Holy crap. Ill try and respond in turn as well as I can.
Now the API situation is more clear. I did not know that things were that muddled up behind what I see. Like you pointed out, I am simply and end user, though I think I am above average in my understanding of computers compared to most other people.
In regards to whether or not I am kidding myself about XPs performance vs OS/2... No, I am really not.
I have a modest computer. 512mb RAM, 40gb IDE drive, P4 3.06ghz (single core HT) and a FX5500. It takes windows XP 42 seconds to get to my desktop. OS/2 takes a minute 23 seconds. Windows XP can decompress and move files much faster than OS/2 seems to be able. It also deletes files faster, and I dont have to worry about is my trash can going to actually delete it, or will I have to reboot, put in blackhole and try again? Trashcan may just be an eWP/xWP issue. In terms of phyiscal memory usage, both OS are running almost EXACTLY the same ammount of RAM, and XP manages to look nicer while doing so (subjective of course).
Ive found the OS/2 WPS to be very snappy and quick, which is nice, but simple things can sometimes cause slight hangs. Now, speaking of hangs, OS/2 is very, very prone (for me) to hangs, and unresponisve apps can almost never be closed without losing the WPS responsiveness and the need for a reboot. I dont like the SIQ limitation and the freezes it can invariably cause. Ive almost made a keyboard/monitor hybrid due to something dumb locking up and losing my whole damn work environment. Simply does not happen on XP. Windows 98 and ME? Ubetcha. I <3 NT kernel for that.
In terms of backwards compatability for Windows XP, I have yet to run into an issue. I may just be lucky in that regard. In terms of OS/2, I dont even know what the apps that Im using were orignally intended for, but I am familiar with how well it handles all older applications for OS/2.
Apple is an isolated product with isolated hardware, I hardly think their example applies here when x86 hardware/software is so varied.
I beta-tested Vista and was generally happy with it. It ran most everything of mine without issue, except Sonique and AIM 5.5 with deadaim, both times I was informed of potential compatibility issues and was told of upgrades/possible fixes. That was acceptable, I did not expect sonique to work great seeing as DirectAudio was replaced in Vista.
I was under the impression that OpenOffice's lackluster performance was due to it being based mostly on Java (which isnt exactly lightning fast) and also having to use the Innotek JVM which is itself running through some sort of Windows abstraction layer or emulation through the Innotek Runtime. Full on native port of OpenOffice might prove faster, but we would need a new, native JVM for that. That aside, OpenOffice on my Xp box (I have it for the odd document format that Office XP cant recognize) is waaaay faster.
Firefox on OS/2 absolutely TANKS if any skins or addons are applied to it. Its to the point where its not even browsable. Im guessing its something to do with how PM renders graphics or calls to the display adapter.
In terms of long-term performance, I have had this XP install for almost 2 years without incident or noticble degradation in performance. However, OS/2 gets re-installed very often due mostly to my lacking OS/2 skill and also partly to its tendency to get bogged down and just generally slow for, to me, unbeknownst reasons. Id love to see a JFS degrament utility to see if this is the issue at hand, or if its .ini bloat or some other OS/2 weirdness that may very well be my fault.
Never thought on why Windows apps were large, it never really is a concern. I have more than enough space for all my productivity software and documents, ideally, all I should be doing. However, my large collection of my photos, music, videos, and games take up an inordinate ammount, and I am fairly certain they would do so no matter the OS.
You dont paint a rosy picture for getting any windows applications to work under OS/2. I had no idea it was that difficult. I assumed that the similar nature of windows and OS/2 would lend some ease to the process, but my knowledge is not worth much in this regard. Again, how does WINE do it then?
As for the hardware issues, you cant blame MS for hardware vendors not having current drivers. Im fairly certain hardware drivers for OS/2 Warp 3 do NOT work for OS/2 Warp 4, and I dont think this driver issue is exclusive to MS operating systems.
