OS/2 Warp Monthly Newsletter. Volume 1 - June 1995

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OS/2 WARP MONTHLY NEWSLETTER VOLUME 1: JUNE 1995


Welcome to the OS/2 Warp Monthly Newsletter

The Internet and cyberspace in general is a steadily growing presence in everyone's lives. (Chances are that it's already a presence in your life or you wouldn't be reading this.) People are flocking to the Internet to get their news in a more personal, less formal and traditional manner. For example, earlier this year Tabor Griffin Communications created a daily electronic newsletter chronicling the events at the G7 Ministerial Conference where many countries discussed the Global Information Infrastructure. In the entertainment world, IBM hosted a cybercast that provided people from 140 different countries a virtual backstage pass to the Grammy Awards. Video jockey, Adam Curry, conducted on-line backstage interviews with the presenters and the award winners.

The breadth of information available on the information highway is both overwhelming and alluring. Just as people sometimes think of major cosmopolitan cities, the Internet offers just about anything anyone could want. There are home pages for music groups, businesses, individuals; there are news groups on practically all imaginable topics and even the chronicling of very personal passages and events. The Internet even provides a medium for viewing art work and photography. If you hook up a multimedia computer to the Internet, it can also provide movie and music previews as well as recaps of sporting events. There is one home page on the Internet that even demonstrates the dissection of a frog.

Obviously, cyberspace is an extremely potent communication vehicle that is becoming more powerful each day. (The Internet is growing at the rate of 10% per month.) For IBM, it provides additional ways for us to connect with our customers and potential customers. This new monthly newsletter is yet another means for IBM to share with you. We want to provide perspectives on an ongoing basis about the OS/2 Warp brand of products such as OS/2 Warp, IBM LAN Server and other related products. We also want to help you get more out of your computer. If you aren't using OS/2 Warp, we want to convince you of its power and virtues. If you are using OS/2 Warp, we want to make sure you are getting the most out of it.

The different sections of the newsletter cover a wide variety of topics. Our Electronic 'Scapes section will review useful and interesting Internet sites. The User Power section will feature various types of users and their experiences with OS/2. Additionally, the newsletter will cover product tips, Insights from IBM executives and other prominent members of the computing community, Solutions for a Small Planet, Entrepreneurs and businesses who depend on OS/2 and interesting OS/2 shareware as well as commercially available applications.

Each month we will feature a relevant topic. This month we are featuring OS/2 Warp Connect, IBM's newest OS/2 product, soon to be available worldwide. This new offering combines all the software in OS/2 Warp with a broad spectrum of connectivity software in one convenient, easy-to-install package. One article explains the rationale for producing a connectivity package and the other article provides some background on the peer networking environment.

Two additional features of getting information through cyperspace are that the communication can be two-way and it's easy to pass the information on to others. We want to know what you think of this newsletter. We provide the Internet ID of most of our contributors and we will all be glad to get mail from you. There's a survey at the end of the newsletter too. Also feel free to pass this newsletter on to others.


Jeri Dube

Stardock Systems: OS/2 from the Ground Up

by Steve McNally

Stardock Systems Inc. (SDS) is a leading developer of native OS/2 multimedia applications. Developers there have been working to exploit the power of OS/2 and demonstrate its ability to be a superior gaming platform. They are now marketing three impressive software packages, two highly advanced games and a suite of helpful mini-apps for OS/2, which take full advantage OS/2's 32-bit, multithreading, multitasking capabilities.

Galactic Civilizations was built from the ground up to utilize OS/2's power. It's an advanced space-based strategy game where you, as the player, have the goal of spreading humanity throughout the cosmos. You have at your disposal control of your civilization's economic, military, social and technological powers. To achieve your goal, you'll have to deal with alien civilizations, merchants, scientists and eligible voters everywhere in the galaxy (the election campaign funds needed would boggle the mind).

The game begins in the near future with you and 50,000 of your closest colonist friends being transported through a wormhole to another galaxy billions of light years from Earth. It's up to you to befriend the several native civilizations (which are no more advanced than your own), develop new technology, and defend yourself from those civilizations where diplomatic means fail. The game ends if you are destroyed, destroy all the other players, form a united galaxy or advance technologically to the point of omnipotence (a problem we here at the NetWire have been dealing with for years).

Stardock System's own Artificial Intelligence Engine employs the multithreading function of OS/2 to allow the computer players (who act as actual strategy game players) to operate in the background. This makes for a more "real-time" game because the aliens are making their moves at the same time you make yours. Other advanced features are full Multimedia Presentation Manager (MMPM/2) support including digitized sound, MIDI music and Ultimotion video, Multiple Resolution Presentation Manager which enables the game to be played at any resolution, and Advanced Module support which allows plug in modules by 3rd parties to add to the game.

SDS' Entrepreneur is akin to a Monopoly game after drinking too much coffee. A player begins by choosing either Engineering, Science, Marketing or Business as their area of expertise. The player then chooses whether to sell computers, automobiles or softdrinks (These are the three currently available modules. More are in the works).

The object of the game is to grow your company, through successful research and development, production and marketing and sales, to the point of having a 90% marketshare in your field or controlling all the markets worldwide. Entrepreneur also employs SDS' multithreaded Artificial Intelligence Engine to act as the opposing players (You can also play against other human players. There is no real limit to the number of capitalists you can pit yourself against in this game).

OS/2 Essentials is a mini-application suite of enhancements for OS/2. It includes an advanced file manager (Dir Master), Screen Saver 2.0, a multimedia arcade game (Roids), a task manager (Filebar), a Workplace Shell trash can, and a multithreaded directory space grapher (File Graph/PM).

Stardock has two more products in development now. One is called Avarice and it is a "Myst"-like game. The second is called Object Desktop. Brad Wardell of Stardock thinks that this application will be the biggest OS/2 application in 1995. He claims that Object Desktop will do for OS/2 what Norton Desktop did for Windows.

Galactic Civilizations and OS/2 Essentials are available now at computer retail stores. The other applications will be released as follows.

Object Desktop: July 1995
Avarice: September 1995
Entrepreneur: September 1995
Student Entrepreneur: October 1995

Stardock Systems of Gibraltar, Michigan can be reached at (313)782-2248.

Insights from John M. Thompson

I'm very pleased to be a part of the first issue of The OS/2 Warp Monthly Newsletter. We at IBM are proud of the success of OS/2 Warp, and want to share with you news you can use regarding Warp. Since its release last fall, OS/2 Warp has been showered with critical acclaim. More importantly, it's been warmly embraced by customers, who have bought and installed more than 2 million copies.

IBM is absolutely committed to doing everything we can to build upon and extend the OS/2 Warp success story. The success of OS/2 is essential if we're to achieve the central goal of IBM software - to be the company that helps customers fulfill the promise of client/server computing.

Our customers are committed to the distributed computing model because they can reengineer their businesses, making them more responsive to changing markets, by giving their employees access to more information and making them more productive. But they're also frustrated that they can't get full value from their client/server investments, because it's too expensive, too complex, and not yet reliable enough for the enterprise.

IBM has the experience with mission-critical software that's needed to improve the reliability of distributed computing.

