Page
building by:
Content updated
05-03-2007 08:57am
Note: This website is using CSS and other modern web techniques. Just as you migrated from DOS to a more modern operating system, perhaps it is time to use a newer browser. Anyway, we have tested this site with a variety of old browsers (even a 1.0 browser) and all of them will display the site's content, but it may not be very pretty.
NOVEMBER MEETING REPORT
We had a record turnout at the November meeting: close to 50 members and guests, including three new (to our group) OS/2 users. Hope we continue to see them at future meetings. Erasmus Tapera, our IBM representative, was also present to join in the festivities.
The meeting began with the usual list of announcements, news items of general interest, new software, forthcoming events, etc. which were briefly reviewed and discussed.
Larry demonstrated his recently purchased Iomega ZIP drive (external parallel port model). An offer had been made via POSEIDON to make copies on ZIP disks of the most recent multi-megabyte update releases of Netscape and Java for anyone wanting copies and who would bring in their own FAT formatted ZIP disks. This would save hours of download time.
Larry also brought up the possibility of sponsorship of Warpstock '98 by our Philadelphia OS/2 SIG. The membership indicated a substantial interest and willingness to assist if this were to happen. As a start, a committee of several of our members is being formed to look into the feasibility of our sponsorship of Warpstock '98 in this area. If the committee can identify all the necessary facilities and services at acceptable cost levels, we would then be in a position to make a bid. One very attractive site possibility is Atlantic City. This location would probably attract close to 1,000 attendees.
An announcement had been made, far and wide, that we would be celebrating the 10th birthday of OS/2 at the November meeting. The birthday cakes were ordered right on schedule, but all the other party stuff, like balloons never arrived. The cakes were ordered from Scandia Pastries in Havertown, courtesy of IBM. They were absolutely delicious. Along with the usual chips, pretzels and sodas, we had a feast.
November's main feature was a presentation and demonstration by Jim Geueke, IBM's popular and well-known software account manager, of IBM's new Workspace on Demand (WSOD) product, formerly code-named Bluebird. Jim gave us a truly great presentation of this OS/2 based system, answering many questions along the way, followed by a live demonstration.
At the conclusion of Jim's presentation, we ran our customary 50/50 raffle, followed by a raffle for six software items of the winners' choice to be provided by Jim. Each winner indicated to Jim the particular software item desired from a list of several available titles.
Jim said that he would come to our December meeting to personally deliver the software prizes to the winners. And he will see to it that another cake is provided in December, along with all the party stuff that didn't come in November. So it looks like we'll have a real birthday party in December, when we begin meeting at our new location (see below).
And lastly, Larry Finkelstein was called upon to give us a first-hand report of his impressions of Warpstock '97. Apologies are due to Larry for bringing him on at a late hour when people were anxious to get home. Nevertheless, he did provide a brief report, and lingered afterwards for further discussions.
We finally all cleared out at about 11:30. A great meeting. Our last at the Wayne location.
Our December meeting will be held on the third Wednesday, December 17th. And we have another OS/2 birthday party scheduled.
Everyone is also reminded that we will begin meeting in December at the new IBM office building. The address of the new IBM office building is:
One Glenloch Corporate Campus
1475 Phoenixville Pike
West Chester, PA 19380-1437
The new office building is located in the Glenloch area, approximately mid-way between Fraser and Exton, close by the border between East and West Whiteland Twps, a short distance south of Route 30 on Phoenixville Pike (Route 29).
This section of Phoenixville Pike begins on Route 30, heading south, about a half mile east of Route 202, directly across the Route 30 highway from Stevens Antiques which is located on the north side of Route 30. There is a traffic light at this intersection, but no signs for Phoenixville Pike or Route 29 were observed on Route 30.
Proceed south on Phoenixville Pike for 0.8 mile, passing under 2 railroad bridges. Look for a stone monument on the left which marks the entrance drive to Westin's One Glenloch Corporate Campus. Turn in here to the left, and go all the way up the drive to the new office building.
-\ The easiest and quickest ways to get here seem to be north on Route 202 from West Chester or south on Route 202 from King of Prussia, exiting Route 202 at Route 30; or east on Route 30 from Downingtown or west on Route 30 from Main Line areas.
