IBM OS/2 Beta Panel Chat

 (#1,Irv Spalten [IBM]) Welcome, today we have 4 members of the OS/2 development organizationhere. Shon Saliga, Ross Cook, Jack Boyce, and Laura Sanders. You may

(#1,Irv Spalten [IBM]) ask any question of any one, and we will redirect if necessary. (#1,Irv Spalten [IBM]) I ask that the IBM'ers hold thier questions to the end. (#1,Irv Spalten [IBM]) To ask a question, you issue a /QUE and you will be put into a queue. (#1,Irv Spalten [IBM]) When you are done with the question, place a GA at the end so (#1,Irv Spalten [IBM]) we know.

(#1,Irv Spalten [IBM]) Shon, would like to say a few words...

(#3,IBM OS/2 Beta Panel) (Shon) Thank you for joining us this evening. We are looking forward to a (#3,IBM OS/2 Beta Panel) candid session. As you may know, we have just shipped our latest Beta driver (#3,IBM OS/2 Beta Panel) which contains much of the feedback received from the first Beta driver. (#3,IBM OS/2 Beta Panel) In addition, we have modified our CompuServe Forum to list the problems that (#3,IBM OS/2 Beta Panel) you will identify in this Beta and our development status for those problems. (#3,IBM OS/2 Beta Panel) Our experience with the Beta program has been outstanding. We are very (#3,IBM OS/2 Beta Panel) fortunate to have had exceptional participation from many (#3,IBM OS/2 Beta Panel) of you. So let's get started. (#1,Irv Spalten [IBM]) OK, we are ready... (#1,Irv Spalten [IBM]) First question please

(#13,David Hutt) I have a question regarding AS/400 DDM support for OS/2 (#13,David Hutt) Is AS/400 Distrubuted Data Management supported on OS/2, and if so, does the (#13,David Hutt) Os/2 side support both target and source? (#13,David Hutt) GA

(#3,IBM) (Jack) OS/2 2.1 will be supported as an improved AS400 client (#3,IBM) via RUMBA for OS/2 as well as Communications Manager/2. This (#3,IBM) will be based on improvements in 2.1 and follow-on announcements (#3,IBM) from AS400. Does this answer your question? GA

(#13,David Hutt) Yes. I believe so. Just for the record the goal that I am seeking: (#13,David Hutt) Since OS/2 and large size Ps/2 systems could now be used as in-store (#13,David Hutt) processors (instead of AS/400's), it would be neat to use an OS/2 (#13,David Hutt) file server as the source DDM and the IBM 4680 controllers to use (#13,David Hutt) the existing target DDM support. (#13,David Hutt) GA

% Moderator recognizes question #4 Tony Valenti (20)

(#20,Tony Valenti) I would like to know the status of the C++ Class Libraries. Have the Libraries (#20,Tony Valenti) been updated on the March PDK? Will there be further updates soon? (#20,Tony Valenti) TV

(#3,IBM) (Laura) Yes, but I don't have the specific details of which (#3,IBM) classes were updated but this is discussed in the new PDK. GA

% Moderator recognizes question #6 Larry [GCP] (9)

(#9,Larry [GCP]) I'm very concerned about the overall stability of the 2.1 betas. From (#9,Larry [GCP]) what I've seen so far, there's a *very* long way to go before this code is (#9,Larry [GCP]) ready to ship. (#9,Larry [GCP]) I was never able to get the 12/92 beta installed, and after running the (#9,Larry [GCP]) 3/93 (498G) for the last week, when I lost my OS/2 partition for the 4th (#9,Larry [GCP]) time last night, I gave up on this cut of the 2.1 beta. (#9,Larry [GCP]) While it shows great potential, and the windows 3.1 compatibilityy (#9,Larry [GCP]) shows great promise, it's just not stable enough to be usable ... yet. (#9,Larry [GCP]) How is IBM going to insure that the customers will receive a usable (& (#9,Larry [GCP]) stable) product when 2.1 does ship when the "last public beta" is so (#9,Larry [GCP]) shakey? ga

