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-
- Pt. 6
-
- Apple confidential
-
- Microsoft changes its message, promotes Windows
-
- When IBM made its announcement at COMDEX that OS/2 was a much more strategic
- operating environment than Windows, Microsoft endorsed that announcement
- publicly. However, since that announcement, Microsoft has downplayed many of
- the things that were announced, and has indicated that Windows is, and will
- continue to be, a very strategic operating environment.
-
- In one example, after COMDEX Steve Ballmer, Microsoft’s senior vice president
- of systems, told Computerworld: “We haven’t capped Windows in any way, shape,
- or form.” This directly contradicts the COMDEX press release in which
- Microsoft stated that “Windows is not intended to be used as a server, nor will
- future releases contain advanced OS/2 features such as distributed processing,
- the 32-bit flat memory model, threads, or long file names.”
-
- Recently, Microsoft has begun positioning OS/2 as a very high-end solution that
- competes with UNIX, rather than DOS. For example, Steve Ballmer said that
- “OS/2’s success today is coming in mission critical applications at large
- companies—not replacing DOS [but] rather in place of Unix...We won’t see a
- phenomenon where there is a wholesale switch to OS/2 from DOS. We now see DOS
- and OS/2 as a family” (InfoWorld, 2/12/90, p. 8).
-
- Thus, Microsoft is giving two conflicting messages. When expedient, it claims
- that Windows will not be enhanced in certain areas and that OS/2 is the way
- that most customers should go. However, we suspect that Microsoft is giving
- its real opinion when it says that Windows is not being limited, and that
- OS/2’s primary market is competing with UNIX on the very high end.
-
-
- What does this mean to Apple?
-
- The confusion in the PC compatibles world continues. The codevelopers of OS/2
- have different desires for what operating environment they want to succeed.
- IBM wants OS/2 to be the winner, as soon as possible. Microsoft wants Windows
- 3.0 to be the winner in the short term.
-
- IBM and Microsoft continue to confuse customers and developers by giving them
- different messages. Apple can take advantage of this confusion by reminding
- customers about Microsoft’s conflicting statements and by promoting the single
- software environment of the Macintosh.
- Appendix C: OS/2 Extended Edition Features
-
- Here is a description of OS/2 Extended Edition’s components: the
- Communications Manager, and the Database Manager. We also discuss LAN Server,
- which is an optional product running on OS/2 Extended Edition. OS/2 Extended
- Edition 1.1 is currently available; version 1.2 should be available by the end
- of March.
-
- Communications Manager. Communications Manager is IBM’s set of protocols,
- interfaces and emulations that enable a PC to communicate with other systems.
- Communications Manager’s communication capabilities can be separated into two
- groups: host connectivity and PC networking.
-
- The Communications Manager protocol that is most strategic for IBM is APPC
- (Advanced Program to Program Communication). APPC is the protocol IBM wants
- its customers to develop sophisticated distributed applications on for both PC
- to PC and PC to host networking. APPC allows programs on different intelligent
- machines to communicate without host intervention and without concern for the
- medium connecting them.
-
- Database Manager. The Database Manager is a SQL-based database program. It is
- designed to allow systems running OS/2 Extended Edition to coexist in a
- distributed database environment.
-
- Version 1.2 of the Database Manager adds significant functionality to previous
- versions. A Presentation Manager-based GUI replaces the text-based user
- interface. Application development and database administration tools are
- enhanced and numerous database functions are added. The most significant
- addition to Database Manager are the Remote Data Services that permit
- client/server database processing on a LAN. Still missing are LAN-to-LAN and
- LAN-to-IBM host distributed database processing functionality, which IBM
- promised in a statement of direction.
-
- LAN Server. LAN Server is IBM’s LAN operating system which runs on OS/2
- Extended Edition. LAN Server is a separate product, costing $1,040. It
- provides file and print sharing, file locking, security, audit trails, etc.
- Version 1.2, which is scheduled to ship on March 30, 1990, includes built-in
- Ethernet and Token-Ring support.
