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WebSite Information => Article Discussions => Topic started by: Saijin_Naib on 2008.07.04, 02:10:12

Title: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: Saijin_Naib on 2008.07.04, 02:10:12
Sounds sick! I guess I may have to pony up the cash and try it out....
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: saborion2 on 2008.07.04, 07:33:28
Quote from: Saijin_Naib on 2008.07.04, 02:10:12
Sounds sick! I guess I may have to pony up the cash and try it out....

Ha Ha! I am forever waiting to try it (eComStation 2.0) out on a 90's "DOETSCH" IBM Mini Note Book.  ;D ;D ;D

Regards.

SAB

Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: Saijin_Naib on 2008.07.10, 01:21:45
Purchased today, dissapointed to find out that the whole renewal process isn't automated and immediate. I need it for later tonight -_-
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: StefanZ on 2008.07.10, 11:32:46
...but it IS worth it, isnt it?   :D
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: Blonde Guy on 2008.07.10, 17:36:09
Quote from: Saijin_Naib on 2008.07.10, 01:21:45
Purchased today, dissapointed to find out that the whole renewal process isn't automated and immediate.

This is pretty frustrating to me as an eCS reseller, too. I can automate all I want, but it just hooks into the same manual process that you went through.

But the rc5 is better in many ways. I hope end-users wanting pre-loaded computers will accept rc5 as a good platform. Actually, for many machines rc4 was a good platform, too.
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: Saijin_Naib on 2008.07.10, 21:31:19
I don't know if it's worth it yet, the money I spent on the SSS is the money I had set aside to get a new PSU for my desktop as my current PSU bit the dust a little too hard. I'll find out after next pay cycle if RC5 was worth it or not ;P
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: saborion2 on 2008.07.10, 21:53:46
Quote from: Saijin_Naib on 2008.07.10, 21:31:19
I don't know if it's worth it yet, the money I spent on the SSS is the money I had set aside to get a new PSU for my desktop as my current PSU bit the dust a little too hard. I'll find out after next pay cycle if RC5 was worth it or not ;P

Yawn...... Guess that we all have heard story that goes like this - "While the grass is growing the horses are starving". So, the question is: Should one really invest their "hard to come" cash (due to the economic situation in the country) in a product that is not yet Generally Available (GA) and would have assumed that the "Saijin_Naib's et al" ought not to pay for a product that is still being tested and without knowing "if it's worth it yet"!  8)

Regards,

SAB
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: RobertM on 2008.07.11, 23:55:50
Quote from: saborion2 on 2008.07.10, 21:53:46
Quote from: Saijin_Naib on 2008.07.10, 21:31:19
I don't know if it's worth it yet, the money I spent on the SSS is the money I had set aside to get a new PSU for my desktop as my current PSU bit the dust a little too hard. I'll find out after next pay cycle if RC5 was worth it or not ;P

Yawn...... Guess that we all have heard story that goes like this - "While the grass is growing the horses are starving". So, the question is: Should one really invest their "hard to come" cash (due to the economic situation in the country) in a product that is not yet Generally Available (GA) and would have assumed that the "Saijin_Naib's et al" ought not to pay for a product that is still being tested and without knowing "if it's worth it yet"!  8)

Regards,

SAB


Or like he said, he can make that determination after he checks out RC5... the fact that the RCs support more hardware and up to 64 CPUs/cores (without the expense of the "Server Pack") is incentive enough for me - but my needs are probably different than his.

Robert
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: Saijin_Naib on 2008.07.12, 00:13:46
I need:

Full hardware support, reasonable stability, speed. That's about all. eCS is my toy OS, I have XP for what I really need. I just hope that this RC improves on the others, so far there has been a pretty positive trend of improvements with each RC (or atleast I think so). I am very tempted to get a Sylvania gBook (new Everex Cloudbook) to have as a wifi device I can carry because I often find myself in want of some music or internet on the fly, and I'm most certainly not brining my ATX tower around with me. If I do get one, eCS is going to live there and have to function well otherwise its XP or gOS.

I really want to see these four issues resolved: Integrated SMB Networking (or atleast fix the anomalies I had with Peer working/not working), eSchemes properly working, new round of IOPROCS for image/audio/video, and DHCP that can function with both WLAN and LAN at once without requiring a reboot.
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: RobertM on 2008.07.12, 02:51:21
Well, for those who have been asking and didnt read the announcement...

Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: BigWarpGuy on 2008.07.12, 03:28:00
I am looking forward to the 'shortly afterward'.  ;D
8)
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: Saijin_Naib on 2008.07.12, 05:56:44
Do we get burnt/printed media when it goes GA? I don't know about you, but with all the money I've spent on eCS thus far I'd like to have more to show for it than a few burnt ShopRite CDs with my scribble on them. You know what I mean? DVD jacket, nice printed cover front/rear, printed discs, paper manual in the inside clips. I'd really like that.

I am looking forward to trying RC5 and RC6 shortly, and am very much excited to hear that 2.0GA is finally on the way. I think this will be a very healthy thing for eCS and the OS/2 community.
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: RobertM on 2008.07.12, 06:15:18
Quote from: Saijin_Naib on 2008.07.12, 05:56:44
Do we get burnt/printed media when it goes GA? I don't know about you, but with all the money I've spent on eCS thus far I'd like to have more to show for it than a few burnt ShopRite CDs with my scribble on them. You know what I mean? DVD jacket, nice printed cover front/rear, printed discs, paper manual in the inside clips. I'd really like that.

I am looking forward to trying RC5 and RC6 shortly, and am very much excited to hear that 2.0GA is finally on the way. I think this will be a very healthy thing for eCS and the OS/2 community.

Not a clue... the eCS 1.2MR I ordered from Mensys (each set) all came in DVD boxes, with a printed DVD box cover, and two printed disks, with a printed quickstart manual inside the DVD box...
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: TheNerd on 2008.10.10, 16:13:05
Quote from: RobertM on 2008.07.12, 02:51:21
Well, for those who have been asking and didnt read the announcement...


  • One more RC is planned (yep, you guessed it, RC6)
  • RC6 is planned for August
  • GA is planned for "shortly after"

Still no RC6 and still now GA...
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: Ben on 2008.10.10, 18:50:32
TheNerd

Yes, both of those times have passed.

But, (my personal opinion here), I'd rather wait for a few of the major items, (ACPI & UniAud), to be fixed before 2.0 gets marked GA.

What this community as a whole needs, is a major, solid, release, one that will meet all the basic expectations of a GA'd OS.

OS/2 -- now eCS -- hasn't had that for a looong time. And it really turns people off to buy a new OS, not knowing what to expect, (and remember, OS/2 is very different from *nix, Windows*, or Mac), and have complications mixed in like unfinished, significant, drivers in it.

With respect to ACPI and UniAud, both have made strides in the past few months, and while I don't see them being "ready" for a little while yet, I'd like to see them both working with some degree of transparency, prior to GA.

While, like you and  most others, I do not like the waiting, I consider it the preferred trade... especially when given the option.

The bottom line is that I'd like to have at least one recent version of our favourite OS, just popped into the CD Drive and installed, without having to doctor it significantly... or at all, for the more mainstream hardware.

While it is not realistic to expect this for all available hardware, in all of the various, possible, combinations, (no OS achieves this), I'd like to see it reasonably close... or even closer... and I think, given the quality of the release candidates, that it is do-able.  :D

Later...
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: TheNerd on 2008.10.10, 22:34:18
You definitely make some excellent points there Ben. I understand and appreciate that things should be in a good working state before a full release is published.

The thing that bugs me is that I have been told, by Mensys, that RC5 was going to be the last release before GA. I was also told, 2 years ago, when I started out as a reseller that 2.0 GA was on the horizon (2 years it not the horizon IMO). Those two things combined with the lack of communication with the resellers is very frustrating. I've been contacted, on numerous occasions, by potential customers who had information that hadn't even been communicated to resellers. IMO, this information should be communicated to the resellers before (or at least at the same time) as it is communicated to the general public.

It's a point I have brought up before and I'm beginning to think it might just be a pipe dream.

Againg these are just my opinions :)

Cheerios!
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: saborion2 on 2008.10.10, 22:36:14
Re:

QuoteThe bottom line is that I'd like to have at least one recent version of our favourite OS, just popped into the CD Drive and installed, without having to doctor it significantly... or at all, for the more mainstream hardware.