For software that is old running on XP, I use photoshop 7 or above, after affects 6.5 or above, Office XP and above, AIM 5.5 and above, Steam, Winzip, Sonique, Nero, and PowerDVD. Also Minitab, Adobe Reader (wish Lucide ran on windows, its so friggin fast), DC++ and ABC for torrents. Thats my software package, same as it was on Windows 2k Pro, same as it was on Windows ME and 98se when I had them. I (personally) have NOT had issues with windows backwards compatability, and I think (to me) its better than apple launching the classic emulation environment when you want to load something. Its a friggin chore on my friends Imac when I want to use Aliens V Predator. Again, I guess Im that ONE windows guy thats lucky and doesnt have issues...
Im fairly certain Apple forces upgrade cycles as well, as would IBM if they hadnt stopped OS/2 oh, 13 years ago. I called IBM for some questions on getting Warp4 to install and 4 different tech reps didnt even know what OS/2 was. Yeah, IBM really sticks with their product.
Ive run XP Sp2 on its absolute minimum requirements, IE, my craptop. My Compaq Presario 1240. I cant even get eCS (2.xx) to install properly on it, though 1.2mr does MOSTLY work, but only after a tedious process of transferring updates and drivers to it via floppy because USB is broken until god knows how many updates are applied. Also, no NIC drivers for my PCMCIA cards, so no broad-band network loving for updates there.
I also had a 486 computer with 16mb of ram runnign windows 95 for a good 3 years. Never let me down (well, not until the power supply bit it). That came after the Warp 4 aptiva we had bit the dust hard.
As for MS bashing, I guess its okay, but I really dont see why. It seems to be the same shit from every company, IBM and MOST especially Apple. They are a heinous bunch... They are, after all, companies, and the bottom line is really all that figures in. I donno, for me, I have had the best experience on Windows. Started with Mac, never again. Went to OS/2, liked it, it died, went to Windows. Now Ive been Windows since 3.11 and Im keeping it. It has my productivity software, it has my games, and it has my drivers for print/scan and everything else I want, my media players (hardware) included. I want OS/2 because of a touch of nostalgia, and beacuse its a bit different and I like how it works, though I cant really put my finger on it. However, it does not have the hardware support I need, it can NOT run the games I want, it lacks in the MTP/PTP department, and as of yet, can NOT print to my printer or acquire images from my scanner, thus rending it useless to me as a productivity, multimedia, or gaming platform. What does that leave it as? Web browsing and hobby OS. :\ I paid a crapload (for a college student budget) to have only a hobby OS. I have yet to find a decent image editing suite (I almost got Photoshop 7 to run in Odin), OpenOffice does not cut it for productivity, MrMessage is coming along so my socialization is there, no games really run, and I am terrified of updating my hardware because I fear that OS/2 wont run. I want to rebuild on a Core2duo with a lot of ram, and a pretty 7950GT and a Western Digital Raptor X drive. Why? Cause its going to flyyy and I can finally game at over 15fps. Im tired of only running Quake3 moderately well and CS 1.6 well. Im done being stuck in 2000. However, I fear that if i get this new hardware, my investment in eCS will be in vain because it will most likely not install or run properly.
This all however, was beside my orignal point.
I want Win32 API compatability, I suspect others do as well. I am not a programmer, and so I guess I have gone far past my usefullness in this regard. I think Odin should be revived with a bounty, but Im not sure how to go about starting a bounty with an achievable goal. The impression I get is that its too hard and should be left where it is. I see that as another nail in the coffin for keeping eCS attractive. Like it or not, the modern consumer wants a flashy UI (PM is definately dated in this regard), out of the box hardware support (eCS is spotty here), program support for their favorite apps (wealth of OpenSource in Linuxes, and WINE apps too, OS/2 is however lacking severely) and a good user experience (I like the WPS alot). Id like to see OS/2 succeed, it holds a place in my heart and my wallet, and any competition always yields better products.
Please note, its 4am for me, so I may or may not have rambled beyond comprehension. I apologize.