(#3,IBM) (Shon) Fortunately, not all of our users have had this level of (#3,IBM) difficulty in using the current Beta. My entire development team (#3,IBM) (>250) developers have this installed throughout the center. (#3,IBM) I am aware of some problems relating to the recent INI file update (#3,IBM) which we incorporated into this Beta in order to improve system (#3,IBM) stability size of the INI files and performance. It was important (#3,IBM) this set of problems in the GA product and our experience in the Beta (#3,IBM) fortunately has identified a set of problems that we are pursuing (#3,IBM) agressively and therefore will be fixed in the GA product. Our (#3,IBM) ship decision for OS/2 2.1 will clearly be based on the feedback from (#3,IBM) our customers, Beta testers, large ISV's, internal testing, and will (#3,IBM) be shipped when it's ready. If you have specific problems in the (#3,IBM) development of your applications, please use the CIS forums to report (#3,IBM) your problems and we will take appropriate action. GA

% Moderator recognizes question #7 Alan Able (15) (#15,Alan Able) Thank You...and Happy 1St Birthday for OS/2 2.0 (and Thanks for all the hard work)...My question follows... (#15,Alan Able) Well, Happy 1st birthday to OS/2 2.0! Thsanks to all the hard work from the (#15,Alan Able) development staff...I am quite pleased with the technical capabilities of (#15,Alan Able) OS/2/exit (#15,Alan Able) I am interested in development of OS/2 WPS applications using SOM and C++. (#15,Alan Able) Understanding that the PDK's are shipping with BETA code,,,what type of (#15,Alan Able) support is planned for SOM bindings for C++? What kind of time frame? GA

(#3,IBM) (Ross) We are committed to support the C++ SOM bindings for the (#3,IBM) Workplace shell in OS/2 2.1 and the associated toolkit. We are (#3,IBM) currently testing that support. Thanks for the Happy Birthday. GA

% Moderator recognizes question #8 Mark Addleman (42)

(#42,Mark Addleman) When can we expect to see WpS enabled applets? I'm not looking for increased functionality, just something to show off to my Mac-centric (#42,Mark Addleman) Oops (#42,Mark Addleman) When can we expect to see WPS enabled applets? (#42,Mark Addleman) I'm not looking for increased functionality, just something to show off to my Mac-centric friends :) (#42,Mark Addleman) Also, what can we expect in the future regarding increased WPS functionality? (#42,Mark Addleman) GA

(#3,IBM) (Laura) We are assessing the best of the bunch right now. (#3,IBM) Stay tuned. GA

% Moderator recognizes question #9 Ronald S. Woan (12)

(#12,Ronald S. Woan) When do you think 2.1 upgrade pricing and distribution details (#12,Ronald S. Woan) will be made public, i.e. will the 2.1 upgrade be sold directly (#12,Ronald S. Woan) or through retail outlets? (#12,Ronald S. Woan) GA

(#3,IBM) (Laura) Upgrade will be made available through all channels. Pricing (#3,IBM) and distribution will be released to channels prior to GA at (#3,IBM) and contained in the announcement. GA

% Moderator recognizes question #10 Eric Pinnell (29)

(#29,Eric Pinnell) I am not a happy camper. I too am very disappointed by (#29,Eric Pinnell) beta 6.498. My concern is with the beta testing procedures (#29,Eric Pinnell) being used. I have been told that internal testing at IBM (#29,Eric Pinnell) would spot the seroius flaws. Obviously, based on (#29,Eric Pinnell) what I have seen of 6.498, this is not the case. EVERY single (#29,Eric Pinnell) other ISV I have ever beta tested for (literally dozens of (#29,Eric Pinnell) firms) sends out regular betas to small groups of outside (#29,Eric Pinnell) testers to make sure the bugs are worked out. the issue isn't (#29,Eric Pinnell) whwther a beta works in the lab, it is whether not not it works (#29,Eric Pinnell) on the users machines. Given this fact, when is IBM going to adopt this policy (#29,Eric Pinnell) so that we can see stable beta releases? GA