While it is not realistic to expect this for all available hardware, in all of the various, possible, combinations, (no OS achieves this), I'd like to see it reasonably close... or even closer... and I think, given the quality of the release candidates, that it is do-able.   :D

I am 100% in agreement with you on this; and, the ICING-ON-THE-CAKE would be an integration of an "AUTOMATIC UPDATE" functionality for the beloved Operating System (OS/2).  ;D

This was a really neat post "Ben". Good to see that you are taking some time-off from watching your "Stock Prices" hitting the bottom.  ;)

Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: Ben on 2008.10.10, 23:13:31
Quote from: TheNerd on 2008.10.10, 22:34:18
The thing that bugs me is that I have been told, by Mensys, that RC5 was going to be the last release before GA. I was also told, 2 years ago, when I started out as a reseller that 2.0 GA was on the horizon (2 years it not the horizon IMO). Those two things combined with the lack of communication with the resellers is very frustrating. I've been contacted, on numerous occasions, by potential customers who had information that hadn't even been communicated to resellers. IMO, this information should be communicated to the resellers before (or at least at the same time) as it is communicated to the general public.

It's a point I have brought up before and I'm beginning to think it might just be a pipe dream.

I hear you, understand you and share in the frustration.

I think project completion dates have been a constant source of pain and aggravation for software developers and users everywhere.

On the one hand there is great pressure to provide a date, however vague, and on the other hand, there is the impossibility of foreseeing unknown problems that come upon both the individuals involved, and on the group as a whole.

That's why a lot of developers refuse to give out anything other than, "it will be done when it's done." One way or another, project completion times are a pain for all involved.

In the meantime...

I await completion...
                                                                     ^  ^
... and observe the observers...              /('O,O')\
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: Ben on 2008.10.10, 23:31:15
Quote from: saborion2 on 2008.10.10, 22:36:14
Good to see that you are taking some time-off from watching your "Stock Prices" hitting the bottom.  ;)

I've just been busy writing articles for my own website (http://www.self-wrighting.net/), (non-OS/2 related), and posting in my own forum (http://www.self-wrighting.net/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=87), (non-OS/2 related), where I get much more into worldly awareness than I do in my posts here, restricting the latter &  posting here only as it ties in.

Note: Most of the boards on my  forum (http://www.self-wrighting.net/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=87) are invisible to the guest. I wish to prevent, (or limit), information harvesting and one of the layers of protection is the requirement for registration. This also acts as a filter, self-restricting those who seek entertainment and allowing those who's minds are active.

Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: TheNerd on 2008.10.12, 01:44:49
Quote from: Ben on 2008.10.10, 23:13:31

I hear you, understand you and share in the frustration.

I think project completion dates have been a constant source of pain and aggravation for software developers and users everywhere.

On the one hand there is great pressure to provide a date, however vague, and on the other hand, there is the impossibility of foreseeing unknown problems that come upon both the individuals involved, and on the group as a whole.

That's why a lot of developers refuse to give out anything other than, "it will be done when it's done." One way or another, project completion times are a pain for all involved.

In the meantime...

I await completion...
                                                                     ^  ^
... and observe the observers...              /('O,O')\


I definitely understand that developers have a hard time giving dates for completion but given the nature of this software (being commercial) there should be some time constraints on the components completion, at least IMO.

With that said I'm sure it will be a great product when released.
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: saborion2 on 2008.10.12, 03:46:21
Re:

QuoteI definitely understand that developers have a hard time giving dates for completion but given the nature of this software (being commercial) there should be some time constraints on the components completion, at least IMO.

With that said I'm sure it will be a great product when released.

There is a saying that goes like this: "Good Things Come To Those Who Wait; But, Not To Those Who Wait Forever" Substituting "Great" for "Good" in this case. At this rate one could just imagine when eComStation 4 or 5 will be here; perhaps, not in my lifetime.  ::) :D ::)
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: MrJinx on 2008.10.12, 03:57:26
I think the whole problem could be easily solved.
Serenity/Mensys needs a new maintenance cost model and version system.
1. Instead of version 2.0 B1It should be 2.01, 2.02, etc.... This would help the products' status. (Who buys year to year maintenance on a beta product?..... Well I do!)