-
- LAN Server is based on technology licensed from Microsoft, the same technology
- Microsoft used in LAN Manager. LAN Server is typical of LAN operating systems
- in that not every machine on the network needs to run a LAN Server, only those
- that will be making resources available to others. The LAN Requester (client)
- part of LAN Server is part of the OS/2 EE Communications Manager.
-
-
-
-
-
- Appendix D: Presentation Manager Screen Shots
-
-
-
-
- Not included in the document
-
-
- • Windowed system editor.
-
-
- Looks better.
-
- • Fonts look better on the Macintosh
- • Twice as many fonts come standard on the Macintosh (Presentation Manager
- offers Courier, System Proportional, Times, Helvetica. Macintosh offers
- Geneva, Courier, Times, Helvetica, New York, Chicago, and Monaco.)
-
- • Overall Presentation Manager performance seems to be sluggish compared to
- Macintosh. For example, opening
-
-
- Better performance. [Summarize]
-
- • Applications run more slowly under Presentation Manager than under Macintosh.
- NSTL results.
- • Presentation Manager takes about a half hour to install.
- • Virtual memory, although currently an advantage for OS/2, is very slow
-
-
-
- • Inconsistencies in Presentation Manager itself. Task Manager uses ALT-F9/F10
- to maximize/minimize windows (uses ALT keys as its accelerator). File Manager
- uses CTRL-F9/F10 (uses CTRL keys as its accelerator). The Presentation Manager
- Reference Application Model and User Interface says to use ALT keys, but the MS
- representative says the standard will be CTRL keys.
- • The first app (SideKick) has a different look and feel that the standards MS
- is setting. For example, it uses ALT keys as its accelerator (ALT-O for open).
- MS says this is wrong. Describe uses CTRL-O. However, other apps may use
- Borland’s conventions as its guide.
-
-
-
- Drag a document (from the File Manager) on top of an application (in either the
- File Manager or the Desktop Manager) to open the file.
-
- Many of these Presentation Manager disadvantages are difficult to explain—you
- have to use it to appreciate how awkward it can sometimes feel.
-
- • With OS/2, you can’t have applications appear in the top level. You can only
- add groups. You can only start programs from a lower level group. On the
- Macintosh, you can have applications on the desktop that can be started
- immediately.
-
- • OS/2 has three different modes for launching applications. You can double
- click on the application file in the File Manager (this is the way you do it on
- the Macintosh). You can double click on the application icon in the Desktop
- Manager (if you have added that application’s pathname to the menu). Or you
- can do a “Search” and find that application program, thus seeing the
- application in another mode, and launch it from there.
-
-
- • Visible desktop. In Presentation Manager, the desktop icons appear on top
- of the application windows (when you ALT-ESC out of that application). On the
- Macintosh, you have to make the application windows smaller to get to icons on
- the desktop, such as disks, the trash can, etc. [System 7.0 will have Set
- Aside, which performs that function, albeit taking more steps.]
-
- Attach a bigger screen to Macintosh, and you get a bigger work area that has
- more pixels and can display more information. Attach a bigger screen to an
- OS/2 system, and you typically get the same work area, with the same number of
- pixels—each just gets bigger.
-
- • When looking at the File Manager in view by icon mode, there is no difference
- between the icon for the application and for the data files that were created
- by that application. For example, the icons for the PageMaker application
- program and a document created by PageMaker look identical. Some app icons
- (Excel, Describe) are just boxes with blue on the top. Others (PageMaker,
- PackRat) are the full icons (that look that same as individual documents).
-
-
-
- This is substantiated by InfoCorp’s prediction that OS/2 won’t outsell DOS
- until 1997 or 1998.
-
- Runs OfficeVision. OfficeVision is a set of business productivity tools for
- use on OS/2-based PCs, minicomputers, and mainframes. If a corporation
- standardizes on OfficeVision, the fact that it does not run on the Macintosh
- could limit Apple’s penetration into that corporation. However, if
- OfficeVision gains acceptance, we would expect Apple and third parties to
- develop products connecting Macintosh to OfficeVision.