(#3,IBM) (Jack) We exploit every opportunity to test this Beta in every (#3,IBM) environment we can think of. That includes ISV's, OEM's, large (#3,IBM) customer sites, internal testing, and the Beta programs. A Beta (#3,IBM) program is meant to identify problems in code that has been introduced (#3,IBM) since the previous beta. As opposed to something that constantly (#3,IBM) gets better. If this Beta was rock solid and perfect, we wouldn't (#3,IBM) give it to you for free. GA

% Moderator recognizes question #13 Leif Braeuer (ger) (8)

(#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) OK (#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) Hello, my question relates to some "multi-user" features of the WPS. First I (#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) found some *ACL* files in the dec. 2.1 beta. Are they what they seem to be? (#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) What kind of user access control will there be? (#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) At second will ther be a LAN-base WPS (a user logs into a server and gets (#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) his/her WPS) (#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) GA

(#3,IBM) (Ross) The ACL files you found in the Dec. 2.1 Beta allowed us to (#3,IBM) install over a Lan requester. As far as multiple user workplace shell (#3,IBM) we have done a lot of investigation in this area and will consider it (#3,IBM) strongly for the next release. GA

% Moderator recognizes question #14 Juan Falcon (46)

(#46,Juan Falcon) What are your plans for supporting Windows apps once the current license (#46,Juan Falcon) expires later this year?

(#3,IBM) (Jack) We have all the rights we need to continue to support (#3,IBM) windows applications for the foreseeable future. Of course, (#3,IBM) investing our time to do this will be based on the market demand for (#3,IBM) the constant evolving WIN/nn API. GA

% Moderator recognizes question #15 Carlos Barberena (43)

(#43,Carlos Barberena) OS/2 2.1 Beta looks great! Very Stable. Will there be any additional (#43,Carlos Barberena) enhancements to it including some kind of way of saving the WPS icon locations, (#43,Carlos Barberena) implementing OLE under OS/2, etc of significance that is not on the beta? (#43,Carlos Barberena) ga (#43,Carlos Barberena) GA (#43,Carlos Barberena) send (#43,Carlos Barberena) send GA

(#3,IBM) (Laura) We won't be adding any significant function prior to shipping OS/2 2.1. (#3,IBM) Our future function is currently under development. Our OLE (#3,IBM) implementation is included in that. GA (#3,IBM) (Laura) P.S. Carlos, it's great to hear about oyour positive experience. GA

% Moderator recognizes question #20 Tom Satter (61)

(#61,Tom Satter) I personally like the Beta policy (other than I haven't received (#61,Tom Satter) the March beta yet). When do you expect the GA to be ready? I (#61,Tom Satter) have heard May? It seems to me that OS/2 still does have a (#61,Tom Satter) stability problem. While I can now use OS/2 for days with no (#61,Tom Satter) problem, that is mainly because I have learned what to stay (#61,Tom Satter) away from. One of OS/2's biggest selling points is that it is (#61,Tom Satter) a stable (protected) environment. It is possible to write a (#61,Tom Satter) 20 line program that will lockup OS/2 completely (no Ctrl-Alt-Del (#61,Tom Satter) even.) Sure, the program had bug (called WinCreateStdWindow with (#61,Tom Satter) a null anchor - or some such thing) but this is exactly why OS/2 (#61,Tom Satter) uses the protected mode of the '386 - to trap such mistakes and (#61,Tom Satter) halt the offending process rather than die. Does the 2.1 March (#61,Tom Satter) beta address an stability issues? Thanks! (Also, thanks for (#61,Tom Satter) all of the hard work. OS/2 is a great O/S!)  GA (#61,Tom Satter) GA

(#3,IBM) ((Shon) Yes, the March Beta has a number of fixes that address (#3,IBM) stability but we know we are not done yet. We will ship GA when it's (#3,IBM) ready. GA

% Moderator recognizes question #21 Brian Bonner (45)

(#45,Brian Bonner) 3. What IBM programs are available to assist folks in bringing new OS/2 type products to market??? For example, if we create tools that (#45,Brian Bonner) are not developed in C or C++, but REXX... (#45,Brian Bonner) Brian (#45,Brian Bonner) I've got the new 6.498 beta. It's better than the other's (I had numerous lockups before. Now it's only limited to a few...) (#45,Brian Bonner) Did you get that? GA (#45,Brian Bonner) GA

(#3,IBM) 3. Brian, there are programs to help assist folks to bring OS/2 (#3,IBM)   products (#3,IBM)   to market. The DAP - Developers Assistance Program. (#3,IBM)   Enter GO OS2DAP onCompuServe to register and get more information.

