Guest post by bww bitwise works GmbH announced the availability of OpenOffice.org 4.1.1 for OS/2 and eComStation. It is offered as a free download in several languages like English, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Dutch and Russian. An important piece of software for users of this operating system.
Pretty funny, and unexpected. Still nice to see. OpenOffice started its life as StarOffice which was most popular on OS/2, so this is sort of a homecoming?
its this kind of work that helps grant credibility to niche OS.
Arguably OS/2 is now as capable as linux as an office machine. Mordern browser and modern office suite.
Well done for the work involved!
Edited 2015-01-08 09:45 UTC
If there are drivers and software for all of the printers, scanners, fax machines, security systems, phone systems, cameras, and other devices that people use in the office… And the ability to network properly with other computers and servers… Not to mention meeting legal and contractual security requirements (actual laws such as HIPAA that are a matter of Civil Rights) that apply to many office computers.
Otherwise your statement might be a slight exaggeration.
Sure, we can say that OS/2 is missing some drivers but printers, scanners, security systems are mostly IP this days and …”Fax machines”… do you really require a fax machine?
I was just listing off random and common business appliances. Yes, we still have a fax. No, I don’t often use it.
Missing some drivers? LOL!
I’ve purchased, installed, and used a hundred or more pc-connected accessories and appliances over the last year at work. Printers and plotters, scanners, calculators, cameras, PDAs, door locks, weather stations, GPSes, projectors, card readers… Not one of them came with OS/2-compatible drivers or software.
Maybe they all would “just work” via the operating system’s internal capabilities? That’s sometimes the case in Linux; common drivers are downloadable or included with the OS distribution, and generic drivers can provide some functions.
you see, the Firefox is v. 24 on eCS-OS/2 and the USB stack a little… outdated, as for the drivers, well , I think most of the dialup modems and parallel printers can run well there !
Oh an OS doesn’t support your specific needs or every need you deem it should.. Lets give up on it then shall we?!
The OS might not meet Your needs but do a bit of research and see how widespread it’s usage still is. Look at the reasons why it’s still used. Maybe you’ll learn something.
I’m not really sure a site dedicated to alternative OS is really the best place for you if you view the world of computing like you appear to..
Oh? Turns out I’m a huge fan of alternative operating systems, vintage hardware, and obsolete software.
But I also understand what it takes to be a functional operating system in a modern office environment.
You say OS/2 will function as an office computer. I say it won’t. Attacking my level of hobby devotion isn’t going to advance this discussion beyond that impasse.
In fact I could be quite wrong. Perhaps you could detail your own experience with OS/2 and how well it integrates with the business machines and electronic peripherals found in your office; how OS/2 is compliant with HIPAA and other laws; and if it meets the computer security standards that are established at most schools, organizations, and corporations.
In the meantime, I’m downloading the most recent demo and see what luck I have with a few common, name-brand, critical office-type devices (Nikon camera, Epson scanner, and HP printer). Maybe I’ll be eating crow by this evening.
I was going to write a mini-review of the eComStation demo, but it’s so crippled that my observations wouldn’t be accurate or useful. The LiveCD contains few drivers, no apps, printing is disabled, it can’t read any drives, and it can’t be installed to a physical drive. So in the end, after an hour of fiddling and exploring, I came away still not knowing if eComStation 2.2 is compatible with any hardware. Not much of a demo IMO.
It seems that eComStation users are expected to track down and install all of their own drivers and manually install any desired apps from third parties. Not that different than installing Windows 98, but pretty poor in today’s world of Linux distros. But even so you cannot install any software or drivers into the LiveCD OS.
From the eComStation website:
It’s been almost two years…
I believe there is a CUPS port available.
Absolutely, for the modern office of the 80s….
OK, so how many users are left of OS/2 and eComStation? Can’t believe it’s enough to justify anything new ported to it. Plus when did support end for OS/2 – 10+ years ago? So no security/bug fixes during that time…
I just seems a bit of a waste of porting effort that could have gone into producing OpenOffice for actually actively used/supported platforms (such as mobile platforms: Android, iOS, Windows Phone etc.). Yes, I know there’s an Android OpenOffice port (“AndrOpen Office”), but it’s not really a mobile app (it expects you to have a mouse for one thing – yes, desktop menus on it!).
Edited 2015-01-10 18:41 UTC