We're also experts at managing the total cost of computing. And we recognize that we must deliver this functionality to customers in a way that's appealing to end users. And that means easy to obtain, easy to install, easy to use and easy to manage. That's why we're planning to introduce packages of IBM software for OS/2 and AIX that deliver the robust functionality of IBM's industrial strength middleware in easy-toinstall and -use suites. We've already introduced the SystemView Series to make our industry-leading systems management products available in one simple package.

We're also shipping IBM WorkGroup on OS/2 this month. It provides an integrated palette of software products ranging from e-mail to document management and workflow, that makes it easy for groups to communicate and link their resources.

And we're rapidly deploying leading-edge object technology. Our award-winning VisualAge development environment will greatly improve the speed and productivity of application development. OpenDoc will allow end users to create tailored applications from disparate parts. And with open frameworks from Taligent, software developers won't have to start from scratch each time they write an application.

Guiding all of this is IBM's commitment to open industry standards, as represented by our Open Blueprint. This means IBM software will excel at supporting any client, any server or any network protocol. Customers can interoperate across any IBM platform or non-IBM system that complies with open standards.

And OS/2 is a key part of the strategy. In addition to the success of OS/2 Warp as a client operating system, OS/2 is already the leading application server in the industry. We're building on this leadership with OS/2 Warp Connect, which makes it easy for small businesses or enterprise workgroups to harness the multitasking power of OS/2 to share data and resources.

In order to continue to strengthen the success of OS/2 Warp, IBM has several important initiatives. First, we're investing heavily in marketing and promoting Warp, to give it the visibility it needs to reach millions of new users. Second, we're signing up leading PC makers like the IBM PC Co. and Dell in the U.S., Vobis in Germany and Osborne in Australia to preload OS/2 Warp on their PCs. Third, we've put together an aggressive program to accelerate the development of 32-bit applications for OS/2. We've recruited 22 major software developers with 76 new Intel-based and 48 new PowerPC-based applications in the first quarter alone.

Finally, let me say a brief word about marketing, sales, service and support. We recognize that IBM has the best software products and technology in the world, but that we've sometimes been out-marketed by other companies. One of the most important goals of the new IBM software "company" is to improve our marketing, with a special focus on end users; to strengthen our sales capability; and to emphasize IBM's superior service and support. We need to duplicate the good marketing job we've done with OS/2 Warp across our entire software business. I've spent more of my time on these issues than any other in the past several months.

We've been in business as an integrated IBM software organization only since January. But already, we can feel a new sense of spirit and determination to make IBM not just the largest, but the best software company in the world in the eyes of customers.

Thanks for reading this first issue of the newsletter. We hope it will become an important and informative source you can rely on for the latest news about OS/2 Warp.

Some background on John Thompson

In January, John M. Thompson was tapped by IBM Chairman and CEO Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. to head the new IBM software "company." He is responsible for IBM's overall software strategy, marketing and development. Three divisions - Personal Software Products, Software Solutions and Networking Software - report to him. In addition, he gives guidance to the worldwide software sales organization and the software platform development organizations that reside in the server divisions. Mr. Thompson is an IBM senior vice president and group executive based in Somers, New York.

OS/2 Warp Connect: A Suite Idea

by Jeri Dube

After the initial success of OS/2 Warp, IBM was confronted with the problem of making a good thing better. To solve this problem, they decided on the classical approach of improving on success - combine the good thing with other good things. This operational philosophy has lead to a large number of fabulous inventions: banana splits, step aerobics, water ballet, spandex, pine-scented cleansers. The list of things improved in this manner goes on indefinitely. This philosophy is not new to the software industry. It is this philosophy that lead to the creation of "suites".

What Makes OS/2 Warp Connect So Suite?

OS/2 Warp Connect, in essence, is a suite of products that makes life easier. By combining the OS/2 operating system with productivity and on-line connection software, IBM has created an easy-to-install, reliable, one-box connectivity software solution. OS/2 Warp Connect offers a visually appealing, intuitive user interface, compatibility with DOS and Windows applications and the performance and reliability expected from IBM products, all at a competitive price.

The list of features that come with OS/2 Warp Connect is quite extensive. Everything that comes with OS/2 Warp comes with OS/2 Warp Connect. That means that the spreadsheet, word processor, and the rest of the set of full-function applications that define the IBM Works piece of OS/2 Warp are all included. The other BonusPak features for OS/2 Warp also come in the Connect suite, so you get fax and communications software that provides an easy way to access on-line services, bulletin boards and other PCs and mainframes. The IBM Person-to-Person for OS/2 (P2P) application is there as well. This software lets up to eight people work together on the same document from remote PCs over standard telephone lines or an office network. Every participant can view information simultaneously and write or draw their comments.

The connectivity features included in OS/2 Warp Connect are really what differentiates it from its OS/2 predecessors. Never before has IBM offered such a wide variety of connectivity options in one package. This product lets you hook up to a LAN as a LAN Server Requester, a NetWare client or as a peer. And the Connect package makes it easy to choose any or all of these options. OS/2 Warp Connect includes software that lets you remotely access a PC or use the LAN resources in the office. Furthermore, getting this rich level of connectivity is easy. You no longer have to know or understand all the software packages that you need to buy, all the connectivity software needed is included in the Connect package.

Furthermore, getting this rich level of connectivity is easy. You no longer have to know or understand all the software packages that you need to buy, all the connectivity software needed is included in the Connect package. For example, if a small medical office with five personal computers use OS/2 Warp Connect, the Peer product lets all five computers share one printer. And if any member of the team needs to work remotely, OS/2 Peer Services allows the remote worker to share files and resources.

IBM is also putting Lotus Notes Express in the OS/2 Warp Connect package. With Express, customers get a communication and collaboration platform where they can easily share information via databases. They also get seven application templates for setting up databases. The templates are for:

  • Discussion databases
  • Client/server mail
  • Phone book
  • Reference databases
  • News databases
  • Customer tracking
  • Service requester.
How Does OS/2 Warp Connect Make Life Better?

Using OS/2 Warp Connect can improve and simplify computing conditions in a variety of situations. For example, a company trying to hook into the Internet can get everything they need in the OS/2 Warp Connect package. TCP/IP for OS/2 Version 3.0 is included in OS/2 Warp Connect, so the company automatically gets dial-up and LAN access to the Internet, the capability for simultaneous LAN-based TCP/IP and Internet activity as well as a variety of connectivity services. These services include IBM WebExplorer, Gopher Client, NewsReader/2, SLIP connection, TelnetPM and more. Without OS/2 Warp Connect, a company would have to buy and install TCP/IP separately, and they still wouldn't be able to take advantage of all the IBM connectivity services right away. With OS/2 Warp Connect, a company gets a versatile connectivity package and saves both installation time and money.

Another situation where a company can save time and money with OS/2 Warp Connect is when they are setting up a new team of workers. IBM Peer for OS/2 included in OS/2 Warp Connect makes it quite simple for the team to share data files and resources on a network, such as printers and modems, without a dedicated LAN Server. For example, if a small medical office with five personal computers use OS/2 Warp Connect, the Peer product lets all five computers share one printer. And if any member of the team needs to work remotely, OS/2 Peer Services allows the remote worker to share files and resources. And if any member of the team needs to work remotely, OS/2 Peer allows the remote worker to share files and resources.