% Moderator recognizes question #22 Garnett Gleim (32)

(#32,Garnett Gleim) How long will you be supporting OS/2 2.0, subsequent to (#32,Garnett Gleim) 2.1's release? We have numerous remote sites that are (#32,Garnett Gleim) using 2.0 for very important production applications. An (#32,Garnett Gleim) upgrade path to higher versions of OS/2 is quite a large (#32,Garnett Gleim) undertaking for us. GA

(#3,IBM) (Laura) OS/2 2.0 will be supported via IBM Service for approximately (#3,IBM) two years from it's general availability. We are aware that moving to (#3,IBM) the next level of the operating system takes time and want customers (#3,IBM) to be comfortable with their investment. New function will be exploited (#3,IBM) only in new releases. GA

% Moderator recognizes question #24 Ken Wohlferd (16)

(#16,Ken Wohlferd) What do you see as the competition for OS/2, and how will 2.1 help? GA

(#3,IBM) (Laura) The competition OS/2 is varied based on environments. 2.1 (#3,IBM) continues OS/2's standing as both an excellent server and client (#3,IBM) solution. Specific improvements in 2.1 includes support for Windows (#3,IBM) 3.1 application, additional extensive new hardware support and (#3,IBM) performance improvements. We have also put alot of effort into (#3,IBM) responding to customer environments regarding the stability of the (#3,IBM) product. 2.1 has many new features too numerous to detail here. Is (#3,IBM) there a specific one you are interested in? GA

% Moderator recognizes question #25 Tony Valenti (20)

(#20,Tony Valenti) I am very pleased with the latest beta, although I did have some install (#20,Tony Valenti) problems which seemed to be related to my Trident SVGA. I am surprised (#20,Tony Valenti) that it is now working nicely in 1024x768 seamless. I will soon be (#20,Tony Valenti) trying the 8514 driver because all our production machines use 8514. (#20,Tony Valenti) Will there be a new version of the 8514 driver in the near future? (#20,Tony Valenti) (PS.. Thanks for all the good improvements...hope you are having fun too! (#20,Tony Valenti) ga

(#3 Frank - IBM) We have a 8514 seamless driver available for the March Beta. (#3 Frank - IBM) You can get it here on CompuServe in the PSPBETA FORUM (#3 Frank - IBM) library. ga.

% Moderator recognizes question #26 Larry [GCP] (9)

(#9,Larry [GCP]) I'll pass at this time. Thanks for a great OS!

% Moderator recognizes question #27 Axel Salomon (60)

(#60,Axel Salomon) Hallo. I have more than question ... (#60,Axel Salomon) 1. Will there be an intermediate Service Pack for OS/2 2.0 or do (#60,Axel Salomon)   we have to wait for OS/2 2.1 to be release (i mean a secend one) (#60,Axel Salomon) 2. When do you plan to release foreign Language versions of OS/2 2.1 ? (#60,Axel Salomon)   At the same time, shortly after or months later (german version ?) (#60,Axel Salomon) 3. The current DDK lacks a lot of information and looks like a quick (#60,Axel Salomon)   build. (when) will there be a next release ? (#60,Axel Salomon) 4. Even though 1993 will be the year of OS/2 2.x 32bit Apps. Will there (#60,Axel Salomon)   be a PDK with LOTS (!!!) of (small) samples on it, to help writing (#60,Axel Salomon)   new apps. including SOM+WPS, Win..., Gpi... and other Funktions ? (#60,Axel Salomon) 5. What are your plans on Multimedia and the current HW-Support ? (#60,Axel Salomon) My OS/2 2.1 works fine. i am very impressed. (#60,Axel Salomon) tahnk you very much for your strong support (DAP, etc) (#60,Axel Salomon) GA