Please refer to our web site www.pasug.org/ for additional information, including a map.
OS/2 NEWS
In mid-November, IBM announced that three separate software divisions - Personal Software Products (PSP), Networking Software and E-Business - have been combined to form a new Network Computing Software Division. Mike Lawrie, the head of the former PSP, has been appointed as the VP/General Manager of the new combined division.
Spokesman John Soyring said that the new division will work on transforming OS/2 into a network computing operating system. OS/2 will evolve to be an operating system optimized to run Java. IBM is also continuing to to optimize OS/2 for Java applications on both the client and server, with OS/2 running existing applications while the Java environment evolves.
See "IBM Official Response to ZD" section below for more information about the new software division organization.
It was predictable and inevitable. Toward the end of each year, the shrill voices of Ziff-Davis editorial flacks proclaim the death of OS/2. To their utter dismay, OS/2 continues to live and grow.
This year, in particular, the IBM software reorganization has provided even more grist for the mills of these harbingers of FUD.
In a ZDNet on-line article, dated November 24th, entitled "Death Knell for OS/2 Desktop," Mary Jo Foley rants that IBM's newly created software division is the final death knell for OS/2 on the desktop. She goes on to quote all kinds of anonymous sources both within IBM and close-to IBM.
This story gave rise to similar stories, some with even more false and ludicrous conclusions, in other widely read print and on-line publications.
IBM, to it's credit, rose to the occasion almost immediately, with a response from Donn Atkins, General Manager of the OS/2 Business Unit in the new combined software division. His response follows immediately below.
"We believe it is necessary to respond to the misleading article that was published on various Ziff-Davis web sites regarding OS/2. The story takes an internal announcement at IBM about a new division, in which OS/2 plays a significant role and paints a negative story toward OS/2. This is far from correct. As we've stated for well over one year, OS/2 will continue to be positioned as a network computing operating system within IBM's overall network computing and e-business strategy.
During 1997, IBM enhanced both the OS/2 client and server products and also created an entirely new offering, WorkSpace On-Demand. As was stated to the reporter, IBM will continue to enhance the OS/2 product line during 1998. This involves additions to both the client and server product, an entirely new version of OS/2 Warp Server and also an update of WorkSpace On-Demand.
Also, as was stated to the reporter, the vast majority of the employees will continue work on the same projects that they were doing prior to the announcement of the new division. Stating that IBM is moving a number of OS/2 managers and developers into new positions is completely inaccurate. During the announcement of the new division, IBM named Donn Atkins, former VP of Marketing for OS/2 as the new General Manager of the OS/2 business unit. The former General Manager for OS/2, Michael Lawrie, is the General Manager for the newly created division. Again, the day-to-day actvities of most employees will be unchanged.
IBM now has two focused organizations within its Software Group: the new Network Computing Software Division and the Software Solutions Division headed by Steve Mills. The two organizations within IBM Software will bring competitive, functional and integrated solutions to the market. The Software Solutions team will focus on the higher-level transaction processing, database, middleware and packaged servers. This team will place a greater emphasis on packaging server software into easy-to-use products, and focus on distributed systems and tools where there is a huge opportunity. The Network Computing Software division will focus on our Java initiatives, network infrastructure technologies and OS/2 products that support e-business. This brings together our Java team, and the Networking Software (NS) and Personal Software Products (PSP) organizations.
This is what was announced when forming the new division and this is how the news should be seen."
--Donn Atkins General Manager for OS/2 IBM Corporation
Loren Bandiera, who operates the widely-read OS/2 News & Rumors web site, had this to say (prior to Atkins' response) about the recent spate of misleading news reports about OS/2:
"Despite what you may have read today in Browserwatch, OS/2 is not dead. The source of these rumors steams from the ZDNet article from yesterday. 32-bits Online picked up on the story and is trying to make it out to be fact. The reality is these are just anonymous rumors, there are no real sources, no offical IBM statement. This just another in a long line of these kinds of articles.
In fact, I've heard from a number of people, some of whom work for IBM, that flat out deny these claims. However an offical statement from IBM would be really nice, so we could clear this up once and for all. If anyone from IBM has an offical comment on these rumors, please send them into me and let's stop these stories."
