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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.
This past month was a very busy and productive one for OS/2. Several major updates were released by IBM. Additionally, there were also some very good new releases/updates from OS/2 software developers.
Ziff-Davis's OS/2 may be dead, but mine (and hopefully yours also) is very much alive and vigorous, and gets even better as time goes by.
The June SIG meeting marked the start of our expanded charter to include Java technology and applications as they relate to and are intimately associated with OS/2. We'll continue this in July with a Java Applications Night (see July Meeting Agenda, last item below).
Everybody is reminded, again, to stay in touch by logging in frequently to our OS/2 SIG web site at www.pasug.org/
JUNE MEETING REPORT
The June meeting included one of the best ever presentations. Dr. David Shields, a scientist at the IBM Watson Research Lab and a co-author of the JIKES Java compiler, discussed the latest developments in Java compiler technology, comparative performance of various Java compilers on different operating system platforms, and some of the new software available for Java software developers at IBM's Alpha Works.
The following are new, free technologies from IBM Research, described by Dr. Shields, and recently posted on alphaWorks (http://www.alphaWorks.ibm.com/Home/).
CViz: A visualization tool designed for analyzing high-dimensional data in large, complex data sets. This tool is very useful for analysts who often use statistical methods.
NetScript: An environment for scripting with network components. The technology is targeted for network-centric application developers.
Remote AWT for Java: RAWT for Java now runs in a Daemon mode at the User Station(client side) on an NC computer.
Java Application Performance Tools, including: - Jikes compiler, - Jikes Debugger - Jikes Applet Dashboard. - JAX compression & extraction tool. - Jinsight for display of Java program behavior.
At the conclusion of his presentation, Dr. Shields responded to many good questions from the membership. We're most grateful to Dr. Shields for his visit and outstanding presentation.
After Dr. Shields' presentation, we took a break to socialize, enjoy the complimentary refreshments and conduct our customary 50/50 lottery.
I'm very pleased to report that a total of 123 OS/2 bumper stickers had been ordered and received here. They were distributed to all those persons who had ordered them and who were present at the meeting. The remainder will be mailed.
Another copy of the new Lotus SmartSuite for OS/2 Warp 4, donated by Lotus, was also raffled off. Max Maser was the lucky winner this month.
After the intermission, Larry went through the monthly list of OS/2 announcements, news items of general interest, new software, forthcoming events, etc. which were briefly reviewed and discussed.
Two additional local area OS/2 users, heretofore unknown to us, discovered us and came to the June meeting: Bob Gordon and Eric Grinberg. We hope that they will become active participants. There were also three other local area OS/2 users, heretofore unknown, who had sent email requesting that their names be added to the POSEIDON list.
The last hour was devoted to a general Q&A session, conducted by David Moskowitz. Member interest and participation continues to be very high for our Q&A sessions, with lots of animated back and forth discussion.
As usual, many of the members lingered for another 30 minutes or so to socialize, compare notes with each other about various OS/2 matters, etc. We finally cleaned up the premises, packed up all the equipment, and departed around 10:30pm.
We wish to express our gratitude to the folks at Episcopal Academy for the continued use of their meeting facilities.
OS/2 NEWS
FixPak-7 is available for automatic install via RSU from the IBM Software Updates site, or the full set of 16 files may be downloaded from ftp://service.boulder.ibm.com.
The original RSU posting had a corruption problem, but was finally fixed by IBM after a couple of tries. User reports indicate that it's now 100% reliable.
Warp City also posted a publicly available procedure for installing FixPak-7 without the necessity to go through the time-consuming process of making diskettes fronm the downloaded disk image files. SIG member Ben Bowers used this procedure to successfully install FixPak-7 on 4 seaparate partitions with great speed.
OS/2 Warp Developer's Kit for Java 1.1.6 - This is an update of Java for OS/2 Warp that provides both runtime and development environments. This update provides Java 1.1.6 on OS/2 Warp 4, OS/2 Warp Server, OS/2 Warp Server SMP, and WorkSpace On-Demand and now also supports OS/2 Warp Version 3 and OS/2 Warp Connect. This version replaces Java 1.1.4 for OS/2 Warp and is the upgrade path for Year 2000 readiness for Java 1.0.x and 1.1.1 for OS/2. A free download via IBM Software Choice or the IBM Boulder Service site.
javainrt.zip 7677408 Runtime (without unicode font)
javainuf.zip 17832462 Runtime (with unicode font)
javaintk.zip 11421453 Development package
Netscape Navigator v2.02 (June 1998 Refresh: Service Level 000008). This refresh of Netscape Navigator 2.02 for OS/2 is compatible with OS/2 Warp Developer's Kit for Java 1.1* on OS/2 Warp Version 3, OS/2 Warp Connect, OS/2 Warp 4, OS/2 Warp Server, OS/2 Warp Server Advanced Version 4 SMP Feature, and WorkSpace On-Demand. Java 1.0.2 for OS/2 Warp is not included in this refresh of Netscape Navigator 2.02 for OS/2. The resulting Navigator package is smaller to improve download time: NETS202.EXE 3813751 6-04-98.