(#3,IBM) (Laura) We plan service for 2.0 independent of 2.1. Our national (#3,IBM) language versions of OS/2 2.1 are targetted for concurrent release (#3,IBM) with US for all but DBCS products. Next DDK is being updated now. GA

% Moderator recognizes question #28 Leif Braeuer (ger) (8)

(#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) OK (#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) My questions. Will 2.1 be available on CD-ROM (as announeced for 2.0)? (#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) Will ther still be any (thunked) 16 Bit code, or can we call it finally (#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) puer 32-bit ? (#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) (Oh yes. OS/2 is a really good OS ! Keep on with this.) (#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) GA

(#3,IBM) (Laura) Yes, it will be available on CD-ROM. Some thunked code still (#3,IBM) exists. GA

% Moderator recognizes question #29 Juan Falcon (46)

(#46,Juan Falcon) What are your plans for supporting Windows apps once the current license (#46,Juan Falcon) expires later this year? (#46,Juan Falcon) Will the release of the GA 2.1 be affected by the release of NT? NextStep? (#46,Juan Falcon) Solaris? Also, will we see a "portable" OS/2? In my company, scalability is (#46,Juan Falcon) what makes our management go for Unix OSs instead of OS/2.

(#3,IBM) (Shon) You may have seen many recent articles regarding our future (#3,IBM) direction relative to Workplace OS which is a portable/scaleable (#3,IBM) operating system which supports OS/2 apps, Windows apps, DOS apps, (#3,IBM) UNIX apps. We demoed this at Fall COMDEX and plan additional (#3,IBM) demonstrations and Beta's this year. GA

% Moderator recognizes question #30 Vincent DeSanto (10)

(#10,Vincent DeSanto) Are you aware that installation for MS DOS 6.0 contains instructions for removing OS/2 from your hard drive? Any comments? I think that (#10,Vincent DeSanto) dirty. GA

(#3,IBM) (Shon) We are aware and appreciate your concern. GA (#34,Ross Cook) Yes, I have heard this. (#34,Ross Cook) GA

% Moderator recognizes question #31 Jeroen Frijters (21)

(#21,Jeroen Frijters) When will OS/2 be Pentium-optimized? (#21,Jeroen Frijters) As OS/2 is leading tech. software it should be able (#21,Jeroen Frijters) to take advantage of leading tech. hardware. (#21,Jeroen Frijters) GA

(#3,IBM) (Jack) We are currently working our Pentium-optimization into the (#3,IBM) OS/2 product. Some will be in 2.1 and some in follow-on releases. GA

% Moderator recognizes question #34 Bruce Beatty (40)

(#40,Bruce Beatty) I need your Help...We designed a new application using OS/2 and Ripps last fall. (#40,Bruce Beatty) We have tested it under 12/92 Beta and it runs well. We need to impliment this (#40,Bruce Beatty) new application by early June, 1993. Based upon what I have heard there is only (#40,Bruce Beatty) a slim chance. What is your best guess (90+%) of a final release date??? (#40,Bruce Beatty) June??? July??? August??? I need to tell my users something??? (#40,Bruce Beatty) Thanks Bruce from Walt Disney World.... (#40,Bruce Beatty) GA

(#3,IBM) (Shon) We are targetting for release as soon as possible based on (#3,IBM) Beta feedback and final testing. I would be very surprised and (#3,IBM) disappointed if this was as late as August. Say hi to Mickey.

% Moderator recognizes question #35 Michael Hoodes (59)

(#59,Michael Hoodes) What is a REAL reasonable memory for running Windows Apps. I have 8Mb ram (#59,Michael Hoodes) and start with an 8Mb swapper. If I run 2 Win apps and PRINT (TRUETYPE) I go (#59,Michael Hoodes) past the 8Mb (9.5 ...). Will this change in GA, OR should I add 6-8Mb more (#59,Michael Hoodes) RAM? (This is on 2.1 4.698 and previous levels.) I don't forsee replacing (#59,Michael Hoodes) my Windows apps very quickly. BTW: I love OS/2 and WPS!!! Thanks. (#59,Michael Hoodes) GA