Timothy Sipples, a well-known spokesperson with IBM, recently (Nov 30th) stated:
"In the past we (IBM) have gotten burned (frankly) by overpromising and underdelivering. I know this may seem revolutionary, but we're going to try underpromising and overdelivering for a while and see how that goes. What we're going to promise is continued enhancements across the entire OS/2 Warp product line (not just fixes). I think we've amply demonstrated that commitment already (for example, with the fastest Java on the PC, the only Java 1.1.4 outside of Javasoft, and the fastest and arguably most complete TCP/IP suite on the PC). Feature enchancements will come regardless of packaging."
New benchmark scores are beginning to appear for the latest IBM release of Java 1.1.4 for OS/2. It is scoring 40-50% faster than the previous version. It is not only more up to date compared to any other Java VM other than Sun's reference implementation, but it also attains the highest CaffeineMark scores for Intel machines including IE4 running on NT.
IBM, Netscape, Sun, Borland and several other companies have been working together at the San Francisco Bay Area Java Performance and Tuning Center in tandem to do it.
Microsoft refused to participate and is the loser. Microsoft has now slipped from first place to a much lower position in the Java performance arena. OS/2 is looking mighty good to the world of Java.
Larry Lavins recorded an astounding CaffeineMark 3.0 score of 2033 under the leaked Netscape Beta and 2004 under HotJava 1.1, on his new Pentium 233/MMX system.
More good news about Java. Fast on the heels of the new Java 1.1.4, rumor has it that IBM will release Java 1.1.6 sometime between December 15th and January 15th.
Perhaps we'll also see the general release of a new Netscape which supports Java 1.1.x and WSOD, replacing the current "leaked" beta version.
HINTS & TIPS
A new OS/2 Warp 4 handbook is available worldwide from the IBM Direct Publications Catalog on the internet located at:
http://www.elink.ibmlink.ibm.com/pbl/pbl.
The new Warp 4 Handbook can also be ordered in the U.S. and Canada from Indelible Blue at 1-800-776-8284 or Sylvan Prometric at 1-800-959-3926.
This is the BEST handbook for all who use OS/2 Warp 3 or 4. The cost of the handbook is $59.95.
I'm indebted to SIG member Ben Bowers for bringing this to my attention. Ben pointed out that it's possible to run Java applets from Internet without the necessity of running Netscape Navigator, HotJava or other browser. All that is needed is a normal Internet connection and Java, preferably the latest Java 1.1.4.
As an example, some folks are having problems running the Pendragon CaffeineMark 3.0 benchmark test under Netscape. Here's an alternative way to do it which might be more successful:
(1) Connect to Internet in the normal way with your OS/2 dialer. (2) Open an OS/2 command line session. (3) Key in this line, then press [ENTER]:
applet http://www.pendragon-software.com/pendragon/cm3/runtest.html
As can be seen, it's not necessary to have a browser. Java recognizes the applet command, and then retrieves the code over Internet, just as if the code resided on a hard drive. It then opens its own window(s) to load and run the Java code.
Here's another example, albeit somewhat risque. You can bring up the well-known "Foxy Java" applet complete with bumps & grinds and sound effects.
Just connect to your Internet provider and then open a full-screen OS/2 session. Now enter the following line, and press [ENTER]:
applet http://www.cps.powernet.co.uk/java/foxyjava/foxy.htm
After it loads, you'll soon see Foxy doing her thing in a small rectangular window, entitled: "Applet Viewer: Animator.class." Make the width as small as possible from the right side. Then click on "Applet" immediately beneath the title bar and just above Foxy to get the pull-down menu, and select the clone entry. This will generate another Foxy window on the screen. You can make as many clones as you like, and move them anywhere on the screen. Try overlapping them to cover the white space on the right side of the windows. It's an impressive demonstration.
USEFUL WEB SITES
Each month, we list a few web pages which may be of benefit and/or interest to OS/2 users. This month's selections include ...
NEW SOFTWARE RELEASES
There have been so many OS/2 updates from IBM, as well as from ISV's, during this past month, it's impossible to list them all. Some of the most important and/or useful are listed as follows, and can be downloaded from IBM Software Choice, IBM ftp service software Boulder site and other software distribution sites.