The reality is, eCS 2.0 met their original/Planned specs @ 2.0 A5. The real problem is the evolution of Hardware is driving faster than development can be performed. SATA, Installing from USB mediums, CD-ROM, Memsticks, ACPI / Basic BIOS changing quickly as well.
Network Chipsets, Wireless. Many of these things affect whether an install is going to happen or not.
I buy my yearly subscription renewal to support the effort to keep the OS viable with the constant changing Hardware environment. Mensys has done a good job of managing on a small budget to keep developers working on ACPI, USB, Shell enhancements, Helper apps, device drivers and WPS replacement components.

Every time I see a post about a user "Waiting for eCS 2.0GA" before they are going to try it. I think of another lost opportunity for both Mensys and the User posting. Needs don't get prioritized or brought to light, If you don't contribute by testing/using it on your hardware.

I use 2.0 B3 and later on production desktop devices without any issue. The newer laptops are another story......

Refer to 2.02....,2.05 as maintenance releases.
I would like to see updating of the eCS maintenance tool to better accommodate 2.0 updates and releases. Why reload or migrate a 2.04 machine to 2.05?  The yearly maintenance/ subscription services should include OpenOffice since every linux distro has it as a core application.  Mensys could generate some extra income by releasing a bootable DVD with all 3 eCS cd's merged to run, Also include the iso's to burn the 3 CD's if needed for a non-DVD based machine. I'd buy that as an extra.
$15 us + shipping and a valid eCS subscription.

There are lots of needs for eCS in general, But the only thing really slowing me down currently, Is the inability to install eCS from a USB CD-ROM/DVD.   I know it is being worked on and that's good enough for me.

Will the project ever be complete? Does it really matter? What matters is we are getting a better product with each release.
We are getting the closest thing to commercial support we are going to get for OS/2.
Serenity/Mensys gives more in each release than IBM software choice gave out over 5 years.
Things get done faster with investment, Are you investing in OS/2's future or are you waiting to renew you eCS subscription until the GA comes out?
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: saborion2 on 2008.10.12, 05:10:08
Re:

Quote"[....I use 2.0 B3 and later on production desktop devices without any issue. The newer laptops are another story......

Refer to 2.02....,2.05 as maintenance releases.
I would like to see updating of the eCS maintenance tool to better accommodate 2.0 updates and releases. Why reload or migrate a 2.04 machine to 2.05?  The yearly maintenance/ subscription services should include OpenOffice since every linux distro has it as a core application.  Mensys could generate some extra income by releasing a bootable DVD with all 3 eCS cd's merged to run, Also include the iso's to burn the 3 CD's if needed for a non-DVD based machine. I'd buy that as an extra.
$15 us + shipping and a valid eCS subscription.

There are lots of needs for eCS in general, But the only thing really slowing me down currently, Is the inability to install eCS from a USB CD-ROM/DVD.   I know it is being worked on and that's good enough for me.

Will the project ever be complete? Does it really matter? What matters is we are getting a better product with each release.
We are getting the closest thing to commercial support we are going to get for OS/2.
Serenity/Mensys gives more in each release than IBM software choice gave out over 5 years.
Things get done faster with investment, Are you investing in OS/2's future or are you waiting to renew you eCS subscription until the GA comes out?....]"

Here is my take on this - I would rather have IBM and Serentiy/Mensys deliver on an Operating System in a timely manner with dependable support services; and, here is the "deal" - you get the Open Standards IBM's Lotus Symphony for free without having to pay for OpenOffice.  8)

Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: Saijin_Naib on 2008.10.12, 10:50:57
Symphony = OpenOffice (with a different GUI) = Redundant. Speaking of, OO.org 3.0 is out and very nice, when do we get it (dare I ask?).
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: MrJinx on 2008.10.12, 18:22:45
Perhaps you could share instructions with us on installing Lotus Symphony under OS/2?
I have tried it under windows and although it works, I recall a lack of filters for other office products especially "Save as" filters.
If it works, I would love to re-open the book on porting Hanover.....eCS could really use an updated Lotus Notes client especially R8.
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: Saijin_Naib on 2008.10.12, 19:03:23
I didnt say it ran under OS/2, I said it was the same core application as OpenOffice and it would be kinda redundant to have Symphony as well as OpenOffice being worked on at the same time, especially seeing how we cant even keep our OpenOffice port timely.
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: TheNerd on 2008.10.13, 03:55:57
What we really need of OO.org and/or Symphony are a group of developers that were willing to actively maintain a port of that particular software. While I know Mensys is doing a decent job keeping a somewhat up to date port of OO.org they have to charge a fee for what is normally a free application. I understand they have to do this if they want to pay the devs to keep porting the software.