(#34,Ross Cook) It all depends on how much response you want from your system. (#34,Ross Cook) And how much memory these 2 applications really need.GA

% Moderator recognizes question #36 John Navas (38)

(#38,John Navas) What is the status of resolving the compatibility problem (#38,John Navas) between OS/2 and Phar Lap's TNT extender, which is used in (#38,John Navas) new Windows tools from Microsoft like MASM 6.1 and Visual (#38,John Navas) C++ 1.0. Phar Lap claims that the problem is a bug in OS/2. (#38,John Navas) I first reported this to IBM some months ago but so far have (#38,John Navas) not been able to get a definitive response. GA (#34,Ross Cook) No one here right now knows anything. Do you have an APAR numberr? (#34,Ross Cook) GA (#34,Ross Cook) Navas, I was just corrected: we are in fact working (#34,Ross Cook) with Phar Lap right now on this.GA

% Moderator recognizes question #38 Ken Wohlferd (16)

(#16,Ken Wohlferd) Thanks for the 2.1 positioning answer. (#16,Ken Wohlferd) Next question: How do you see Portable OS/2 and Pink fitting in? (#16,Ken Wohlferd) As new releases for OS/2 or new products? The press has been saying that (#16,Ken Wohlferd) OS/2 is a dead end because of these products. I can assume that you don't agree? (#16,Ken Wohlferd) GA

(#34,Ross Cook) We are looking into adapting Taligent technology into OS/2 (#34,Ross Cook) but none of this will happen in the near future. (#34,Ross Cook) At least no significant changes to the current (#34,Ross Cook) operation you know and love. A portable version of OS/2 (#34,Ross Cook) is a very interesting point but there are lots of (#34,Ross Cook) problems there - mostly in how do we continue (#34,Ross Cook) to support existing 16-bit applications with (#34,Ross Cook) good performance. (#34,Ross Cook) GA

% Moderator recognizes question #39 Leif Braeuer (ger) (8)

(#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) Whats about new file systems ? Will there may be support for other filesystems (#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) For example Microsoftfs NTFS or UNIX NFS. Somewhere I heared of using a object (#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) oriented filesystem in the next release (someone mentioned Lotus Notes). (#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) GA (#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) I think there is still a gap between the WPS and OS/2 (#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) GA

(#3,IBM) (Ross) Our file server that we implemented on the Workplace OS (#3,IBM) includes support for memory Mapped files. We will continue to develop (#3,IBM) new technologies and introduce them both in our operating systems.GA

% Moderator recognizes question #40 Jeroen Frijters (21)

(#21,Jeroen Frijters) I know it is possible to add a menu-item to the (#21,Jeroen Frijters) desktop menu. But, I would like to see it possible (#21,Jeroen Frijters) to remove an item from the desktop menu (specifically: (#21,Jeroen Frijters) arrange icons). (#21,Jeroen Frijters) GA

(#3,IBM) (Jack) While it is not possible to remove the arranged menu item, (#3,IBM) using the Workplace user interface. You can do this by sub-classing (#3,IBM) the desktop class and removing the menu item with one of the methods. GA

% Moderator recognizes question #41 John Navas (38)

(#38,John Navas) A combo ( sorry :) disk question: (#38,John Navas) When can we expect native OS/2 disk compression? (#38,John Navas) Will it be compatible with DOS 6.0 (which I expect to be (#38,John Navas) When will OS/2 provide true removable media support for (#38,John Navas) devices like SyQuest drives (preferably compatible with DOS)? (#38,John Navas) GA

(#3,IBM) (Ross) Many vendors are working on products for OS/2 disk compression. We are supporting these vendors (#3,IBM) and expect them to release their products soon. Not in OS/2 2.1 but (#3,IBM) we are pursuing incorporating disk compression in OS/2. DOS 6.0 (#3,IBM) disk compression is a question of installing on top of DOS as opposed (#3,IBM) to compressing OS/2 files. We are evaluating the DOS 6.0 compression (#3,IBM) and how compatable it is with other operating systems including OS/2. GA

% Moderator recognizes question #42 Brian Bonner (45)