For companies that need to hook client workstations to a server, OS/2 Warp Connect provides all the necessary client components. There are multiple transport protocols so clients can connect to all the major LAN server products on the market, and more than one server can be accessed at a time. OS/2 Warp Connect simplifies logging on to a host session and signing on to a server by letting users have a single sign-on for multiple servers.


OS/2 Warp Connect can simplify life for the people who install, maintain and configure software for large networks because it offers CID installable components. CID stands for Configuration, Installation and Distribution and its purpose is to provide the tools for simplified remote installation and configuration of software.

As Suite as a Banana Split - And No Calories|

Just as the value of a banana split comes from the combination of the individual elements, the same is true of OS/2 Warp Connect. Just about all of the components have been offered by IBM before, but the value comes from the integration of the separate elements into a collective package that is reasonably priced, easily installed and reliable.

Peer to Peer Networking

by Richard Hawes

The first networks were typically created to share expensive resources such as a mainframe computer or large, complex printers. Often the workstations that connected to the mainframe through the network were of limited capabilities, so the mainframe performed the majority of the work.

However, the functionality of networking, coupled with the enormous increase in workstation capability allowed users to connect together in a network and do far more than just work with data and programs on a mainframe. Modern networking products now enable individuals to make data available and share it with others in their peer group. Providing data to the corporate network has become almost an ancillary role for the network. OS/2 Warp Connect includes IBM Peer for OS/2 because peer to peer computing is now an essential means of network communications.

A computing dictionary will define Peer to Peer Networking as the interaction between two workstations without the need for a 'controlling' host. In the PC arena, this means sharing some form of resource between two computers without the need for some Server system to initiate the links. Peer Networking has given rise to Workgroup computing - PCs connected to one another share data in common applications and users can work together sharing information to complete a project or perform a group-related task. Peer functions often operate hand-in-hand with workgroup applications.

Peer Networking allows groups to get PCs connected and working together on shared data quickly, with little effort. It involves installing some network hardware and software on each workstation. The hardware, such as Token Ring, Ethernet, wireless LAN and others will connect the systems together. The software will generally provide at least two capabilities. The first capability enables a workstation to operate as a Peer Server. The peer software makes resources from the "server" PC available to the rest of the workstations on the LAN. In IBM OS/2 peer products, these resources include file resources such as hard disks and CD-ROM drives, as well as printer queues and communications ports. The benefit of this capability is that many PCs on a LAN can share one resource such as a printer and therefore peer products reduce the number of resources needed to be bought and maintained.

The second capability enables a workstation to operate as a client. The client function allows a user to initiate a connection with a Peer Server and attach to any of the server's resources. The user at a client PC will have a 'redirector' component that makes the remote resource look and behave as if they were local to the client. This means that the client will see a file resource as it does any other disk drive it has. The remote disk drive will have a drive letter and will be visible from applications that check for drives, including GUI features as in the OS/2 Workplace Shell Drives object. The same will apply for the printer and communications port connections. The client PC will use an LPT or communications port (and in OS/2 can use a desktop printer object) which will behave as if the port were locally available on the client, yet the printer or modem might be attached to any machine in the network that is accessible as a Peer server. (Note that most DOS peer products do not allow the redirection of the communications ports).

Access to the resources of the Peer server can be controlled. For example, users can be required to logon to a Peer Server with a user ID and password. In addition it is possible to restrict reading or writing access privileges.

As companies and their networks grow, the better peer products can be integrated with the corporate network. This may start with taking a Peer Server and sharing its resources across the whole network and progress to allowing users to continue to access other resources around the network (such as mainframe and mid-range systems peripherals), in the same, seamless way as the peer resources are accessed.

IBM's peer functionality in OS/2 Warp Connect is based on the industry standard NetBIOS and Server Message Block protocols used in many other networking, workgroup and peer products. This allows OS/2 Warp Connect to communicate with and provide services to clients from various products, examples include Microsoft Windows for Workgroups, LAN Manager and Windows NT and IBM LAN Server and DOS LAN Requesters.

The Story of How Howard Stern Became Warped

November 16, 1993 * Howard Stern was discussing his PC on the radio and how he would like to upgrade. Howard says he was looking at Apple and IBM but was leaning towards IBM and if any IBMers were listening, please call in. Jeffrey Schick, a Senior Systems Engineer from the Northeast Advanced Technology Solution Center, called in from his car phone. He was immediately put on the air where he discussed IBM technology with Howard. Jeff discussed multimedia, video conferencing, and speech. Off the air, Howard's personal assistant, Baba Booey, took Jeff's number at IBM. Howard threatened to fire Baba if he lost Jeff's number. Later that day, Jeff was contacted and he tried to set up a demo for after Thanksgiving. Howard, on the other hand, insisted on seeing the demo before Thanksgiving.

November 16-18, 1993 * IBM investigated Howard's requirements and discovered that his needs are far greater than a PC that does word processing. Howard needed a system that scans documents and stores them as images with a informational data record attached. He would also like a system with which he can edit video to pursue television projects.

November 19, 1993 * Howard Stern visited the IBM marketing offices at 590 Madison Avenue in New York City. Outside the building, waiting to chronicle the event were ABC, NBC and Entertainment Tonight. IBM gave Howard a demonstration of a wide range of applications including: Person-to-Person for collaborative computing, ImagePlus to do image processing MMPM/2 for creating, editing and playing multimedia files, and IBM Personal Dictation System to enter information by speaking to the computer.

Howard loved everything he saw at the demo and he wanted to have it all in his home by November 23rd for a loaner.

November 23, 1993 * IBM delivered two systems to Howard's home complete with scanners, printers, speakers, Read/Write Optical drives and all the software that was demoed to him.

November 23, 1993 - January 1, 1994 * IBM trained, educated and supported Howard in his efforts to evaluate these solutions. During this time, Howard discussed IBM on a daily basis on the air. These discussions were absolutely positive. Howard talked about how he can receive a fax at the same time he is playing on the Internet and scanning in an image.

The Wall Street Journal called Howard's office to ask if IBM is paying him to say all those good things. Howard stated he just likes IBM.

January 3, 1994 * Howard announced to 15 cities and 16 million listeners he was going with IBM. Howard placed an order for ALL hardware and software he had demoed.

January 20, 1994 * IBM gave Howard Stern a 750 C Thinkpad for his birthday. The gift was presented to him on his birthday show at Tavern on the Green. Jeff Schick was on the air right after Joan Rivers.

April 11, 1995 * Howard Stern was still raving about OS/2. He told his 30 million listeners all the wonderful things he can do with OS/2 Warp. Obviously, Howard is still happy with his choice in systems.

Michael Widmann: Team OS/2er Extraordinaire

It's amazing the things that inspire people to start something new... a sale at a craft, garden or hardware store, a well-produced infomercial, and even a desktop operating system that fires the imagination while enhancing personal productivity. What these things have in common is that they motivate a person to do something that they haven't done before.