Netscape 2.02 (Refresh) is a free download from IBM Software Choice. See http://www.software.ibm.com/os/warp/netscape for additional features and information regarding this refresh.
Within just a couple of days of each other, two separate patches were announced and posted for free download by third parties. Each such patch claims to provide full-strength 128-bit encryption capability to the new Netscape 2.02 (June 1998 Refresh: Service Level 000008).
The first patch is from Steffen Motzer. In addition to adding full 128-bit encryption, it also modifies the user agent 2.02 and 3.0 up to 4.05. This permits you to change the command line option from -3 to -4, which will allow Netscape to work with any servers which may require Nwetscape 4.05. Download Motzers patch from hobbes. Filename is nets202_june98_128.zip.
User feedback reports indicate that Motzer's patch works well, and meets all of Wells-Fargo's stringent security tests.
The second patch is v.1.2.4 from Fortify. No user feedback reports have been seen. No additional information is available. Download from Fortify's web site http://www.fortify.net/download.html. The patch for OS/2 is named FN124OS2.ZIP.
I applied Motzer's patch. It went quickly and painlessly, taking only a minute or two. The patch is applied only to the existing NETSCAPE.EXE file (the new Service Level 000008). I advise making a copy of this file (with modified name, of course) prior to executing the patch. This will allow you to easily restore the original unpatched file.
I also went to the Wells-Fargo web site and did the security test to confirm the user feedback reports. It passed 100%. The Well-Fargo test can be reached at http://www/wellsfargo.com/per/services/browser/
Consumer advocates Ralph Nader and James Love recently sent a letter to IBM Chairman Lou Gerstner requesting that IBM should permit customers who purchase IBM PC's to exercise a choice of operating systems. They further suggested that IBM should make the OS/2 source code publicly available, following Netscape's eaxmple. They also expressed surprise that IBM does not permit consumers to buy IBM Aptiva computers installed with IBM's own OS/2 operating system.
The Nader letter follows, in its entirety:
Ralph Nader
P.O. Box 19312
Washington, DC 20036
Ralph@essential.org
James Love
Consumer Project on Technology
P.O. Box 19367
Washington, DC 20036
202.387.8030 | http://www.cptech.org | love@cptech.org
June 8, 1998*
Louis V. Gerstner, Jr.
Chairman and CEO IBM
New Orchard Road
Armonk, NY 10504
Dear Mr. Gerstner,
We are writing to ask that IBM stop forcing customers who buy IBM personal computers to purchase Microsoft Windows. You should give your PC customers an opportunity to buy a non-Microsoft operating system, or at a minimum to permit the consumer to buy a PC from IBM without any operating system.
We were surprised to learn that IBM will not permit consumers to buy IBM Aptiva computers with IBM's OS/2 operating system installed. Indeed, when consumers contact IBM to purchase an Aptiva computer, they are told that the only way to get OS/2 is to buy a PC with Microsoft Windows 95 installed, and then pay an extra $199 ($275 in one call) for a shrink wrapped copy of OS/2, which consumers will have to install themselves. While the Microsoft End-User License Agreement (EULA) says that a consumer who does not agree to the terms of the Microsoft Windows 95 license can return the software to IBM for a refund, IBM tells consumers that the refund is zero.
Millions of OS/2 users are bitterly disappointed at IBM's failure to promote and improve the OS/2 platform as an alternative to Microsoft Windows. Perhaps IBM should consider following the Netscape example, and release the source code for OS/2, and permit computer users to modify and freely distribute copies of OS/2. We would like to discuss this matter further with you or your staff.
Sincerely,
Ralph Nader
James Love
In response to Nader's letter, Dan Porter, President of InnoVal Systems Solutions, a well known OS/2 developer, and our own SIG member David Moskowitz, President of Productivity Solutions, wrote to Nader, clarifiying some common misconceptions and disagreeing with Nader's suggestion to place OS/2 source code into the public domain.
The Porter/Moskowitz letter follows:
June 9, 1998
Mr. Ralph Nader
P.O. Box 19312
Washington, DC 20036
Mr. James Love
Consumer Project on Technology
P.O. Box 19367
Washington, DC 20036
Dear Mr. Nader and Mr. Love,
We, and many OS/2 users, thank you for your position in support of OS/2. It is disappointing that IBM has ceased to pro-actively market OS/2 except to large enterprises. In many ways IBM has also diminished support for the individual consumer and the "small office and home office" (SOHO) community.