I do agree with the mention of the versioning change. It's hard to justify the yearly renewal of the SSS if there aren't any updates released for over a year. For some people access to betazone type software may not be enough.
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: saborion2 on 2008.10.13, 04:52:20
Re:

Quote from: TheNerd on 2008.10.13, 03:55:57
What we really need of OO.org and/or Symphony are a group of developers that were willing to actively maintain a port of that particular software. While I know Mensys is doing a decent job keeping a somewhat up to date port of OO.org they have to charge a fee for what is normally a free application. I understand they have to do this if they want to pay the devs to keep porting the software.

I do agree with the mention of the versioning change. It's hard to justify the yearly renewal of the SSS if there aren't any updates released for over a year. For some people access to betazone type software may not be enough.

It is for this reason in particular:

QuoteWhile I know Mensys is doing a decent job keeping a somewhat up to date port of OO.org they have to charge a fee for what is normally a free application. I understand they have to do this if they want to pay the devs to keep porting the software.

That by "re-engaging" IBM (the OEM of OS/2) in all of these development activities... there may be that "assurance" of an actively maintained
Quoteport of that particular software.

These are all the more reasons for this in that OS/2 cannot be Open Sourced because of legal and other reasons according to IBM in its response letter to the OS/2 World Foundation. So, to me it is any one's guess how much access Serenity/Mensys have to the OS/2 Source-Codes. Therefore, somethings regarding the development/enhancements of/to eComStation without IBM's involvement just do not appear logical (make much sense) to me.  ???

Best regards.
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: TheNerd on 2008.10.14, 04:52:24
I have no idea what access to the source they have but would it be unreasonable to assume that they could at least negotiate some sort of agreement to get access to it (if they don't already)?

Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: saborion2 on 2008.10.14, 05:29:11
Quote from: TheNerd on 2008.10.14, 04:52:24
I have no idea what access to the source they have but would it be unreasonable to assume that they could at least negotiate some sort of agreement to get access to it (if they don't already)?


Agreed; but, it is about time that IBM (in particular), Serenity Systems/Mensys et al say publicly what their goals and objectives (publish a mission statement sort of) - moving forward. At least with $700,000,000,000 floating around (in just one country alone) among all those that are caught up in the current global financial crisis. Simply put - the $$$ must certainly be there somewhere to entice would-be OS/2 developers. Basically, I think that they are collectively wasting other people's time when they could be making some handsome cash with those products and services..  >:(

Regards.

Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: BigWarpGuy on 2008.10.15, 05:22:48
I look forward to eCS 2.0 being released to non-soft sub'ers like myself. I am hoping it is true that one can get it on a sd card (to either run from it or install from it). It would be really neat if eCS was pre-installed on an SSD ; specifically a mini-pci-e ssd.  ;D Is there a long wait for 2.0 come out or is it 'just around the corner'?  ???      8)
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: warpcafe on 2008.10.16, 11:26:34
Hi BWG,

*ouch*
...you're poking a stick into the bleeding wounds of Mensys.  ;D

This is -sigh- an ongoing, hot topic. The last more-or-less "official" statement from Mensys was at the developers workshop where Roderick Klein basically said that all that lacks is a stable ACPI version (...looking at Eugene).

But that's only half the truth. Learning from criticism in the past, I guess Mensys now REALL wants to release something once EVERYTHING is ok. That makes the wait for 2.0GA very long. ("Better check twice..."). Also rumor has it that the product management (if that really existed as such) at Mensys wasn't "hardlined" enough, resulting in never-ending wishlist additions for the final release. But again, rumor has it that this was adressed in the meanwhile by having someone taking care of that and already making an impact.