Michael Widmann, co-founder of the first Austrian OS/2 User Group, found just that kind of inspiration with OS/2. Michael has been a driving force of the OS/2 grass roots efforts in Austria. He has developed and taught OS/2 classes, declared a "holy war" within his company to get them to set OS/2 Warp as their desktop standard and was recruited on the spur of the moment to demonstrate OS/2 Warp for the PowerPC at CeBit in Hannover, Germany. Michael has made it his personal mission to establish a big market for OS/2 Warp in Austria. He boasts that Austria has the highest per capita OS/2 Warp consumption in the world.

As in many love affairs, Michael's first encounter with OS/2 was not very positive. He was first introduced to version 1.3 of OS/2. He thought OS/2 looked like Windows and he wasn't too impressed. Then his software dealer offered him a good price for version 2.0 and he decided to give OS/2 another try. At first, Michael could not get OS/2 2.0 to work on his system. Since Michael is a self-proclaimed compulsive type, he just had to make it work.(By the way, getting started with OS/2 Warp is much easier than it was in the days of OS/2 2.0. For more information on Installation, see Step One: Installation in this issue.)

As Michael worked to get familiar with his system, he was able to learn many of OS/2's benefits. As he continued to work with the OS/2 operating system, the elegance and forethought of the OS/2 architecture became apparent to him. He supplemented his growing understanding of the system by reading articles and books on OS/2. Mike Kogan's "Design of OS/2" was particularly helpful.

Understanding the architecture and design of OS/2 did not keep Michael from appreciating the practical features of OS/2. Michael likes how he can do many things at one time. As a student who works in the computer industry full time, Michael needs the productivity that OS/2 offers him. When Michael uses OS/2, he really feels like he is getting the most out of his computer hardware.

He also feels secure that an application that runs into a bug will not bring down his entire system. Michael likes that he can feel secure with OS/2's Crash Protection. When Michael tests out some of the code he writes for school, he knows his programming errors will not impact the other applications he runs on his system. OS/2 Crash Protection is one of the reasons that Michael wants his company to switch from Windows to OS/2.

Michael also enjoys the flexibility of OS/2. He likes being able to create a document in the IBM Works word processor and so easily fax it out. He also likes to show off how his system can play film and sound clips. And then there are the games... Need I say more|

Knowing all that OS/2 can do plus how and why it works serves Michael well in his role as an OS/2 advocate. In a call to IBM to find more OS/2 applications, Michael heard about IBM Austria's Team OS/2 program. Figuring that Team OS/2 would help him establish contacts in the business world that might lead to something in the future, Michael signed up.

As a team OS/2er, Michael was focused on reaching the provinces outside of Vienna with OS/2. The response to Michael's efforts have been overwhelming. He organized a presentation in a theater that had 300 seats; about 1000 people showed up to see OS/2. He also organized the first OS/2 electronic bulletin board in Austria. Now there are five Austrian OS/2 bulletin boards.

OS/2 truly motivated Michael to do things that he had never done before. Through his passion for OS/2, he has become a public speaker, an organizer, a co-founder, and an impromptu trade show demonstrator. Michael has shown IBM the potency of his user group and his personal dedication yet he receives no monetary compensation for his hard work. Michael does what he does for OS/2 out of a belief in the product. He knows, " OS/2 is the right way".

For more information on Team OS/2 see the Team OS/2 WWW page at http://www.teamos2.org or send an e-mail to teamos2@vnet.ibm.com.

Step One: Installation

OS/2 Warp, Applications, Drivers

by Jim Gillig

Before you can use it, you have to install it - whether it's an application, an operating system, or a device driver. If OS/2 comes pre-loaded on a new computer, it has already been installed and tested for that system configuration by the computer manufacturer or distributor and is ready to run. If you are purchasing a new computer, ask your dealer for pre-installed OS/2 computer systems. Otherwise, ask for the OS/2 Warp product at your software dealer and install it yourself. This article explains how.

Easy Installation

The simplest way to install OS/2 is through the Easy Installation option. This option, along with the Advanced Installation option, appears on the OS/2 Welcome screen that is displayed after inserting the OS/2 Warp Install diskette into the A: drive and restarting your computer. Easy Installation will install all of OS/2 onto C:, or the hard disk you specify, with a single pushbutton. The installation process prompts you for the installation diskettes or for the single CD-ROM disk, if your computer has a CD-ROM drive, as it proceeds.

Installation is easy for the user because the OS/2 Warp installation program automatically detects most installed hardware devices. It then displays the System Configuration allowing you to confirm or change the setup. The setup options include:

Country and keyboard choices for your locale (like United States or France)

Type of mouse and type of video display

Devices attached to your system (e.g. Printers, CD-ROM, Multimedia, modems, etc.)

To confirm the setup, select the OK pushbutton. Then you will be prompted to insert and switch the remaining installation diskettes, or just the single CD-ROM disk, until the installation process completes. In just a few steps your OS/2 operating system is installed. The system then contains the complete OS/2 operating system including the required system device drivers and WIN-OS/2 for running Windows applications if you installed the fullpack version of OS/2 Warp.

When you restart your computer, OS/2 comes up running the Workplace Shell as the Desktop. The Desktop provides drag and drop control, making it easy to run applications, create and print documents, communicate with other users and online services. To acquaint yourself with the system, one of the first OS/2 applications you can run is the tutorial. This is a words-and-pictures illustration of most system features that lets you learn by doing. Also right after installation is a good time to send in your OS/2 registration for user information and IBM support.

Advanced Installation

Some users may want to use the Advanced Installation option. For example, a user can create multiple partitions so he can run multiple operating systems or versions. Another user may want to set up different logical drives for organizing and protecting his applications and files. The advanced installation process takes you through the steps to choose these and other options.

Advanced Installation displays the OS/2 Setup And Installation panel. This panel allows you to select additional features for your system. These advanced features (see below) require additional memory and that's why they are options. The memory required for each feature is displayed on the OS/2 Setup and Installation panel. It also shows the total memory required for the selected features and your total available memory.

Documentation (OS/2 tutorial, commands and information)

Fonts (additional system video fonts)

Optional System Utilities (disk, file, and program utilities)

Tools and Games (includes enhanced editor, chess, etc.)

OS/2 DOS Support (runs DOS applications)

WIN-OS/2 Support (runs Windows applications)

Multimedia Software Support (includes motion video & system sounds)

High Performance File System (for improved program and file access)

Serviceability & Diagnostic Aids (information collection for servicing)

Optional Bit Maps (additional desktop background pictures)

Anything you don't install at this time can be installed later and anything you do install can later be uninstalled. (See the Up and Running Section.)

Up And Running

After the OS/2 system is up and running, you can make configuration changes by choosing the Selective Install object. This action brings up the same System Configuration screen you saw at the beginning of installation. You can then see and change the current configuration information. It also brings up the same OS/2 Setup And Installation screen you saw in Advanced Installation. You can then select and install any of the optional features you saw in Advanced Installation.