-
- Can buy color PC compatibles running OS/2 for less than the Macintosh. PC
- Magazine’s recent cover story was on twelve 80386 20-MHz PC compatibles that
- had an average retail price of $2,600. These machines were configured with 2
- MB of RAM, a 40 MB hard disk, and VGA display adapter and monitor. Obviously,
- 2 MB or more of memory would need to be added to these systems to run OS/2, but
- these clones provide good price/performance for OS/2. The comparable
- Macintosh, the IIcx, has a retail price over $4,000 higher than these clones.
-
- • Support for paging memory instead of segment swapping. By using paging
- memory, OS/2 2.0 never has to move memory blocks to consolidate free memory
- space. This will improve performance of OS/2 applications (regardless of
- whether they were written for the 286 or the 386 version of OS/2).
-
-
- These are some of the reasons for its attractive look:
-
- • Attractive icons. Icons in Windows 3.0 are colored and very nicely drawn.
-
- • 3D effect. Like OS/2 1.2, Windows 3.0 has shadowing which gives it a 3D
- effect. For example, the buttons look raised, the menus are drop shaded, and
- the disk drive icons look 3D.
-
- Files and folders can now be dragged to other folders to move or copy them.
- A file can be launched by dragging it on top of the icon of the application
- that created it.
-
- Other enhancements.
-
- • Context sensitive help. Windows 3.0 has excellent context sensitive help,
- with hotlinks to related subjects.
-
- • Macro recorder. Windows 3.0 includes a macro recorder which is similar to
- MacroMaker on the Macintosh.
-
- • Good paint program. Windows 3.0 comes bundled with Paintbrush, which is much
- more sophisticated than the paint program currently bundled with Windows.
-
- Weaknesses.
-
- • Applications need to be rewritten. Most applications written for Windows
- 2.x, such as the current versions of Excel and PageMaker, will not run under
- Windows 3.0. Those applications will need to be upgraded.
-
- In fact, we would guess that the Macintosh user interface meets many of SAA’s
- Common User Access (CUA) specifications.
-
- Macintosh supports multiple monitors. Attach multiple monitors to a modular
- Macintosh, and the system will treat them like a single large monitor—the user
- can drag windows between them, move objects back and forth, and so on. Attach
- two monitors to a PC running OS/2, and in most cases one of them will be blank,
- or both of them will display the same image.
-
- System 7.0 will keep Macintosh ahead of OS/2. Macintosh System 7.0 has the
- features of OS/2, and yet it is easier to use than OS/2, requires less
- hardware, and is compatible with the huge installed base of Macintosh
- applications. System 7.0 should give Macintosh a competitive advantage over PC
- compatibles for the foreseeable future.
-
- We have noted in brackets the OS/2 advantages that System 7.0 nullifies.
-
- the sliders in the scroll bars are proportionately sized, and
-
- We think that DOS will outsell OS/2 for at least five years. Therefore, we
- believe that there will be at least two environments for PC compatibles for a
- long time. See Appendix B for details on IBM/Microsoft’s announcement
- positioning Windows and OS/2.
-
- IBM expects device manufacturers to write Presentation Manager drivers for
- their own devices.
-
-
-
-
- Macintosh has many advantages over OS/2. The Macintosh currently has many
- advantages over OS/2, most notably lower hardware requirements, greater ease of
- use, faster performance, and many more applications. Macintosh System 7, which
- will be available before OS/2 becomes successful, will provide additional
- advantages.
-
- System 7.0 will increase the Macintosh operating system’s lead over OS/2.
-
- For example, the OS/2 2.0 file system will continue to use the 16-bit
- addressing scheme of the current version.