If you're even more interested into details, take a look at Jacques van Leeuwen's comment on the presentation wishlist at the Warpstock Europe website http://www.warpstock.eu/en/agenda/wish_list.html (http://www.warpstock.eu/en/agenda/wish_list.html) (currently, it's the last one...) very interesting...

And - one never knows - perhaps there will be some official statement at this years Warpstock Europe Nov 14-16... ;)

Personally, I wonder why they aren't doing it like every other software company on this planet:
Bring out a 2.0 to calm people and gain time. Then 3 to 6 months later bring out the 2.1 (or 2.0 "SP1" - "The release that 2.0 was actually intended to become" :)
But as I said... perhaps they learned from the past and that's why they want to be on the safe-side and not play the silly release games everyone else does. But who knows? The next thing on my wishlist would be a "public relations manager" for Mensys... someone who takes care of their messed-up communication skills towards customers...

Cheers,
Thomas
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: melf on 2008.10.16, 14:26:03
Quote from: BigWarpGuy on 2008.10.15, 05:22:48
Is there a long wait for 2.0 come out or is it 'just around the corner'?  ???      8)

I use to check http://www.ecomstation.com , log in and got to bugtracker. There I click the "roadmap". Do that and you get a picture of time left. I should say there is quite a while for the RC6 to come!
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: saborion2 on 2008.10.16, 18:44:21
Re:

Quote from: melf on 2008.10.16, 14:26:03
Quote from: BigWarpGuy on 2008.10.15, 05:22:48
Is there a long wait for 2.0 come out or is it 'just around the corner'?  ???      8)

I use to check http://www.ecomstation.com , log in and got to bugtracker. There I click the "roadmap". Do that and you get a picture of time left. I should say there is quite a while for the RC6 to come!

As a long time IBM Software Business Partner I recall the times when IBM would host seminars when Business Partners would be briefed on status of the development of OS/2; and, in addition to this IBM Business Partners would call in questions regarding what enhancements they felt were most needed with respect to the OS/2 Operating System; therefore, if Serenity Systems/Mensys are worth their salt I think that they should adopt this former IBM's approach in briefing Business Partners. Additionally, it is felt that it would be "very neat" if Serenity Systems/Mensys could "explain" (for public consumption) the business relationship they currently have with IBM with regards to OS/2 similarly to the ways in which Microsoft does it when it comes to partnerships with Linux Developers/Distributors.  8)
[/glow]
It is soon going to be New Year's Eve 2009 and how far eComStation is from the horizon is anyone's guess.  >:(

Best regards.
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: rwklein on 2008.10.16, 23:29:39
Hello,

I don't make a habit of dropping by on forums (in consumes a lot of time) but seen some messages I wanted to give a reply to, and this one them I want to respond to.

One of the reasons Mensys/Serenity systems can not release a build every half a year is simple.
We also need to push all the modifications into Russian (done by eCo software), Italian, German eCS version.
Right now there is being worked very hard by volunteers to get eCS 2.0 Traditional Chinese on track again. This is now booting from and installing. We have a booting and installing eCS 2.0 Japanese. But this last version still needs a lot of translation work done. Next to that eCS versions also under go testing in the test lab at Mensys.

Next to this eCS 2.0 is the biggest overhaul on OS/2 since IBM released Warp 4 in my opinion. Its true that IBM released MCP 1 and MCP 2. But the reason for delay is because OS/2 needed a lot of catching up to keep it running on todays hardware. In broad lines what is new in eCS 2.0 ?

* Bootable JFS ? Oke but this has been running quite some time eCS and is stable.

* The Panorama VESA driver graphics driver. I use its quite stable and fast on my Thinkpad T60.

* If you check eComStation 2.0 RC 5. It has a disc resizer in it. That can resize FAT 32 and NTFS.
Still working to see how eCS works with Vista. This should be possible to fix.

* ACPI is moving forward better and better. We have +150 test reports in the eComStation database
http://ewiki.ecomstation.nl/ACPICompatibilityMatrix
With ACPI 3.12 the amount of machines working in S3 (deep sleep) state is rising very fast now.

