OS/2 Warp Version 3 (without WIN-OS/2 code)            $129
OS/2 Warp Version 3 (with WIN-OS/2 code)               $199

                               ###

          *  Trademark or registered trademark of IBM Corp.
          ** Trademark of Microsoft Corp., CompuServe Corp.,
             Hilgraeve Corp., SofNet Corp., or Eastman Kodak Co.
             Kodak Co.