The OS/2 Awareness Page

By Jason Weill

Welcome to my OS/2 Awareness Page. I created this page to show everybody all of the reasons why OS/2 is your best bet for a desktop operating system. Since I started this page, I've received hits and feedback from people from all corners of the world. This page has even been listed in OS/2 Magazine (Oct. '96 issue, page 13). I'd like to give my thanks to all those who've supported me. Now, on with the web page!

A Little Disclaimer...
I don't work for IBM or any of its associated companies. I'm just an end-user who's happy about OS/2 Warp but disappointed by IBM's failure to promote it to the public. So, while some of the arguments in here may be biased, realize that I'm not being paid to do this.

Introduction
In the computer world, marketing is everything. Between their shrewd marketing techniques and their enormous advertising budgets, Microsoft has managed to invade millions of computer users. However, all the money you're spending so that Bill Gates can have a heated driveway could be used to buy OS/2 Warp. OS/2 Warp 4 is currently shipping. You'll get the same reliability and solid performance as with previous versions, plus even more. Talk to your computer. Connect like never before. Use your favorite DOS, Windows, and thousands of native 32-bit programs in perfect harmony. And if mere words can't convince you, see what IBM's users have to say about their experiences with OS/2.

OS/2: You've Probably Already Used It
Surprisingly, most consumers have already come into contact with OS/2. Have you ever ordered food from Kentucky Fried Chicken? Have you ever used an Automatic Teller Machine? Have you ever flown on an airplane? These, plus even more tasks such as renting videos from Blockbuster Video, were made possible with IBM's Operating System/2. You'll be pleased to know that OS/2 is prevalent in the business world as well as on personal computers, with a combined userbase of tens of millions of users worldwide. Has someone told you that OS/2 is dead? Far from it. OS/2 is alive, well, and constantly growing.

But what about Windows 95?
Its performance isn't all that Microsoft would have you believe. Many interface, multitasking, and all-around performance improvements can be found in OS/2. To preserve compatibility with older 16-bit applications, Windows 95 has a relatively high amount of 16-bit code. Also, don't be fooled by products that say "Designed for Windows 95" on the box. Check the system requirements carefully; most of those programs are just Windows 3.1 programs that run under Windows 95. Needless to say, if it runs under Windows 3.1, you can run it under OS/2. Windows 95 has a devious disguise that makes all your Windows 3.1 applications look like they were written for Windows 95 by merely replacing the graphical aspects of the window (title bar, minimize button, eXit button, etc.) with Windows 95 ones. In addition, Microsoft plans to "phase out" Windows95, forcing users to move to the resource-hungry, totally unnecessary power of WindowsNT, all at a price of around $300. For around $130, you can upgrade to OS/2 Warp 4 instead. If you'd like to know more about why OS/2 is a better buy than WindowsNT, IBM has published a comparison of the two operating systems on the Internet. For more information on OS/2 providing companies, keep on reading for more hypertext exposure on OS/2 Warp.

An Introduction to Team OS/2
I'd like to proudly announce that I'm a member of Team OS/2. Team OS/2 is an informal club of people who promote OS/2. There's no membership fee, no formal meetings, and most of the people who join live in different states, or even different countries. We exist to show the end-user and business alike that OS/2 has a strong presence out there, and encourage everyone to join in. Have you considered OS/2, but were told that it was "dead"? Dispelling these rumors is an important goal that Team OS/2 is working to achieve.