If later you decide you don't need some of the optional features you installed, you can uninstall them. To display the OS/2 Setup And Installation screen again for deselecting and uninstalling features, choose the Selective Uninstall object. With Selective Install and Uninstall, OS/2 is flexible to accommodate system changes and growth.

To find the Selective Install and Selective Uninstall objects on the Desktop, move the mouse pointer to the OS/2 System object and open it. Once inside the System Setup object go to the System Setup folder and open it. There you will see these objects (icons):

Selective Install object

Device Driver Install object

Add Programs object

Selective Uninstall object

This shows how easy it is to use OS/2's Workplace Shell to perform installation and configuration tasks in OS/2 Warp. Device Driver Install and Add Programs will be covered in following sections.

BonusPak Installation

The BonusPak is a collection of innovative and useful OS/2 applications that come with OS/2 Warp. Installation of the BonusPak is optional and is done after you are up and running with OS/2. The BonusPak is installed from its own set of diskettes or from its single CD-ROM disk. The BonusPak Installation Utility is used to install any combination of the following BonusPak applications:

  • IBM Works (productivity applications like a word processor, spreadsheet, database, time mangement system and more)
  • IBM Internet Connection for OS/2 (for access to the Internet)
  • IBM Multimedia Viewer (organize and manage image, audio, video data)
  • IBM Person to Person for OS/2 (for desktop conferencing)
  • System Information Tool (for system configuration information)
  • CompuServe Information Manager for OS/2 (for access to CompuServe)
  • FaxWorks for OS/2 (create, send, receive, print faxes)
  • HyperACCESS Lite for OS/2 (for managing a modem and file transfer)
  • Video IN for OS/2 (record digital video for OS/2 multimedia playback)

The BonusPak applications also demonstrate the wide variety of technology that the OS/2 operating system supports such as multimedia, fax, Internet access and conferencing.

Application Installation

OS/2 Warp makes installing and running new applications easy. To install an OS/2 application on your computer, just follow these steps:

  1. Insert its install diskette into drive A:
  2. Find the Desktop object for drive A: and point to it with the mouse
  3. Double mouse-click drive A: object to open it and show diskette contents
  4. From its contents, select and double click on the application's install object.

This starts installing the OS/2 application and copying its files to the computer's hard disk. It should result in creation of a program object (icon) you can easily use to start the application from the Desktop. Just point at the icon and double click it with the mouse.

To install a DOS application open a DOS Command Prompt and follow the application's install instructions. To install a Windows application open a WIN-OS/2 Command Prompt and follow the application's install instructions.

Some applications may not place a program object in a folder or on the Desktop during their installation. Without the program object, you cannot use the easy point and click characteristics of the Workplace Shell to start the program. To correct this situation just do the following steps. From the System Setup folder within the OS/2 System folder:

  1. Select and open the Add Programs (or the Migrate Applications) object
  2. Select Add new programs
  3. Select OK to complete creation of program objects.

OS/2 Warp two convenient ways to start applications. If you want an application to automatically start every time you start your computer, you can drag and drop its application program object onto the Startup folder on the Desktop. To quickly start applications from the Desktop with a single mouse click, you can drag and drop application program objects (icons) onto the Desktop's LaunchPad where it will always be visible.

For Developers

As a separate product, IBM offers the Software Installer that can be used by a developer to create an application's installation program for both OS/2 and Windows applications. It saves development time by providing a consistent set of installation tools.

The Software Installer is available from IBM on The Developer Connection for OS/2 Volume 7 CD-ROM disk. For information, see The Developer Connection for OS/2 Common Questions and Answers on CompuServe. Type GO OS2DF2 and see file dpromo.txt in library 17, IBM files. (See the Warped, Etc. section of this newsletter to see how to subscribe to The Developer Connection for OS/2.)

Application Migration

OS/2, DOS, and Windows applications that were already installed on the computer disk for use with another operating system or earlier version of OS/2 will automatically be migrated for running with OS/2 Warp after it is installed and started for the first time. OS/2 Warp accomplishes this with its migration database (DATABASE.DAT file) that contains the DOS and Windows settings and OS/2 parameters for hundreds of applications and games that have been tested for running well with OS/2 Warp. See the Add Programs object and its on-line help information.

Device Driver Installation

OS/2 Warp comes with hundreds of tested device and printer drivers. OS/2 determines and installs what's needed for your computer configuration. If OS/2 does not include a device driver that you need, you can easily install it yourself.

Many devices that attach to a computer such as a CD-ROM, fax, or mouse come with a device driver diskette. The device driver diskette contains the program needed by OS/2 to operate the device. To install a device driver follow these steps:

  1. Select and open the Device Driver Install object from OS/2 System Setup object
  2. Insert the device driver install diskette into A:
  3. Select the Install pushbutton
  4. Select the OK pushbutton to complete installation of the device driver.

Printer device drivers are installed just as easily. To install a printer driver for an existing printer object follow these steps:

  1. Select and open the printer object from the Desktop
  2. Select the Settings of the printer object
  3. Select the Printer Driver tab (New Printer Driver window appears)
  4. Select Other OS/2 printer driver for a driver diskette that didn't come with OS/2
  5. Insert the printer driver diskette
  6. Select Refresh pushbutton to display the printer drivers that are on the diskette
  7. Select the printer driver you need
  8. Select OK pushbutton to complete printer driver installation.

Printer objects exist to simplify and tie together the functional relationships among a printer device, a printer driver, and its printer properties. A printer object can represent a local desktop printer or a remote network printer. OS/2 Warp also makes it easy to create additional printer objects for multiple printers, to change the OS/2 printer driver used by a printer object, and install a printer driver for Windows applications in a WIN-OS/2 session. For information on how to do these tasks, see the chapter on Setting Up Printers in the OS/2 Warp User's Guide.

Troubleshooting

Following the Easy or Advanced Installation process for OS/2 should result in a smooth install. If not, see the User's Guide to OS/2 Warp for the chapter on Solving Installation Problems. It explains actions to take for error messages if any occur during installation, provides solutions to some common hardware problems like video or CD-ROM, and explains how to get Service and Support from IBM. (See the Getting Started article in the Warped, Etc. section of the newsletter.)

OS/2 comes with many tested CD-ROM device drivers. However, new CD-ROM drives become available all the time. If you cannot access your CD-ROM when trying to install from the OS/2 compact disk, the User's Guide provides directions for adding a new CD-ROM manufacturer supplied device driver to OS/2 diskette 1. (Two starter diskettes accompany the OS/2 CD-ROM disk.) There are also instructions for creating a complete set of OS/2 installation diskettes from the OS/2 compact disk if you can access the CD-ROM drive using DOS.

Any device with a device driver not currently included with OS/2 can be installed by following the instructions in the OS/2 User's Guide. The device driver code may be obtained from the manufacturer or from a bulletin board service. Ask IBM (See the list of IBM phone numbers for your country in the Warped, Etc. Section of this newsletter), your computer manufacturer, device manufacturer, or dealer for more information about OS/2 device drivers.

Hardware Configuration

OS/2 is continually being tested across the broad spectrum of computer and peripheral device manufacturers. Yet the most frequently reported problem when installing OS/2 is with hardware configurations and devices. What's the reason for this?