Now the API situation is more clear. I did not know that things were that muddled up behind what I see. Like you pointed out, I am simply and end user, though I think I am above average in my understanding of computers compared to most other people.
In regards to whether or not I am kidding myself about XPs performance vs OS/2... No, I am really not.
I have a modest computer. 512mb RAM, 40gb IDE drive, P4 3.06ghz (single core HT) and a FX5500. It takes windows XP 42 seconds to get to my desktop. OS/2 takes a minute 23 seconds. Windows XP can decompress and move files much faster than OS/2 seems to be able. It also deletes files faster, and I dont have to worry about is my trash can going to actually delete it, or will I have to reboot, put in blackhole and try again? Trashcan may just be an eWP/xWP issue. In terms of phyiscal memory usage, both OS are running almost EXACTLY the same ammount of RAM, and XP manages to look nicer while doing so (subjective of course).
Ive found the OS/2 WPS to be very snappy and quick, which is nice, but simple things can sometimes cause slight hangs. Now, speaking of hangs, OS/2 is very, very prone (for me) to hangs, and unresponisve apps can almost never be closed without losing the WPS responsiveness and the need for a reboot. I dont like the SIQ limitation and the freezes it can invariably cause. Ive almost made a keyboard/monitor hybrid due to something dumb locking up and losing my whole damn work environment. Simply does not happen on XP. Windows 98 and ME? Ubetcha. I <3 NT kernel for that.
In terms of backwards compatability for Windows XP, I have yet to run into an issue. I may just be lucky in that regard. In terms of OS/2, I dont even know what the apps that Im using were orignally intended for, but I am familiar with how well it handles all older applications for OS/2.
Apple is an isolated product with isolated hardware, I hardly think their example applies here when x86 hardware/software is so varied.
I beta-tested Vista and was generally happy with it. It ran most everything of mine without issue, except Sonique and AIM 5.5 with deadaim, both times I was informed of potential compatibility issues and was told of upgrades/possible fixes. That was acceptable, I did not expect sonique to work great seeing as DirectAudio was replaced in Vista.
I was under the impression that OpenOffice's lackluster performance was due to it being based mostly on Java (which isnt exactly lightning fast) and also having to use the Innotek JVM which is itself running through some sort of Windows abstraction layer or emulation through the Innotek Runtime. Full on native port of OpenOffice might prove faster, but we would need a new, native JVM for that. That aside, OpenOffice on my Xp box (I have it for the odd document format that Office XP cant recognize) is waaaay faster.
Firefox on OS/2 absolutely TANKS if any skins or addons are applied to it. Its to the point where its not even browsable. Im guessing its something to do with how PM renders graphics or calls to the display adapter.
In terms of long-term performance, I have had this XP install for almost 2 years without incident or noticble degradation in performance. However, OS/2 gets re-installed very often due mostly to my lacking OS/2 skill and also partly to its tendency to get bogged down and just generally slow for, to me, unbeknownst reasons. Id love to see a JFS degrament utility to see if this is the issue at hand, or if its .ini bloat or some other OS/2 weirdness that may very well be my fault.
Never thought on why Windows apps were large, it never really is a concern. I have more than enough space for all my productivity software and documents, ideally, all I should be doing. However, my large collection of my photos, music, videos, and games take up an inordinate ammount, and I am fairly certain they would do so no matter the OS.
You dont paint a rosy picture for getting any windows applications to work under OS/2. I had no idea it was that difficult. I assumed that the similar nature of windows and OS/2 would lend some ease to the process, but my knowledge is not worth much in this regard. Again, how does WINE do it then?
As for the hardware issues, you cant blame MS for hardware vendors not having current drivers. Im fairly certain hardware drivers for OS/2 Warp 3 do NOT work for OS/2 Warp 4, and I dont think this driver issue is exclusive to MS operating systems.
