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First published by me in 07/1999
Well, it's a operating system (OS) just like Windows, but different!
You might be suppressed to hear that it all started with a collaboration between MICROSOFT and IBM. Can you imagine that? They decided to program a OS that was more user friendly then the existing DOS to make computers more accessible to a broader range of users (noble eh!). In those days the cliché of the Computer Nerds was spot on (no offence to Bill Gates). So work on OS/2 began. Meanwhile work on another OS was running parallel. This OS was called WINDOWS.
OS/2 was undoubtedly the better OS, but it had a big problem, this being that it used far too much memory. Windows did not have this problem, but it crashed all the time. That is until Windows 3.0. Well it still crashed, as anyone knows who used it. Never the less, this was the breakthrough for Windows, and it took off like a rocket. The rest of the story is well known, Windows 3.1 was the best selling OS together with DOS, which it used as a platform.
Well at the beginning it must have been a bit of both. After the success of Windows 3.1 it was marketing genius. This effectively brought OS/2 (Warp 3 at the time) to its knees.
Through extensive, very early coverage in the media about Chicago (this was the name of Windows 95 in its early stages of development) interest levels for the next version of Windows were kept high. And promises of release dates that were never kept, did sort of help to. Microsoft started leaking release dates about one year before the final product was actually released. So everyone was waiting for the new release date, and was then disappointed, because Microsoft postponed the release to a later date. For OS/2 this meant that it had one year to get a foot in the door before Windows 95 was finished, and released. Unfortunately IBM didn't manage to get that foot in. Although OS/2 did everything Windows 95 can do now, and more, IBM could not get people to buy it, inspite of millions of dollars in marketing. This was in part due to the reasons I have just named.
This was in Germany. It was due to the decision of one of the biggest computer retailing chains in Germany to get out of the oppressing contract with Microsoft. For a period of time this company sold computers with OS/2 pre-installed, thus creating one of the biggest markets for OS/2 in the world.
Well OS/2 does still exist. According to the media it died, then it died and after that it died. But it still lives. If you ever have read about OS/2, one of the most common claims is that there is no software available for OS/2. This is simply not true. You can compare it to UNIX, there is a huge Freeware and Shareware market with excellent software out there plus very good office packages (e.g. StarOffice 5.1 by StarDivision which is **FREE to download for privat use**). And since IBM took over LOTUS their software is on its way.
If that is not enough you get everything to access the Internet and an office package from IBM in the Bonus pack with OS/2 Warp 3 and 4 (The Bonus pack comes FREE with Warp). So you realy have got everething there when you start!.
Well lets be realistic here! There is no way you can do without Win 95 really, right (or at least Win 3.1)! Well yes that is true but you don't have to. See when you install OS/2 you can chose to install the Bootmanager. This allows you to boot from a hard disk or partition of your choice. This means you are able to have more than 1 OS on your Computer. For example, you could partition a 2 GB Hard disk into two partitions of 1 GB. On each of those partitions you can put a different OS (e.g.: OS/2 and Win NT). OS/2 Warp 4 has Windows 3.1 (minus about 100 mistakes removed by IBM) integrated. It's like the DOS box in Windows. DOS is also in there. So what you get is, OS/2 + Win 3.1 + DOS and you can install as many OS on as many partitions as you have space on your HD.
I'd be lying to you if I told you that it's easy to install OS/2. You need to know your basic stuff (i.e. what a Hard disk partition is, etc.). And you have got to plan what you want to do!!! Don't just start installing. Think of how big you want a partition to be and so on. The Handbook (believe it or not) is quite helpful here. OS/2 will want about 300 MB just like Win 95. The good news is that you can ring the IBM hotline free in the first month, which is very good.
(TIP: install Windows 95/NT on C: and OS/2 on D:)
Did I mention that you get Voice Type of OS/2 thrown in with the package. And if you don't know what that is, here goes. You can dictate text through a microphone, and navigate your desktop (e.g. start programs etc), without ever touching your mouse or keyboard. Is that COOL or what. And another thing, DOS and Windows still work with the old FAT system from the stone ages! Even VFAT (Win 95B or NTFS for NT) is not as advanced as the system OS/2 uses. It is called HPFS. The HD does not need any maintenance at all (well hardly). No more Defrag. When you install OS/2 you can choose if you want to format your HD with the old FAT or HPFS. If you partition the HD as I suggested use HPFS, if you want to put Win and OS/2 on the same HD format FAT (NB. Windows can not read HPFS, hence it does not recognise that HD). HPFS has another advantage, it organises the HD in a different way. This means you don't lose any Disk space as you would with HD over 540 MB (don't quote me on the 540 MB, but it is around there) and the old FAT system. This is because the cluster size does not "expand" with HPFS as it would with FAT.
There is only one thing left to say, and that is the minor matter of the cost! I have got some good news for you, if you are a student or teacher then you can get OS/2, get this, for under 30 Pounds (that includes P+P and VAT). So now it's your turn. It's make your mind up time. If you have got any further Questions mail me, and I'll answer them to the best of my ability! There you go, some food for thorough!
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