Your system hardware configuration includes the processor and memory, diskette, hard disk , and CD-ROM drives, video, printers, other peripheral devices and adapter cards. All these components and their subparts may come from many manufacturers around the world. Hardware specifications may vary and new hardware is continually and rapidly being introduced. Manufacturers, distributors, and end users combine hardware in a multitude of configurations. As a consequence of all this dynamic activity, a new device may not be correctly detected, a device driver may not be readily available, or a particular hardware configuration may have escaped testing with software.

When buying new equipment, ask for OS/2-supported hardware. Also call or write your computer manufacturer, device manufacturer and distributor to request pre-installed and OS/2-tested computer systems and devices. IBM continually tests and updates OS/2 for computers and devices through new releases of OS/2 and through IBM Service and Support for OS/2.

Getting Started

You now know all about installing OS/2 Warp, applications and device drivers. After installing OS/2 Warp, use its on-line help, documentation, and tutorial to learn more about OS/2. To discover the full power of OS/2 Warp, navigate the OS/2 Workplace Shell desktop, explore the different folders and the options within folders. The OS/2 operating system is rich with function and the intuitive user interface makes discovering its capabilities easy and rewarding. The more familiar you get with it, the more productive you will become.

Trademarks

Trademarks of IBM Corp. in the United States or other countries used in this paper are: IBM, IBM Works, IBM Person to Person for OS/2, Multimedia Viewer, OS/2, OS/2 Warp, Software Installer, The Developer Connection for OS/2, VideoIN for OS/2, WIN-OS/2, Workplace Shell.

Trademarks of other companies and owners are: CompuServe by CompuServe Inc., FaxWorks by SofNet Inc., HyperACCESS Lite by Hilgraeve Inc., Intel by Intel Inc., PCMCIA by Personal Computer Memory Card International, Windows by Microsoft Corp.

OS/2 Warp and the Internet

by Chris Novak

One of the many reasons why IBM's OS/2 Warp has sold millions is the free BonusPak Internet Access Kit (IAK) included with every copy. These applications help you to get online quickly, easily and with power. Here are a number of tips and techniques we've collected for you to use with your BonusPak IAK (a.k.a IBM Internet Connection for OS/2).

OS/2 Warp gives you different Internet Connection programs to help you do different things. For example, Gopher finds information and pictures, FTP transfers files to and from your computer, and the WebExplorer gives you multimedia (audio/video), hypertext (fancy term for built-in footnotes and references) access to all kinds of organizations on the Web. The WebExplorer can also access Gopher information and transfer files from FTP sites. It's true; the 'secret' is in defining the Web URLs (Uniform Resource Locators). They define the type of Internet service at the address that follows (URL is in caps

      • {E.N. - or bold?}), i.e:

http://WWW.austin.ibm.com/pspinfo/warp.html (IBM OS/2 Warp page)

means World-Wide-Web type service. Requires WebExplorer or MOSAIC

FTP://ftp-os2.cdrom.com (Hobbes OS/2 Shareware archives) means File Transfer Protocol service. Use FTP-PM or WebExplorer. (FTP-PM doesn't understand URLs.

To use a URL address with ftp, DROP the URL prefix "ftp://" and use "ftp-os2.cdrom.com". GOPHER://index.almaden.ibm.com/1os2dsn (IBM PSP Dev. Support) means Gopher service. Use Gopher or WebExplorer. FILE:///d:\tcpip\tmp\webmap.htm (Web map from your last session) means a local file on your PC (yes, this one has 3 slashes, not 2). So why would you want to use "file:///"? Well, WebExplorer allows you to save World-Wide-Web documents to your disk. It even stores the last Web map you used in \tcpip\tmp\webmap.htm. You can specify this path (add your drive letter where TCP/IP is installed) in WebExplorer's URL field, or drag and drop any *.HTM file onto the WebExplorer icon. To make it even easier, modify the WebExplorer icon's SETTINGS - ASSOCIATION to add *.HTM. Now you can double-click directly on any HTM object on your system.

The BonusPak IAK contains 32-bit, point-and-click tools for accessing the most popular Internet functions such as Telnet, FTP, Gopher, News Groups, and the World-Wide-Web. It's designed to make "surfers" out of the hundreds of thousands of "newbies" taking up the pastime of cruising the Internet. If you bought a very early copy of Warp, then you may be missing some IAK functions such as point-to-point (PPP) support and IBM's WebExplorer (for the World-Wide-Web). You can download these by using the "Retrieve Software Updates" option of the IAK, or you can get them via FTP from "ftp.ibm.net" from the /pub directory. You can get updates to both the NewsReader application and the UltiMail Lite applications here as well.

Many publications today have articles about how major online services will be offering access to the Internet. I'm a Prodigy subscriber, so I decided to check out their Windows-based Internet Web Browser (which I had no problem running under Warp). I was able to access not only the Web, but Gopher and FTP resources on the Internet. However, I did it the old-fashioned way: one resource at a time.

A PPP or Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) connection to the Internet (accessed by using Warp's IBM Internet Connection applications) allows you to run multiple Internet programs to different Internet sites at the same time. For example, while you're using "Retrieve Software Updates" (or FTP) to get the latest Internet Connection updates, you might also use the WebExplorer to access IBM's "home page" (http://WWW.IBM.COM), a second copy of the WebExplorer to peruse the Library of Congress (http://LCWEB.LOC.GOV), and the Gopher to read a copy of Business Week online (gopher.enews.com/business/pubs/business/bw). You can do all this at the same time with OS/2 Warp|

This multitasking capability also applies to any applications which use your Internet connection such as UltiMail Lite, FTP-PM, Telnet, Retrieve Software Updates, NewsReader/2, and others.

You see, connecting to the Internet via a SLIP or PPP Service Provider is very much like connecting your PC to a Local Area Network: once you're hooked up, you can have multiple programs accessing multiple servers at the same time. By having several programs running through your SLIP/PPP connection at the same time, you'll always have something utilizing the bandwidth your service provider is charging you for. Folks are constantly amazed during Internet Connection demonstrations at how little time we spend online and how much information we can retrieve in 10-15 minutes by running multiple programs simultaneously (it also shows off OS/2 Warp's ability to multitask solidly without timeouts or resource impacts).

Another application which can operate across the Internet is BonusPak's Person to Person/2 (P2P/2) desktop conferenceing. This product allows up to eight users to share a common desktop work-area; each with the ability to cut/paste, markup, and file transfer in full view of the others. It's an excellent supplement to a telephone conference call, and it's free with OS/2 Warp's BonusPak. Here's how to use P2P/2 with the IBM Internet Connection:

P2P/2 must be configured with TCP/IP 'enabled' and "Slow-but effective" compression selected. After your Internet "SLIP" connection has been started, bring up the P2P/2 Call Manager.

