Submitted by Although it has not been formally announced, the eComStation 2.2 beta live CD has been released. This is not a complete version – eComStation isn’t free – but it does give you an impression of what this continuation of OS/2 looks like and how it works. Registration is required.
In other words, please stop giving rise to exclamations about the price of this OS-even the academic/educational ‘discount’ is painfully stretching the concept.
I really want to love this successor to OS/2 but it’s a love I simply can’t afford to indulge in.
(“E-by-gum” is a typically Yorkshire, though now somewhat old-fashioned, way of expressing shock or surprise).
http://www.ecomstation.com/product_info.phtml?url=nls/en/content/to…
What the heck do they mean by “in contrast to Linux”
I’d love to see just how much this OS can scale “in contrast to Linux”
Multi-threading
In contrast to for instance Linux, eComStation offers standard support for ‘multi-threading’. Multithreading is a very efficient way of using computer resources for a single application (process), by executing multiple application sub-tasks simultaneously.
Multi-threaded programs are mostly showing a very good responsiveness.
Yeah, I was going to post something similar. I think that must be from 2001 or so. The current threading implementation for linux, NPTL, was introduced in 2.6 in 2003.
I don’t the dig at windows on that same page. Windows had been multi-threading decently for a *long* time before that was written.
Home and Student $149 !!!
Seriously??
They have to pay royalties to IBM and Microsoft thus the price.
Ah, so yet another hidden Microsoft tax. I thought the rights were transferred over to this company? IBM and Microsoft still get cuts? I mean, it’s not like they didn’t both long since abandon it themselves once Windows took off…
Edited 2013-03-01 06:39 UTC
Actually no, IBM still helps develop eComStation
Which isn’t much more than the cost of Windows 8. When you think about it, it’s pretty impressive that they managed to keep the prices so low. They don’t have a large customer base to recoup their investment on, which is important for a for-profit company.
Man, they peddle pretty old tech. I have no idea how things are where you live but in my country, trying to keep alive something like and old Pentium machine can be rather costly because there are no new spare parts being produced. Memory for that thing would be pricey, heck, anything would cost a lot if you even manage to find what you need.
I’ve the feeling that it’s the same thing with OS/2 / eCommStation
Hi!
I’m long time user of os/2 and ecomstation – and I’m really dissapointed with what’s happening recently in our garden
How the morons from mensys/serenity could issue a demo cd of “better OS” with flash 5!!!! mozilla plugin?!
IN 2013?!!!!
These morons (yes I take responsibility for my words) spend those limited resources and programers time to cripple down OS – so that it cannot be installed on hard disk…. just like if someone really cares to bother with installing such a piece of junk.
The full OS version (2.X) are almost unusable – lack of wifi drivers, lack of accelerated video drivers for any decent video chipset, lack of working java plugin (iced tea is picky and in most cases useless)- lack of working up to date flash plugin (yeah – they got “almost working” win version wrapper – for which to download they require to buy extra support option… as well as for qlitchy and buggy port of open office (just imagine to pay for open office….))
They just behave like IBM – but they are not – they are just a bunch of greedy assholes with no vision of future for OS – or with a KLEIN vision to point that namely….
Wheter there’s a need to port anything bigger and usefull (qt, java and recently new mozilla ports) they start to raise a funds – or better to say – suck a blood of those sentimental grandpas with to much money in their pocket’s
Absolutely no decent bug support or fixing, no plans for future, no nothing. Just smiles and deluding of those who still think there are 90′ of XX century…
No 64 bits in sight no new native apps…
So beware – don’t buy that shit – don’t download that shitty democd. If you don’t now what to spend your money on – then better get a hooker – it will at least provide your some kind of satisfaction…
but ecomstation won’t
I’d like to say I’t all loud and clear on os2world forum but since the site fuc*ed up last fall, I’m no longer registered user so I can not comment – and OF COURSE registration doesn’t work
– just quess why?) – yes the site is powered by ecomstation – “modern and better OS”
If people want a true alternative to OS/2 and eComstation I always point people to OS4. Its a great Linux distribution and as far as Im concerned the best desktop Linux distribution. http://www.os4online.com instead of buying an outdated OS, help support a modern OS, thats more featureful, up to date and offers 32 and 64 bit. Instead of $149.00 how about $19.99
“Our” garden?
How?
How much do you need, son?
Sorry to disappoint you, but I won’t heed your advice.
“It”?
Tell me more of your experiences.
I’m sorry to hurt your unsentimental feelings – I’m very satisfied with eCS.
I do understand your pain. How about finding your satisfaction in English classes offered by your nearest Volkshochschule?
Thank goodness that econstation is not teh only way to get a taste of OS/2.
Back in July 2000 IBM gave away OS/2 Warp 4 for free in the Australian Personal Computer magazine. Copies of this have found there way online, IBM also keep a public ftp server open with various OS/2 updates (fixpacs) there is even some warpzilla content there also. The thinkpad install discs (called 1 and 2) are also hosted on lenovo’s drivers site, there is a still active community around OS/2 with some communit members even now porting apps to the platform
Installing OS/2 is not particular easy, but is possible on older machines (ideally a p2 thinkpad…)
so if you really want to give it a try , install it on an older machine… it could be teh most malware resistant OS out there….
It certainly was nice in its day. I bought a machine with OS/2 pre-installed from Indelible Blue back in the day.
One of the many advantageous traits that distinguish true OS/2 and eCS users is their calm patience.
Hence, I don’t need a Live Demo CD.
While not being true eCS users, the clowns nevertheless are funny when talking English (and silly when talking their native German tongue).
Just a thought – does anyone know what happened to OSFree?
Its sourceforge page seems to be up still: http://sourceforge.net/projects/osfree/?source=navbar
but the original dedicated site appears to have become defunct around 2010(?):
http://www.osfree.org/
and there’s this rather incompletely written set of information on it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Reiknir/OsFree
Given the high cost of eComStation it might even be a better (or more ethical?) bet to divert money to this effort – were it to prove still to be alive.
However, since MrMysteryGuest has indicated that there may be ways to obtain the OS/2 experience other than via eComStation, perhaps that hope is rather a vain one.