People can say, well I can live without ACPI (and we could have shipped eCS earlier). More and more machines will not work without it. For example some machines some parts of the PCI BUS (?) are not initialized properly pci.exe will not work or some device drivers will not even load or not work. ACPI now deals with:

* Speedstepping the CPU
* Multi processor support
* hardware resource management like IRQ's etc.
* Power management.

Some mainboards in the coming time may fail with the standard PIC mode (up to IRQ 15) and APIC  (more then 15 IRQ's) mode will only work. Thats where ACPI also comes into place. And its all beginning to work better and better.
My laptop a T60 works almost completely now with suspend resume, keyboard and mouse don't work after deep sleep anymore. But video and all other devices and eCS it self are alive again. A T61 has been reported to work.

*The final details are being worked out on the Samba client and the GUI for Samba.

* Some other things new in RC 6:
By default eCS will boot with the 104a SMP kernel. This is required for ACPI and will make systems with 4 GB of RAM (some systems reboot when starting the first phase from hard disc).

RC 6 will ship with a vastly improved UNIAUD that togeheter with the UNIAUD team and a developer and Mensys has been improved especially in the area of HDA audio support.

I hope this short message gives kind of impression what is all happening.  Next this list a gigantic amount of bugs has been fixed in eCS 2.0 that has been the result of the large amount of new components that have been introduced (like ACPI).

Roderick Klein
Mensys
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: saborion2 on 2008.10.17, 00:04:06
Hi Roderick,

It is good to be hearing from you. Anyway; two questions for you...

Re:

QuoteI hope this short message gives kind of impression what is all happening.  Next this list a gigantic amount of bugs has been fixed in eCS 2.0 that has been the result of the large amount of new components that have been introduced (like ACPI).

What is the current developer/business relationship with IBM, Microsoft et al; also, what is the anticipated General Availability (GA) Date of eCS 2.0?

Thank you.

Kindest regards,

SAB
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: warpcafe on 2008.10.21, 10:33:19
Hi Roderick,

Quote from: rwklein on 2008.10.16, 23:29:39
I don't make a habit of dropping by on forums (in consumes a lot of time) but seen some messages I wanted to give a reply to, and this one them I want to respond to.

THANKS!!
I would never had hoped for a response from Mensys here and I'm really happy to see you jumped to the occasion. But... oh, why can't you guys from Mensys report such things on a more or less regular basis like once a month, for heavens sake?!
People are worried, scared, uncertain, puzzled... an nothing comes in except rumours.
You need a PR guy at Mensys, goddammit!! That would really, really, solve a lot of problems, care for tranparency and better "credibility" of Mensys. Sigh.

Thanks again for allowing a look behind the scene! Hope to meet you in Duesseldorf.

Thomas
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: BigWarpGuy on 2008.10.21, 21:31:43
The response from Mensys and Serenity Systems is very informative and very appreciated. Thanks. I am looking for foward to the GA release of eCS 2.0. I am hoping to be able to get it on a SD card.  8)
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: PAUL555 on 2008.12.20, 11:56:18

When is ecomstation 2.0 expected to be GA ?

Seems to be a very long development period between version 1.2 and 2.0 as 1.2 came out in Sept 2004. 

Paul
Title: start to lose interest?
Post by: BigWarpGuy on 2008.12.20, 17:45:56
People will start to lose interest in eCS 2.0 if it takes too long before it comes out to the general public (ie; non software subscribers). Those who might be interested in trying eCS might be put off by such a long development time. Even if it is not perfect, it would be nice to see an eCS 1.5?  ???
8)
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: melf on 2008.12.20, 18:08:33
Follow this link further and you'll get an answer,  http://www.ecomstation.org/news/read.php?record=2200

Personally I think it's wise to do a thorough "bug-go-through" before the GA release, as they do.
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: BigWarpGuy on 2008.12.20, 19:32:54
Thank you for the information and the links. I look forward to the release of 2.0 of eCS.  8)
Title: Re: eComStation 2.0 RC5
Post by: DavidG on 2008.12.20, 19:39:54
I always buy the software subscription service.  It gives me the opportunity to use the latest release in addition to allowing me to test the latest changes and fixes.  However, I can understand if someone does not want to pay any more additional money for whatever reasons they have.

This is why I run eCS on two partitions.  If I mess one partition up, I have the other to fall back on until I get my mess fixed.

David