There is a misconception among many in the OS/2 community that IBM is acting irresponsibly towards OS/2 users. We don't believe that is the case. IBM continues to provide corrective services and some enhancements in the form of "fixpaks." These are readily available and free. There is also a misconception that IBM has ceased to support OS/2 independent software vendors (ISV's). One vendor stated openly in the press that, "IBM never calls anymore." That is not the case at all. Our experience, and the experience of other ISV's, is that IBM continues to play a responsibly active role in supporting software development for OS/2 when it coincides with its business directions.
IBM's efforts to develop and promote standard conforming Java -- a very significant strategic objective -- for the OS/2 platform is outstanding. Though these efforts by IBM are directed primarily towards large enterprise customers, IBM's Java tools and software are freely available to individuals and SOHO customers who do benefit.
IBM is clearly in the best position to continue to enhance OS/2 and Java for OS/2. In our view, to place OS/2 into the public domain at the source code level, as you suggested, would fragment the economic model to the detriment of the user community. Rather, we think IBM should license OS/2 to individuals and very small enterprises for free or for a nominal handling fee. They could and should also authorize resellers to distribute reproductions on CD-ROM media. The license would need to be clear about the fact that IBM does not warrant the operating system beyond good faith efforts and does not provide free technical support. IBM should also enable PC manufactures to provide OS/2, installed or on CD-ROM, as a free option.
It is unlikely that such a move on IBM's part would be costly. Indeed IBM already discourages the sale of OS/2 to the small user. IBM can, by free distribution, gain positive exposure for OS/2 by sending a strong signal that OS/2 is viable. ISV's would derive marketplace incentives to develop OS/2 software including vertical and enterprise applications. This is something which IBM wants. Most significantly, Java, the best technology hope for opening up the PC platform marketplace, would be strengthened. IBM's OS/2 Java is one of the best, if not the best, Java environment available to consumers. This combination of factors would ultimately and mutually benefit IBM's corporate customers and IBM. Consumers, too, would be better served.
Again, we want to express our appreciation on behalf of OS/2 users, OS/2 software developers, and consumers.
Sincerely,
Daniel R. Porter, President
InnoVal Systems Solutions, Inc.
David Moskowitz, President
Productivity Solutions, Inc.
cc: Mr. Louis V. Gerstner, IBM Corporation, Armonk, New York
Government Computer News recently published a feature article by Bill Murray of the GCN Staff entitled "FAA Soars With Faster Analysis."
Analysts at the William J. Hughes FAA Technical Center in Atlantic City, NJ are using OS/2 Warp 4 for airport capacity studies which simulate the effects of building new runways and terminals and do full statistical analyses.
To read the full story, go to http://www.gcn.com/gcn/1998/June22/faa_soars_with_faster_analysis_.htm.
InnoVal released Build 98.6.2 for download by members of the Charter Users Group, now numbering in excess of 600, according to Dan Porter, InnoVal's president. This release added some improvements and fixes several outstanding problems.
This build was designed to be compatible with the new Java 1.1.6, and was tested aginst the last Java 1.1.6 pre-release for developers. But unknown to InnoVal, changes were subsequently made by IBM in the final Java 1.1.6 release which caused problems for OS/2 users.
Wihin a period of 2 or 3 days, InnoVal, with cooperation from IBM, identified and fixed the problem which involved "suspended" threads. JSMB build 98.6.3 was immediately posted for download, and now works well with the new Java 1.1.6.
Message traffic on the jstreet email listserver between InnoVal and the Charter User beta testers continues unabated at very heavy levels seven days per week.
Sources close to IBM claim that rumors abound that IBM is about to announce that there *will* be another Warp client, probably sometime in early 1999, to go along with the new Warp Server release, and that meetings are going on now to determine what features should be included.
Please bear in mind, this is only rumor. No confirmation has come from IBM.
Very little news has been seen on the Warpstock listserv during the past month. The Warpstock Steering Committee continues to be hopeful that suitable facilities will be found, and insists that Warpstock '98 will be held, as scheduled, in Chicago next October.
Good news! One of the Opera developers stated that the OS/2 version of Opera, the thin web browser, *will* include Java support. Release is expected in the near future. Up-to-date information may be found on the opera.magic.os2 newsgroup.
Here's some good news for OS/2 users who also use the 3COM Palm Pilot. Total Results is planning to develop native Palm Pilot linking software for OS/2. Other projects in the works include a utility for linking Lotus Organizer to the Palm Pilot and software that will link both the Palm Pilot and the Psion. For additional information log on to the Total Results web page at http://members.easyspace.com/tr
The Southern California OS/2 User Group (http://www.scoug.com) recently sponsored an interview with Don Baker, a specialist in high-quality color printing using inexpensive inkjet printers. The complete interview is now online at http://www.scoug.com/os24u/1998/scoug805.2.dbaker.html
In the interview, Don touches on many subjects, including:
An extensive url list is included at the end of the interview.