Call Manager status should have changed from "Inactive" to "No Calls." This indicates that the TCP/IP Internet connection has been established. All each P2P/2 system needs now is the IP address of the other to complete the connection. That information is established dynamically at the start of each Internet session via the IBM Global Network. It can also be found by maximizing the Internet Dialer and scrolling down to the line which says: "nnn.nn.nnn.nnn (e.g. 129.37.124.135) is your IP address." This is the address that should be entered into the P2P Address of the other P2P system (and their IP address should be placed in your P2P/2 address). Now you're ready to initiate contact with the other P2P/2 system. Allow 5-20 seconds for it to be completed, and you're ready to use any of the P2P/2 functions across the Internet. You will also be able to use WebExplorer, Gopher, FTP-PM, and other Internet applications at the same time. You can also get your free copy of P2P/2's own File Transfer capability from the Internet via "FTP.HURSLEY.IBM.COM" in the "/PUB/P2P/P2P-FT.ZIP" directory.

Finally, when you're exploring the World-Wide-Web and you find an interesting "page", don't forget to click the 'thumbs-up' button on the WebExplorer's button bar. This will 'bookmark' where you are so you can come back another time (Gopher has a similar facility).

The Internet is very big, and it can be difficult to find your way back again, but bookmarking can take you directly where you want to go in future sessions. Use the WebExplorer's "Quicklist" pulldown menu to display all of your bookmarks. You can also use the Web Map icon which maintains your entire Quicklist as well as all the places you've visited in the current session.

To save time when using the WebExplorer, disable the option to load a "home page" when the WebExplorer starts, or change your 'home page' to be "file:///d:\tcpip\tmp\webmap.htm". This will give you the Web map from your last WebExplorer session and will include all of your Quicklist access bookmarks as well.

Welcome to Electronic 'Scapes|

by Duncan Strong

This issue we present a smorgasbord of interesting and useful Web Sites for learning about and using IBM's line of personal software products, including OS/2 Warp, LAN Server and PC-DOS.

Some pages are IBMs, most are simply grass-roots efforts to provide user-to-user support for IBM software products.

The nature of the Web makes these pages simply starting points for your exploration: have fun|

Next issue: Essential FTP sites|

IBM's personal software home page

http://www.ibm.com/pspinfo/

A great site full of technical and marketing information on IBM's Personal Software Products. Provides pointers to home pages for OS/2 Warp, LAN Server, PC-DOS and more|

IBM's software home page

http://www.torolab.ibm.com/

Even more IBM software| The entire range of IBM software solutions, from Transaction Processing to Systems Management. Cross-platform information for all you folks planning on buying a PowerPC|

IBM's personal software *services* home page

http://ps.boulder.ibm.com/www/usa/ps/services/

On-line technical support| Browse IBM's Technical Support databases through interactive Web forms. Very cool.

IBM's Personal Systems Magazine

http://pscc.dfw.ibm.com/psmag/

The Web version of this great magazine for technical users of IBM Personal Software Products. Browse past and current articles through the hypertext interface.

The MIT OS/2 WWW home page

http://www.mit.edu:8001/activities/os2/os2world.html

A nice starting point for exploring the many resources on the Net for OS/2. Contains pointers to FTP sites, Gopher Holes, Web pages, Newsgroups, UserGroups....(you get the idea). Also contains a cool hypertext version of the OS/2 FAQ from Timothy Sipples. A must-see|

The Berkeley OS/2 home page

http://warp.eecs.berkeley.edu/os2

Another good "page of pointers". Neat Launchpad analogy on the initial page allows easy navigation of this site.

Team OS/2 Online & The Team OS/2 Warp Pharmacy Mirror

http://www.teamos2.org/

This site's goal is to provide information to anyone interested in learning about either TEAM OS/2 or OS/2. Provides good pointers to Team OS/2 pages around the Internet, as well as other sites like the Team OS/2 Warp Pharmacy mirror site.

The REXX home page

http://www.hursley.ibm.com/rexx/

As if Mike Cowlishaw has doesn't done enough for the amazing REXX language, here's an ESSENTIAL page for users and addicts of IBM's premier cross-platfom programming and scripting language.

PC Lube and Tune's OS/2 Warp Internet Access Pages

http://pclt.cis.yale.edu/pclt/winworld/os2.htm

A great tutorial on installing and configuring the Internet Access kit that comes with OS/2 Warp. Everything from customizing login scripts to troubleshooting your connection, it's here in glorious HTML|

LEO's OS/2 Archive

http://www.leo.org/archiv/os2/

An excellent graphical front-end to the comprehensive LEO ftp site. Hundreds of megs of OS/2 freeware, shareware and demoware, all carefully organized by category and directory. Very nice graphics and extremely well-organized and up-to-date content.

Welcome to the Shareware and Commercial Software Section

by Nilay Patel

Every month we will be highlighting one shareware/freeware product as product of the month. If you would like your product considered or would like to nominate someone elses product, send a description of the product and the location of file (on Internet preferably), nilayp@ibm.net.

Also, this section will have short blurbs about new OS/2 commercial applications and announcements for commercial applications. To ensure that your product gets mentioned in this newsletter, please send a press release or description to nilayp@ibm.net.

May Shareware of the Month - PMMail

Looking for an easy way to check your Internet or other UNIX electronic mail? Perhaps a program that provides all the convenience of a point and click OS/2 program? PMMail is the first shareware product for OS/2 for this purpose.

PMMail connects to a POP (Post Office Protocol) electronic mail server generally residing on the Internet (or in your UNIX host) and delivers it to your OS/2 machine. PMMail can work over a local network connection and via the IBM Global Network or SLIP/PPP connection that come with OS/2 Warp. PMMail works with OS/2 2.x and OS/2 Warp.

Installing PMMail is a snap. You tell PMMail the address of your electronic mail servers and your login name and password. After the install, each time that you start PMMail it logs into your electronic mail server and retrieves all your electronic mail. You can even have it automatically check your mail every couple of minutes for new messages.

One of the many benefits of OS/2 is the multitasking abilities. PMMail takes advantage of these abilities by multithreading the receiving of electronic mail. The direct result is while your electronic mail is being collected from your electronic mail server, you can start reading your new messages and even replying to them. You do not have to wait for all your messages to come in before interacting with them.

PMMail is also packed with features that make receiving electronic mail easier. One of these features is filters. Filters allow you to screen messages and appropriately route them. With filters, I can automatically send all messages with a certain subject to a certain PMMail folder or I can automatically delete messages from certain senders. Another great feature is canned replies. This allows you to filter a message and then automatically send back a reply. This is a great way to distribute information. For example, if I am having a party at my house, I can just tell everyone to send me electronic mail with "Party" in the subject field. Then, I can set up a filter to look for "Party" in the subject header and automatically send back a canned reply with directions to my house.

PMMail also has support for off-line electronic mail creation. If you have to pay for your Internet connection by the amount of time you are hooked up, this feature can save you money. You only connect to the Internet to receive and send your messages. You can read them and compose them without being connected and paying services fees. Also, notebook users can compose and read messages while they are away from their offices. Once they plug into their network, the mail will be sent.