For software that is old running on XP, I use photoshop 7 or above, after affects 6.5 or above, Office XP and above, AIM 5.5 and above, Steam, Winzip, Sonique, Nero, and PowerDVD. Also Minitab, Adobe Reader (wish Lucide ran on windows, its so friggin fast), DC++ and ABC for torrents. Thats my software package, same as it was on Windows 2k Pro, same as it was on Windows ME and 98se when I had them. I (personally) have NOT had issues with windows backwards compatability, and I think (to me) its better than apple launching the classic emulation environment when you want to load something. Its a friggin chore on my friends Imac when I want to use Aliens V Predator. Again, I guess Im that ONE windows guy thats lucky and doesnt have issues...
Im fairly certain Apple forces upgrade cycles as well, as would IBM if they hadnt stopped OS/2 oh, 13 years ago. I called IBM for some questions on getting Warp4 to install and 4 different tech reps didnt even know what OS/2 was. Yeah, IBM really sticks with their product.
Ive run XP Sp2 on its absolute minimum requirements, IE, my craptop. My Compaq Presario 1240. I cant even get eCS (2.xx) to install properly on it, though 1.2mr does MOSTLY work, but only after a tedious process of transferring updates and drivers to it via floppy because USB is broken until god knows how many updates are applied. Also, no NIC drivers for my PCMCIA cards, so no broad-band network loving for updates there.
I also had a 486 computer with 16mb of ram runnign windows 95 for a good 3 years. Never let me down (well, not until the power supply bit it). That came after the Warp 4 aptiva we had bit the dust hard.
As for MS bashing, I guess its okay, but I really dont see why. It seems to be the same shit from every company, IBM and MOST especially Apple. They are a heinous bunch... They are, after all, companies, and the bottom line is really all that figures in. I donno, for me, I have had the best experience on Windows. Started with Mac, never again. Went to OS/2, liked it, it died, went to Windows. Now Ive been Windows since 3.11 and Im keeping it. It has my productivity software, it has my games, and it has my drivers for print/scan and everything else I want, my media players (hardware) included. I want OS/2 because of a touch of nostalgia, and beacuse its a bit different and I like how it works, though I cant really put my finger on it. However, it does not have the hardware support I need, it can NOT run the games I want, it lacks in the MTP/PTP department, and as of yet, can NOT print to my printer or acquire images from my scanner, thus rending it useless to me as a productivity, multimedia, or gaming platform. What does that leave it as? Web browsing and hobby OS. :\ I paid a crapload (for a college student budget) to have only a hobby OS. I have yet to find a decent image editing suite (I almost got Photoshop 7 to run in Odin), OpenOffice does not cut it for productivity, MrMessage is coming along so my socialization is there, no games really run, and I am terrified of updating my hardware because I fear that OS/2 wont run. I want to rebuild on a Core2duo with a lot of ram, and a pretty 7950GT and a Western Digital Raptor X drive. Why? Cause its going to flyyy and I can finally game at over 15fps. Im tired of only running Quake3 moderately well and CS 1.6 well. Im done being stuck in 2000. However, I fear that if i get this new hardware, my investment in eCS will be in vain because it will most likely not install or run properly.
This all however, was beside my orignal point.
I want Win32 API compatability, I suspect others do as well. I am not a programmer, and so I guess I have gone far past my usefullness in this regard. I think Odin should be revived with a bounty, but Im not sure how to go about starting a bounty with an achievable goal. The impression I get is that its too hard and should be left where it is. I see that as another nail in the coffin for keeping eCS attractive. Like it or not, the modern consumer wants a flashy UI (PM is definately dated in this regard), out of the box hardware support (eCS is spotty here), program support for their favorite apps (wealth of OpenSource in Linuxes, and WINE apps too, OS/2 is however lacking severely) and a good user experience (I like the WPS alot). Id like to see OS/2 succeed, it holds a place in my heart and my wallet, and any competition always yields better products.
Please note, its 4am for me, so I may or may not have rambled beyond comprehension. I apologize.