-
-
- • OS/2 has four different ways to launch an application. You can double click
- on the application file in the File Manager (this is the way you do it on the
- Macintosh). Or you can launch an application from the Desktop Manager (if you
- have added that application’s pathname to the menu). Or you can “Search” for
- the application file and double click on its name in the Search window. Or you
- can drag a document on top of the application icon. This is an example of
- OS/2’s tendency to add redundant features (throwing in the kitchen sink) which
- often leads to inconsistency among users and developers.
-
- Apple probably will be able to connect Macintosh workgroups to OfficeVision
- services, if compatibility with OV becomes a check-off item for customers. In
- fact, in order to lock Apple out of OfficeVision, IBM would have to violate
- some of its own SAA guidelines for programming and communications interfaces.
- So either Apple can get in easily, or SAA—the centerpiece of IBM’s computing
- strategy— is invalid.
-
- Windows 3.0 applications may be able to run under OS/2 in a 16 MB compatibility
- box, rather than the current 640 KB compatibility box. However, this will
- still not allow for IPC between the Windows and OS/2 applications.
-
- Rich text format. OS/2 offers rich text format which extends the capabilities
- of text processing and desktop publishing. Text information that is copied to
- the OS/2 clipboard retains its formatting information, such as typeface, style,
- and size. Apple has not defined formats for the Macintosh clipboard to retain
- these kinds of information about text.
-
- Apple response: In System 7, live copy and paste using Inter-Application
- Communication will retain rich text format (although the clipboard will not).
-
-
- Apple response: Macintosh System 7.0 will support opening files by dragging
- them on top of an application.
-
- • On the Macintosh, you can drag files to trash to delete them. In OS/2, you
- select the file (by clicking on it) and then choose the menu option Delete.
-
-
-
-
-
- Macintosh OS competitive positioning statement
-
-
-
- Ideas we want to communicate (prioritized):
-
- Macintosh has more applications than OS/2 and Windows
- Macintosh requires less expensive hardware than OS/2, similar to Windows
- Macintosh is easier to learn and use than OS/2 and Windows
- Macintosh provides operating system features similar to OS/2, better than
- Windows
- Macintosh applications run faster than OS/2 and Windows applications
-
-
- Suggestions for positioning:
-
-
- “Macintosh is easier to use and provides more applications than OS/2 at a much
- lower price.”
-
-
- “Macintosh provides OS/2-class functionality at a Windows price point.”
-
-
- Macintosh operating system is BEST
-
- Broad product line—Runs across a broad product line whereas OS/2 and Windows
- only run well on high-end machines
- Easy—Easier to learn and use than OS/2 and Windows (claims research)
- Speedy—Applications run faster than OS/2 and Windows applications (NSTL)
- Thousands of consistent applications—More applications than OS/2 and Windows
- combined (SPC numbers)
-
-
- “Macintosh is FASTER than OS/2 and Windows
-
- Full featured—Operating system features similar to OS/2, better than Windows
- Applications—More applications than OS/2 and Windows combined (SPC numbers)
- Speedy—Applications run faster than OS/2 and Windows applications (NSTL)
- Total consistency—Consistent applications and interface
- Easy—Easier to learn and use than OS/2 and Windows (claims research)
- Runs on low-end hardware—Requires less expensive hardware than OS/2 and
- Windows”
-
-
- Do Implications at front of this document. Why is this 30 page document
- important. Is it just a lot of facts?
-
-
-
- ---------- Footnotes ----------
-
- 1. Optional, through use of third-party software.
-
- 2. Database access manager and communications toolbox are not included with
- OS/2 Standard Edition. They are included with the $830 OS/2 Extended Edition.
-
- 3. Standard Apple color board on Macintosh vs. VGA on the PC. Obviously, this
- applies only to color systems.
-
- 4. Standard on all Macintosh II and SE/30 models. Extra-cost option from IBM.
-
- 5. More fully-implemented on Macintosh II models.
-
-
-
- ---------- Posted Notes ----------
-
- some dialog boxes also don’t close by double clicking on their close box.
-
- This is substantiated by InfoCorp’s prediction that OS/2 won’t outsell DOS
- until 1997 or 1998.
-
-
-