FixPak-5 for OS/2 Warp 4 Posted for download via ftp from IBM's Boulder site on Nov 19th. There are 14 disk image files, 18.39 MB in all.
ftp://service.boulder.ibm.com/ps/products/os2/fixes/v4warp/english-us/xr_m005/
FixPak-5 may also be available for downloading at this time from several other OS/2 internet file distribution sites and BBS's.
Netscape v.2.0.2 for OS/2 (full 128-bit encryption).
Reported to be very slow. Java support unknown.
NS2US128.ZIP 4703667 6-24-97
ftp://ftp.replay.com/pub/crypto/incoming/ns2_128_US.zip
Netscape 2.02 for OS/2 (supports Java 1.1.x and WSOD)
Caution: This is a "leaked" beta version. It's somewhat flaky. But if you want to run Netscape with Java 1.1.x, you need it. OS2EN202.ZIP 4902664 11-11-97
http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/incoming (may be in other dir by now)
ftp://service.boulder.ibm.com/software/asd/java114/en_us/
IBM's Feature Installer v.1.2.1 Must be installed prior to installation of Java 1.1.x. If you haven't yet installed the new "leaked" Netscape, then change Servicelevel in NETSCAPE.PKG from 000004 to 000005. Also copy NPFI.DLL from the FEATURES\FISETUP to NETSCAPE\PLUGINS.
FIRUNPKG.ZIP 894 KB 11-13-97 (w/o Netscape) ftp://service.boulder.ibm.com/software/asd/fi12/en_us/
or
FIRUN_NS.ZIP 5502 KB 11-13-97 (w/Netscape 2.02) ftp://service.boulder.ibm.com/software/asd/fins12/en_us/
Java 1.1.4 Service Update 11-22-97
RUNTIME.EXE 5766KB
SAMPLES.EXE 2064KB
TOOLKIT.EXE 2999KB
ftp://ncc.hursley.ibm.com/pub/java/fixes/os2/11/
Printer Spooler FixPaks for Warp 3 and Warp 4 XR_MS04.1DK and XR_MS03.1DK
ftp://service.boulder.ibm.com/ps/products/os2/fixes/... (then to Warp3 or Warp 4 areas, as required)
IBM AntiVirus Datafiles Update AV30Y.ZIP 432796 11-19-97
http://www.av.ibm.com/IBMAntiVirus/Updates/
Updated IDE Drivers FixPak-5 does NOT include the latest IDE drivers which are needed to support new DMA hard drives and to correct problems with some IDE CDROM drives.
IDEUPDT.EXE 86728 11-14-97
http://service.software.ibm.com/os2ddpak/html/ADEC6407BE7EBD93862563E200570E54.html
Java Bamba Audio/Video Player JBAMBA2.EXE 330360 11-15-97 Test version of the Bamba streaming audio/video player in 100% Pure Java. Runs on any Java platform, including OS/2 Warp. Provides real time audio and video feeds across Internet and other TCP/IP networks.
http://alphaworks.ibm.com/alphapreview_tools
As stated above, there were just too many new OS/2 releases and updates to list everything. Here's an abbreviated list of the most useful for the majority of our members. These files can be downloaded from hobbes, BMT, OS/2 Supersite, and other of the usual Internet and BBS file distribution sources.
BBS SUPPORT
Larry Lavins' BBS, The Claim Board, is still online, going strong, even though the files haven't been updated for an embarrassing long time. The job of updating a wide variety of files for DOS, Windows, OS/2, etc. has proved to be too taxing. Serious consideration is being given to specializing in OS/2 related files, with only a smattering of other general DOS and Windows applications. Stay tuned ...
Most callers log in for the large selection of FidoNet echomail areas, including OS/2 International Conference, OS/2 Hardware, OS/2 DOS-Windows, OS/2 Internet and Team OS/2. Some popular genealogy areas are also available: National Genealogical Conference, Jewish Genealogy Conference and Genealogy Software.
There are hundreds of new messages received every day from all over the world on these OS/2 echomail areas.
Phone number is (215) 878-9611, 24-hours daily. All standard ITU bitrates are supported, up to 14400 (v.32bis). Everything is free.
PACS members who wish to have additional access privileges must send a message to the Sysop to request same. Be sure to include your PACS ID number, which will be verified.
