A PC World article reports that though OS/2 has enjoyed years of success in key niches such as automated banking and airline systems, those days may be numbered as Microsoft targets those markets with Windows XP. OS/2 has virtually disappeared from the desktops of all but an elite hard-core group of enthusiasts, but its stability made it popular for devices like ATMs. With IBM’s support for OS/2 having waned years ago, things are looking pretty grim for its continued existence as a live product.
Intersting… this adds to the argument that OS/2 should be open sourced, if it’s not it will probley die soon… while there is a good ammount of propritey code in OS/2 it might be good to replace some of that anyways, it seems to me like OS/2’s source code could use some updating…
Wouldn’t it be ironic if OS/2 were to officially die as a commercial product only increase in popularity if it were open sourced?
Mind you, there are some serious issues surrounding open-sourcing of a formally closed source product like this (eg. Look at OpenWatcom.org if you need examples of how long it takes to strip licensed source code out of a product before releasing it to open source). Especially since Microsoft still owns some parts of OS/2. The legal stuff here could take years to resolve.
To expand on Kevin’s point, there are some significant subsystems that need upgrading:
1) I believe that the OS/2 graphic subsystem and file subsystem still has a fair bit of 16-bit code (remaining from OS/2 v1.1 that was designed to run on 80286). This was retained for compatability reasons. If we don’t care about backwards compatability then this might be a lesser issue.
2) while the kernel is true multitasking, i believe the Presentation Manager is is not. The PM uses a variation of cooperative multitasking (meaning that an errant PM application can block out all other PM applications)
3) there are some odd-ball design limitations. I recall that the OS had a hard limit of 4096 handles and a simliar number of thread. Not a biggy for a desktop users but this limits server applications and server development.
4) IBM essentially abandoned serious OS/2 development in 1996. Since then, there has been alot changes in the industry that has essentially passed OS/2 by. (eg. distributed computing)
5) Independant Hardware Vendors never really embraced OS/2. “OpenOS/2” would go through the same problem with drivers that Linux went through 5-6 years ago. At least until OpenOS/2 picked up some significant market share. I can’t see it picking up market share without major industry backing and, unfortunately, the industry would probably initially look at OpenOS/2 with a “Been there, done that…” attitude. Until that “critical mass” market share happens, a good driver development kit would be essential.
That’s all I can think of right now…there were other issues but this is good to start a discussion.
> but its stability made it popular for devices like ATMs
Not *all* ATM’s. Not in the UK. Hardly any I would assume.
I had the amusing pleasure of seeing a AbbeyLink cash point (ATM) that had crashed last saturday. It was displaying a ‘Windows’ desktop (looked like ’95’ or NT4, not ‘2000’ or ’98’), and had an error message along the lines of ‘The lease of IP XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX has expired. The DHCP server refused to lease IP XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX. Request another IP for lease?’ except I could see no way to click ‘ok’.. 😉 None of the keys worked.
I laughed to myself and walked away.
Every time I go into my local bank (or any of its other branches — Bank of Scotland, this is) I see OS/2 running on their desktops…
Banks have Os2 everywhere coz they have Big mainframe that are ibm too … And they are married with Ibm for ages ….
Quite a few ATM’s also use QNX 4
I understand from a few friends of mine, OS/2 is best suited to those companies that are IBM shops (yes, there are still around)…banks, insurance co. etc., where OS/2 is used as a thin client–not a desktop machine. It’s part of the package and It doesn’t make sence to use windows in those environments.
–mdv
We sit through the trial, we hear about the strong arm tactics and the illegal threats gates made to ibm, the judge finds him guilty, and there is no punishment.
Gee, OJ, The Clintons, and now M$; its amazing how the guilty walk free anymore, but not at all surprising.
OS/2 has been dead for a long time, and its a hell of a note when an illegal monopoly runs so rampant and free that the press can only dig up the dead and feed it to us again as still being a victim. It would be one thing if OS/2 lost in a fair fight, but when the outcome is rigged and found to be unethical and illegal, its just a sign of how far we have fallen as a society that the press trumpets the newest piece of crap as the software that will finally kill what is already dead.
Microsoft software is the poorest, saddest code ever written. In thirty years they might create something almost equal to what OS/2 was 5 years ago, but I doubt it.
Maybe one day someone will create a real computer, but not until Bill Gates is dead and long gone, for the damage he has done will linger for a very long time.
JB
“those days may be numbered as Microsoft targets those markets with Windows XP”
Has MS fixed the memory leaks? Has MS changed its licensing strategy?
OS/2 is still being upgraded, enhanced, and purchased.
See for yourself at
http://www.ecomstation.com/
http://www.serenity-systems.com/ecs/ecs-main.html
This is simply a piece of NCR public relations. They want to get the message out that they are following everyone else behind Microsoft’s Pied Piper so they use a negative story about OS/2 to get some coverage.
Yes there are corporates using OS/2, some on the desktop and more on servers. Yes, they will slowly move to alternatives (but many will consider Linux before looking at XP). And they won’t be making this move because of NCR, but because IBM has stated it’s support end-dates so they need to have an exit strategy.
Of course there are also many home enthusiasts who will continue to run OS/2 which ironically now has the best range of software, both commercial and free/shareware, that it has ever had.
This seems to happen every time a new Windows OS comes out, the press feels a need to proclaim that OS/2 is dead. The people who use it every day must be happy with it. There are a few of us. Why the press feels the need to beat up our OS, I don’t understand. The fellow who wrote this ignored the information he was provided on the current progress in the OS/2 marketplace and said just that it hasn’t been updated since 1996 which is not in fact true.
By the way, despite the perception that 32-bit code is “better”, 16 bit code often runs faster than 32-bit code, so there isn’t much reason to replace it if it doesn’t have other limitations.
If you want to find out more about OS/2, visit http://www.os2ezine.com
Great… now I can get a Blue Screen Of Death while I’m withdrawing 20 bucks from my checking account as well as when I’m trying to read the news online or get my e-mail. Any (and I mean any) OS would be better for devices like ATMs than Windows (any kind). And oh yes! I so want to have to wait for some stupid movie trailer to play before the cash comes out of the ATM… Damn, why won’t someone put Bill Gates out of *our* misery!
Oh, users want to watch movies and surf the web on ATMs, huh?
What a crock. No, you NCR dumbasses, users want to reliably perform
things like withdrawing and depositing money from/to their accounts, etc.
If they want to watch the latest annoying Disney trailer, they can go to
a damn theater!
Oh, and US government? Please get off your ass and PUNISH Micro$oft
for being the monopoly they are. Jeez!
OS/2 is alive & well I my machine. No Linux or Windows here.
Yes ladies from a contact heard this fact, ATM market saturated, so they need new business and customers are not upgrading (OS2 is solid enough) so the idea is you need XP so update and to do so buy new ATM :-).
those people that claim that os/2 is dead should transport themselve back in
time to 1491 and claim the world is flat, or proclaim that they are computer
illerate. These Windoze believers are the ‘true belivers’ who will keep the
computing industry in it’s dark ages forever