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- From: jemenake@zeus.calpoly.edu (Joe Emenaker)
- Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
- Subject: Re: The Future of OS/2
- Message-ID: <1992Jul24.184446.179115@zeus.calpoly.edu>
- Date: 24 Jul 92 18:44:46 GMT
- References: <LJ6DoB1w164w@netlink.cts.com>
- Organization: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
- Lines: 40
-
- trekkie@netlink.cts.com (Bryce Newall) writes:
- >I have been seriously considering buying OS/2 v2.0 for about 2 weeks now.
- >However, I heard from a friend up in San Francisco that Microsoft will no
- >longer be licensing the code required for OS/2 to run Windows programs. In
- >effect, Microsoft is cutting their losses and trying to run IBM's operating
- >system into the ground. I would like to know if there is any truth to this,
- >'cause if there is, then I don't think I'd bother with OS/2, in spite of how
- >wonderful it sounds. Any comments?
-
- The air is filled with all sorts of stories about licensing et al between
- MS and IBM. The latest one I've heard is that part of the contract between
- them stipulates that IBM has to fund a large part of the development of
- OS/2 3.0... wich is now called Windows NT. So, IBM is footing the bill for
- NT's development. John Dvorak heard this and surmised that NT is just a big
- diversion to keep IBM chasing its tail while MS moves on to developing
- something even bigger; probably something to compete with PINK I would
- guess.
-
- But there are stories abound. ANother is that Microshaft is doing
- everything it can to delay shipment of the OS/2 2.0 device driver
- developers kit. In this way, they could ensure that there's a very short
- supply of good (*ahem*) screen drivers. I can't say it's not working.
-
- As far as any story that MS is going to take the Windows code back... yeah,
- that's possible I guess. It's too late though. By the end of the summer,
- we'll all be enjoying Win 3.1 support in OS/2 which will cover all of the
- apps written for Windows to date (enhanced-mode-only programs excepted).
- The only Windows programs that we won't be able to run will be the one's
- developed for FUTURE versions of windows. Now, the most notable of these is
- Windows NT... which IBM has said that they're not going to support. So,
- the only way we can miss out on any apps (aside from ones that IBM has said
- they're not going to support... i.e. NT apps) is if MS ever releases a
- Windows 3.2 or 4.0. And that's too far down the road. By that time, either
- OS/2 will have developed a formidable software base of it's very own, or
- evberyone will have left it for NT anyway.
- --
- Joe Emenaker - Sexual Engineer | "I don't like words. I know how they can be
- jemenake@nike.calpoly.edu | used to deceive. In fact, speech may have
- Pro-woman, anti-feminist | been my greatest creation." - Satan
- (This is the .sig of the day) | (from the movie Mr. Frost)
-