OS/2: More Than Meets The Eye
When you buy OS/2, you don't just get a powerful, flexible, and fun operating system. You get a lot of useful and powerful, 32-bit applications. IBM calls it the BonusPak, and it's included right inside your OS/2 Warp package. Os/2 also includes great new features that make your computer not only powerful to work on, but fun. With Microsoft, you have to spend even more money to get their "Plus Pack". Why spend hundreds more to get special applications now that you've upgraded? Here's what you'll get in all:
 * Voice Type Dictation -- OS/2 Warp is the first major Intel-based operating system with built-in speech recognition. You can even navigate the Internet completely by voice, in any of six different languages.
 * Java Integration -- Create, compile, and run graphical Java applications on the Internet or right on your desktop. Again, IBM integrates and innovates.
 * Unmatched Connectivity -- IBM pushes the envelope with unprecedented opportunities to connect your system, whether it be to your co-worker's desk or anywhere else in the world!
 * The Internet
 * Dial-in capability for IBM Global Network, or use your own provider. No need for proprietary services that you can't delete from your hard drive, like the Microsoft Network.
 * FTP sites now appear as folders on your desktop. You can drag files out of an FTP site onto your hard disk for extremely easy file transfers.
 * All your favorite Internet activities, like surfing the web, are made easy with OS/2 Warp 4. In fact, for all you Netscape users out there, you're in luck. Netscape for OS/2 is currently available for download. In conjunction with all the other features that OS/2 has to offer, you'll be glad you chose it for your power computing needs.
 * Remote Access -- Two OS/2 users can call each other up and compute together. If you're having minor problems, an OS/2 technician anywhere in the world can dial up your system and help you out. Of course, they can only dial in when you say so.
 * Fun and Games
 * New schemes -- OS/2 Warp 4 comes with all sorts of backgrounds and color schemes. You can even use the background of this web page. In addition, OS/2 comes with sound schemes, which let you not only see, but hear nature, the ocean, and other environments.
 * Multimedia support -- listen to music and sounds, or record your own. OS/2 supports all popular multimedia formats, including WAV files, GIF and JPEG graphics, and lots more.
 * Settings for DOS games -- OS/2 comes with settings for hundreds of DOS and Windows games, so you can run all the programs you used to. Of course, if you need to, you can temporarily switch back to DOS.
 * Getting Down to Business -- Included with OS/2 are several applications which harness OS/2's power and flexibility to get the most out of your computer. And look for Lotus SmartSuite for OS/2 coming out soon.
 * IBM Works -- a suite of programs suitable for any home or small-business environment. Includes:
 * Word Processor
 * Spreadsheet
 * Charting
 * Database
 * Personal Information Manager
 * FaxWorks for OS/2 lets you send faxes right from your desktop.
 * HyperAccess/Lite is a flexible communications program.
 * And more!

Microsoft's Anti-Competitive Ways
Have you bought a new computer recently? Chances are, it came with a Microsoft operating system. The most common, of course, is MS-DOS, with tens of millions of users. Other similar, but lesser-known DOS's such as DR-DOS and IBM's PC-DOS, sell far fewer copies. Microsoft's anti-competitive practices are at least partially to blame for this. Caldera purchased the rights to DR DOS (originally made by Digital Research) and is suing Microsoft for its anti-competitive practices. More comprehensive information is explained in a lengthy press release available on-line. Hopefully, this will be one step further on the quest to make Microsoft safe for capitalism.Would you believe that Microsoft, with about 5 of every 6 computers in the world running their software, would program their software not to install completely under OS/2? Testimonial evidence has shown that Microsoft Excel won't install its tutorial completely when it detects OS/2. For the advanced user, there is a workaround for this problem; for the novice, it means more worries.In the web browser world, competition is heating up between Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. At the same time, anti-trust claims are being made by Netscape that Microsoft is unfairly forcing web servers to use its software. Here's how it works. Netscape's web server will run on WindowsNT and the more expensive and powerful WindowsNT Server. However, the new version of WindowsNT will only support 10 simultaneous connections, which simply isn't enough for a web server. Therefore, users have to upgrade to WindowsNT Server, which comes bundled with Microsoft's web server software. So, if an administrator still wanted to use Netscape's server, they'd be effectively paying for two servers: theirs and Microsoft's. I'll keep you posted on this new probe.Another allegation made against Microsoft recently is that it's offering incentives for computer makers to include only Microsoft Internet Explorer on new computers. Behind Netscape's back, Microsoft is making illegal, anti-competitive inroads into the browser world. Now, I have nothing against friendly competition, but when it gets to Microsoft's level, I draw the line.Knowing what you know now, do you still want to give Microsoft more and more of your money, when prices are coming down everywhere else in the computer world? It's your choice.

Turning the Tide
If you're looking for a powerful, flexible operating system that manages your Internet applications, your DOS programs and your Windows programs all in one convenient, low-priced package? You can order great OS/2 products and systems by heading on over to Indelible Blue. My good friend Michael "The PianoMan" Lueck has a company that assembles workstations and servers running pure Warp. If you'd like see what he has to offer, head over to Lueck Data Systems. If you want to see a program or device supported in OS/2, jump over to the OS/2 Petition Page and voice your opinion. Thousands have requested versions of all kinds of programs for OS/2, and the companies are listening. Help us in our fight against the Microsoft monopoly!