(#45,Brian Bonner) What is the best way for suggestions for OS/2 2.X enhancements to hit IBM? (#45,Brian Bonner) It seems that in this fast paced world, the old methods are too slow... (#45,Brian Bonner) I have placed suggestions on the PSPbeta, but I sometimes feel like they (#45,Brian Bonner) have gone into a black hole. It would be nice if there was a list kept (#45,Brian Bonner) somewhere of the suggestions that you received, the one's you will implement (#45,Brian Bonner) and the ones you won't. Perhaps you can even use a vehicle like this to (#45,Brian Bonner) Vote on them (#45,Brian Bonner) Here are some excerpts of the suggestions: (#45,Brian Bonner) Perhaps share OS2TOOLS and nurture them for the user community. Two (#45,Brian Bonner) good examples are NETFOLD and PRIVF. These make it nice to shield people (#45,Brian Bonner) from messing w/ the underlying system (hide the command prompts, etc.) - great (#45,Brian Bonner) for kids... (#45,Brian Bonner) Be nice to have the FORMAT for Drive A (and any drive for that matter appear (#45,Brian Bonner) in the Window List. I am formatting diskettes, while I use WINCIM, w/ (#45,Brian Bonner) Excel and Word in the background, waiting for me to finish my paper... (#45,Brian Bonner) Minimizing all of the windows to find your format is done is a pain... (#45,Brian Bonner) Locking down the Icons on the WPS (the question seen earlier...)  Avoiding the (#45,Brian Bonner) sort problem.  Guy Scharf suggested INTRCPT, but it may not do what I need. (#45,Brian Bonner) Enabling the Launching of WPS apps via DDE.  In other words, when I launch a (#45,Brian Bonner) App, like Excel by double clicking on a data icon, I would NOT like to (#45,Brian Bonner) launch another copy by clicking on another excel data icon.  I want it to put it (#45,Brian Bonner) in the ALREADY running APP...Right now if I want to work w/ Data Icons, it takes (#45,Brian Bonner) too long to load up a Windows session for each app to get the kind of protection I want. (#45,Brian Bonner) I would like to take advantage of the Crash protection and interact with the (#45,Brian Bonner) WPS through DATA instead of APPS...please help. (#45,Brian Bonner) Did you get the message I send about Suggestions? and the black hole? (#45,Brian Bonner) I was busy editing the message when my number was called. Serves me right for (#45,Brian Bonner) typing so much. (#45,Brian Bonner) It would be nice to keep a log (file somewhere) of suggestions that people make (#45,Brian Bonner) and if and when IBM will work on them. Right now it appears that they go (#45,Brian Bonner) into a black hole, never to be seen again. My suggestions are mostly user (#45,Brian Bonner) interface questions... (#45,Brian Bonner) 1. Perhaps products from OS2TOOLS can hit the public more quickly (i.e PRIVF (#45,Brian Bonner) and NETFOLD)

(#3,IBM) (Laura) We capture suggestions from the forum and feed that into the (#3,IBM) OS/2 Product Plan. We have initiated with this Beta a feedback mechanism (#3,IBM) and will consider using the same feedback mechanism for product (#3,IBM) enhancements. GA

(#1,Irv Spalten [IBM]) The OS2TOOLS stuff is processed individually by employees

% Moderator recognizes question #43 Rick Arabian (26)

(#26,Rick Arabian) I am currently writing a true OS/2 2.X multi-user BBS. (#26,Rick Arabian), I have had trouble cmmunicating through two com ports at bps rates above 2400, is IBM working to improve this or should (#26,Rick Arabian) I write My own stuff?, HELP?!?!