Another very fine BBS, which supports OS/2 exclusively, is the OS/2 Source, operated by SIG Member Ben Bowers, located in Royersford, PA, (610) 948-4089, and also via a Philadelphia metro area phone number, in King of Prussia, (610) 337-9119.
The OS/2 Source BBS has the largest collection of current OS/2 files in this region. Message areas are devoted almost exclusively to the exchange of useful OS/2 information amongst the many callers and the Sysop. Ben has recently added a Java message area which has become quite active.
Another good OS/2 BBS is the RPS BBS in Philadelphia at (215) 624-8960, operated by SIG member Murray Weismer. RPS also has a good selection of very new and current OS/2 files.
SIG MEMBERSHIP
A continuing plea here for PACS members who wish to affiliate with the OS/2 SIG to check the OS/2 SIG box on their new member form or annual membership renewal form, as the case may be. The names of many active SIG participants are still not included as OS/2 SIG members on the PACS database. PACS members may call the PACS office at any time and ask for the OS/2 SIG affiliation to be added to their record in the PACS database. This is important. Interested PACS members are requested to do this ASAP. Please do it!
Please note that PACS membership cards are not mailed back to members who join and/or renew via mail. Cards are normally issued at the main PACS meeting. If you wish to receive your membership card via mail, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) with your membership or renewal application.
All OS/2 SIG members are also requested to fill in a newly revised OS/2 User Survey Form and submit same to Larry. Blank forms are made available at each monthly meeting, and will be given to all attendees as they enter.
The OS/2 SIG welcomes all PACS members, their guests and other non-members who use or have an interest in OS/2, regardless of their level of expertise.
The December 17th meeting will be the first in IBM's new office building on Phoenixville Pike. See the next section below for the December agenda.
A request has been sent to Lotus for a Lotus Smartsuite for Warp 4 presentation early in 1998. Lotus will be reminded at frequent intervals of our request, to insure that we're included in their 1998 presentation budget, and not to pass us by.
A schedule has been tentatively arranged with Case Zwart, a well-known local genealogy expert, and a sometime attendee at our SIG meetings, for one of his informative genealogy presentations.
More information will be provided here in the PACS DataBus and on our phillyos2.org web site when future meeting plans are made.
Wednesday, December 17th, the 3rd Wednesday of the month, is the date of the next monthly SIG meeting at our new meeting site, in IBM's new office building, One Glenloch Corporate Campus, 1475 Phoenixville Pike, W. Whiteland Township. Specific location details and directions may be found in an earlier section of this month's article.
The meeting will begin at 7:00pm. It's a new unfamiliar location, so please try to leave a little early to arrive on time. Mark your calendars and plan to attend. And bring an interested friend or associate along to enjoy our birthday party celebration and see what a real operating system can do. Call Larry at (215) 878-9608/9609 if you need further directions. Please! Try to be timely.
A system will be on hand for live demos of OS/2 Warp 4, a variety of OS/2 apps, Java, Internet, etc.
Planned December Agenda:
General SIG business session: Announcements, news of interest, new OS/2 products, future plans, etc. Latest reports on the status of our SIG Web page, which has passed the 1,000 hit mark.
David Moskowitz will report on all the happenings at November's ComDex in Las Vegas.
By way of making up for running out of time in November, Larry Finkelstein will be invited to give us a more complete first-hand report of his observations and outlook from Warpstock '97.
SIG Member Murray Weismer, with assistance from others, will conduct a presentation and demonstration of IBM Works, a greatly under-rated Warp 4 BonusPak suite.
We'll really, really try to have a good solid general Q&A session at the December meeting. Members keep asking for this, but we always seem to run out of time when outside guest speakers are on the agenda.
As time may permit, live demos of several current OS/2, Internet and Java applications and utilities may be conducted. Member requests for specific demos are solicited and will be done if the software is available. Try to call Larry prior to the meeting date to permit preparation.
Hooray! We plan to have the real OS/2 10th birthday party in December. Another cake, all the other party stuff, raffles, etc. Jim Geueke promises to be there to hand out software to the November raffle winners.
All our more experienced users are urged to attend the December meeting to share their knowledge and expertise with others.
See you all on December 17th. Mark your calendars. Bring your friends and associates to our 10th OS/2 birthday party.
Page
building by:
Content updated
05-03-2007 08:57am