The Java lobby is a group of people who share a common interest in Java software development and the advancement of Java standards and software. The main purpose of the Java Lobby is to represent the needs and concerns of the Java developer and user community to the companies and organizations who have influence in the evolution of Java. We encourage all people who care about Java to stand together with us.
Read the full basic statement of "who we are" and "what we stand for." Join us! It's free, it's easy, and your support makes all the difference!
Do it now: http://www.javalobby.org/
Get a free copy of Hacksaw for OS/2 InnoVal will give you one for free if you join the Java Lobby at http://www.javalobby.org. It won't cost you anything to join but a moment or two of your time, and by joining you are showing your support for Java. InnoVal says: "We are making this appeal because, as a traditional OS/2 ISV, we beleieve that true 100% pure Java is important to the future of OS/2."
Hacksaw is a great little tool for use on the internet. You can retrieve web pages, send email, check to see if you have email, retrieve that email and delete email on a Pop3 or SMTP server. The FTP commands are very well done. You can send and receive files via FTP, change or list directories and more. And InnoVal will give it to you for FREE if you'll just join the Java Lobby.
HINTS & TIPS
Doug McKibbon submitted this one to Warp City, to alleviate the problem of Netscape pausing too often accompanied by lots of disk activity. Click on "Options," then "General Preferences," then the "Appearance" tab, and the "Expires After" item at the bottom. Lastly, set the time to expire your links to some small number of days. The longer the time, the more often you will get long Netscape pauses. Try 1 or 2 days.
Another useful hint to make Netscape snappier is to set threads at 1536 in your CONFIG.SYS file. I don't know why it works, but it did seem to do the trick for me. The previous setting was 1024.
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
IBM AntiVirus Datafiles Update AV30BR AV30BR.ZIP 515324 6-25-98
IBM AntiVirus database update v.3.0BR.
http://www.av.ibm.com/IBMAntiVirus/Updates/
Here's a selection of new files, released since last month's DataBus article, which may be useful for many of our members. These files can be downloaded from hobbes, BMT, OS/2 Supersite, and other of the usual OS/2 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.
FUTURE MEETING PLANS
Wednesday, July 22nd, the 4th Wednesday of the month, at 7:00pm, is the date and time of the next monthly SIG meeting at our current home, The Episcopal Academy, in Merion.
Mark your calendars and plan to attend. And bring an interested friend or associate along to see what a real operating system can do. A system will be on hand for live demos of OS/2 Warp 4, a variety of OS/2 apps, Java, Internet, etc.
Members without cars can take SEPTA's R-5 (Paoli Local) to Overbrook, or the R-6 to Bala-Cynwyd. Call Larry to make arrangements to be picked up at the RR Station.
Since Episcopal Academy is so close to public transportation, why don't you Philadelphia Center City folks who don't have cars call ahead of time to be picked up at the Overbrook train station. Hey, you guys in Center City, the trains are running. There's no excuse now for not coming to meetings.
Everybody should keep up to date by logging in to our OS/2 SIG web site at frequent intervals: www.pasug.org/
Planned July Agenda:
July will continue our expanded charter to include Java technology and applications as they relate to and are intimately associated with OS/2. An interesting Java Applications presentation is planned for the July meeting. Please mark the date, and let's try to have a large turnout.
Q&A Session (7:00-8:00pm): If you have questions, this is the place to bring them up. Someone is sure to have the answers.
Intermission, raffles, etc: As usual, complimentary light refreshments will be served. We will also have our customary 50/50 raffle followed by a software raffle, including another copy of the new GA release of SmartSuite for Warp 4, donated by Lotus. Come to the July meeting and test your luck.
General SIG business session: Announcements, news of interest, new OS/2 products, future plans, etc.
Java Applications Presentations/Demos. Larry and other SIG members will present the highlights and principal features of a few of the current Java applications of wide interest and popularity among OS/2 users.
J Street Mailer (latest build), presented by David Moskowitz
jPadHD personal database, presented by Larry Lavins
JavaFaces 2, presented by Murray Weismer
Larry's system will be on hand for live demos:
Member requests for specific demos are solicited, and will be done if the software is available and as time may permit. Episcopal Academy has installed a permanent analog phone line in our meeting room for our use for Internet access. Please call Larry prior to the meeting date to permit preparation.
All our more experienced users are urged to attend the July meeting to share their knowledge and expertise with others.
See you all on July 22nd. Mark your calendars. Bring your friends and associates to show them that OS/2 is really alive and well.
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