(#3,IBM) (Jack) If you are protect mode application this should work just fine. (#3,IBM) There are some problems on slow machines with non protect mode (#3,IBM) applications. We are pursuing all communication problems agressively (#3,IBM) in the this product. If you have a particular problem, please (#3,IBM) describe this on the Beta forum. GA

% Moderator recognizes question #44 Bruce Beatty (40)

(#40,Bruce Beatty) Ref O/S 2 2.1 GA (#40,Bruce Beatty) If GA is not till August I may drop OS/2 and redo my application (#40,Bruce Beatty) Is there any chance for May, June or July??? Mickey needs this Application... (#40,Bruce Beatty) Thanks...Bruce... (#40,Bruce Beatty) GA

(#3,IBM) (Shon) ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!! Once again we would be happy to go over (#3,IBM) your specific customer scenario. GA

% Moderator recognizes question #45 Tony Valenti (20)

(#20,Tony Valenti) Some people find the recommendation to format before installing OS/2 (#20,Tony Valenti) on top of previous betas onerous and intimidating. Why don't you (#20,Tony Valenti) publish (in a readme?) a procedure for manually deleting OS/2 (#20,Tony Valenti) to prepare for an install without losing programs/data? (This way (#20,Tony Valenti) one could use the MS DOS6 delete procedure for a good cause!) (#20,Tony Valenti) ga

(#3,IBM) (Jack) There are several sharware programs that support back up and (#3,IBM) restore of WPS objects that could be used. While in some cases (#3,IBM) installing over previous Beta's may work, we choose not to support this. GA

% Moderator recognizes question #46 Leif Braeuer (ger) (8)

(#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) Just to return to filesystems. Do you think about extending HPFS with links (#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) (the feature I like so much on the WPS). And second will there be a HPFS (#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) support for removeable medias like Syquest or the IBM Optical drives. (#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) GA (#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) And just another question. The format of the OS2.INI has changed. How (#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) do I migrate my 2.0GA desktop to 2.1 (#8,Leif Braeuer (ger)) GA

(#3,IBM) (Jack) Last question first. When you install the shipped 2.1 product (#3,IBM) it will automatically migrate your 2.0 GA desktop. (#3,IBM) HPFS and FAT will be modified to support removable medias including (#3,IBM) Syquest and IBM Optical drives. GA

% Moderator recognizes question #47 John Navas (38)

(#38,John Navas) I find that the OS/2 system is too hard to restore from back up for my (#38,John Navas) clients. Are there any plans to make it simpler to save/restore (#38,John Navas) critical system files to/from media like tape? (We have tried and (#38,John Navas) rejected Sytos, which required a new OS/2 install before we could (#38,John Navas) restore, and that a kludge workaround to restore system files in use.) (#38,John Navas) When will OS/2 provide true removable media support for devices like (#38,John Navas) SyQuest drives (preferably compatible with DOS)? GA (#38,John Navas) Amend SSyQuest question to WHEN?

(#3,IBM) (Laura) Yes, we plan to improve our backup/restore utility. GA

% Moderator recognizes question #48 Ken Wohlferd (16)

(#16,Ken Wohlferd) Speaking of stuff I would like to see in OS/2: (#16,Ken Wohlferd)  The ease of use items are high on my list. The CONFIG.SYS is worse than (#16,Ken Wohlferd)  DOS, and that was pretty bad. (#16,Ken Wohlferd)  MAKEINI is a clumsy was to recover my system. OS/2 needs built-in recovery. (#16,Ken Wohlferd)  The Backup/Restore process is a pain, booting from diskettes and all. (#16,Ken Wohlferd) I presume these won't be fixed in 2.1? Should I be pushing for 2.2? (#16,Ken Wohlferd) GA

(#3,IBM) (Jack) The INI file changes made in the recent 2.1 Beta are intended (#3,IBM) to address the problems that cause you to do a MAKEINI in the first place. (#3,IBM) We recognize the set of problems that you have described here and will (#3,IBM) adress the problems in this and future releases of OS/2. GA

% Moderator recognizes question #49 Brian MacDonald (19)

(#19,Brian MacDonald) I'd like to know what the plans are for SOM bindings for (#19,Brian MacDonald) languages other than C++, ie. SmallTalk. Any hints on when (#19,Brian MacDonald) I can expect to see them, ie. 2.1, 2.2 ....  (#19,Brian MacDonald) GA

(#3,IBM) (Jack) DigitalK Talk has publically stated that they will support SOM (#3,IBM) bindings in their products. We will pursue any language binders that (#3,IBM) supply any competitive advantages. GA

(#1,Irv Spalten [IBM]) Thanks folks, it has been fun... 