PMMail was written by Robert Novitskey, a junior Computer Engineering major at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He has been using OS/2 since he tried a beta version of OS/2 2.1. Even though he has programmed for DOS, UNIX, and X-Windows, he has been an OS/2 programmer since OS/2 2.0. He even learned C so that he could write Presentation Manager applications. He programs for OS/2 over other operating systems because he feels that the OS/2 API is very robust.

According to Robert, PMMail demand has been fantastic. He receives over 200 messages per day about the software, which is a lot more than he can handle. Since its first release on March 28, 1995, Robert has fixed some bugs and the latest release is version 1.05. Before May 15, Robert plans on releasing a new release, 1.1 which will add a few features and fix some bugs. He will take a hiatus from developing PMMail during the summer months because he is going to be busy working. However, he is planning a major release, version 1.5, sometime in the fall with support for Multi-purpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) attachments, drag and drop support, and a new revamped interface for dealing with the address book. Soon to follow will be a version that is fully Workplace Shell compliant.

His company, Southside Software, is planning on coming out with a suite of internet applications for OS/2 including a FTP client and a threaded newsreader.

Take a look at this great addition to OS/2's software library. The shareware version is available from:

ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/os2/32bit/network/tcpip/pmml105.zip
ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/os2/network/tcpip/pmml105.zip

To order the registered version, which includes other features such as uuencode/uudecode of attached files and free upgrades to version 1.5:

Send check or money order for $30 US (payable to Robert Novitskey) to:
SouthSide Software
7915 Linden Street
Mentor, OH 44065
USA

When sending in your registration, please provide the following information:

Name:
Address:
Phone Number:
Email address:
How you heard about PMMail:
Suggestions/Comments:
Method of Distribution of registered version: (Snail Mail or via FTP)

Or call:

Voice: 1-800-414-4268 (US and Canada)
1-910-791-7052 (World-wide)

New OS/2 announcements

Frame Technology Announces Plans to Offer FrameMaker, Release 5 on IBM's OS/2 for Intel and PowerPC Platforms

SAN JOSE, CA - March 27, 1995 - Frame Technology(R) Corporation today announced its intention to offer a native OS/2 version of its newest FrameMaker(R) and FrameViewer(R) , release 5 products for IBM's OS/2(R) Warp operating system, including OS/2 for the Power PC.

›...! "Our decision to support the IBM OS/2 platform was based on a growing demand from our customers," said Bill Pieser, vice president of marketing at Frame Technology. "We believe this is a strategic move that will expand our customer base and strengthen our multiplatform product strategy." ›...!

The OS/2 version of FrameMaker and FrameViewer will be a fully native OS/2 Warp application, taking advantage of Warp's 32-bit architecture. FrameMaker for OS/2 Warp will be priced the same as the Windows version. Availability of the OS/2 version of FrameMaker is targeted for Q4, 1995.

IBM and Adobe Form Alliance

IBM and Adobe Systems Incorporated announced today an alliance to develop printing and publishing systems based on IBM's Advanced Function Presentation* (AFP*) architecture and Adobe PostScript** and Acrobat** technologies.

›...! The two companies also announced that Adobe will make available its Acrobat products for IBM's OS/2* Warp operating system on Intel and PowerPC platforms.

Kid Proof/2--Easy Desktop Protection for OS/2

Pinnacle Technology announces a new level of protection and administration for OS/2* computers. Kid Proof/2 allows OS/2 users to create an ideal desktop, take a picture of it, "hide" certain applications (or simply restrict capabilities such as "copy" and "delete") and associate the desktops created with certain users. ›...!

Parents can set up their machines so they have access to Personal Finance and other private applications. Kids, however, may have access on the same machine to their multimedia games and word processor for school without any capability to delete, shred, or simply access the C Prompt. Set it up the way you want. Kid Proof/2 protects your vital applications at home or at work.

›...! Further information can be obtained from your software retailer, by calling Pinnacle Technology at (317) 581-6262, or by writing to Pinnacle via the internet at info@pinnacletech.com.

OS/2 Warp Radio is ON THE AIR...

A bunch of CAOS* guys take on Warp and LAN Server 4.0 to connect a venerable Canadian public broadcaster.

  • CAOS/2 - Central Alberta OS/2 Users Group

The Players

Jerome Yuzyk - The author, chairman of CAOS/2:Central Alberta OS/2 User Group, OS/2 Retail and VAR Products Marketing Specialist for IBM Canada, owner of Bridge Scientific Services

Larry King - CKUA's man-about-the-station, running everything from transmitters to the phone system. And computers too.

John Boles - A carpet-layer by day, John finds OS/2 much easier on his knees, and lately for his pocketbook.

Tom King - Ex-CAOS secretary, by day, Master Corporal for the Canadian Air Force, stationed in Winnipeg. Otherwise a rather new OS/2 torch-carrier in the Winnipeg area and Teamer even if he doesn't say so.

Darrell Ouelette - CAOS Demo coordinator and hardware expert. Otherwise a machinist and jack-of-many-trades.

The Setting

CKUA Radio is a long-time public broadcaster in the province of Alberta. From the beginning, CKUA had one simple yet significant assignment: to offer education to the people of Alberta. They signed on the air as CKUA AM in November of 1927 as the "Voice of the University of Alberta" bringing lectures, music and local plays to the Edmonton area. Today the station operates 16 FM and 1 AM transmitters broadcasting news, music and educational programming across Alberta and over the border to BC, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Sometimes (depending on the weather) it is heard as far away as Chicago|

Act 1: The Consultation and Grim Reality of Choices Badly Made

Through the grapevine, I hear that CKUA is interested in using OS/2 to operate a couple modems on a machine connected to a Novell 3.12 LAN. No problem, I've connected OS/2 2.1 to Novell before and connecting OS/2 Warp should be no problem.

Well, there was a problem, but not with OS/2 Warp. At some point in the past someone decided that a 5-seat Novell licence would be sufficient because there were only 5 immediate users for the network. The machine I was asked to set up needed at least four seats for itself| After a couple of calls to find out upgrade prices it turned out that upgrading to a 25-seat licence would cost more than buying a new licence, and even that licence wouldn't be enough for all the planned users. With LAN Server packaged as one Server chunk and a per-requester cost, the economic choice was easy: "Buy what you need now and add more later." Ergo, go with IBM LAN Server|

Act 2: From CAOS comes order

On a cold February Sunday John, Tom, Larry and I set about removing Novell and substituting LAN Server. There was no need to migrate any files because the server hadn't been up long enough to accumulate anything. Along the way, we also documented and tidied their News Room DOS workstations, and installed OS/2 Warp as a communications server on another machine to manage the traffic from 2 serial-fed satellite wire services, one dial-in remote connection and an office-wide fax/modem.

The installation went smoothly for the most part. Sure glad I made disk copies of all the on-line documentation, though, and suggest that as Step 1 for any other first-timers. The Server machine is a Valuepoint with 16M and 540M SCSI disk running in OS/2-only mode. It services an HP LaserJet III and an Okidata roll-printer (yep, the brown newsprint stuff, without perforations), a NEC 3x CD-ROM player, and a 2G Python SCSI DAT tape drive. We used a shrink-wrap copy of OS/2 Warp and the LAN Distance 60-day eval CD (with bonus copy of LAN Server 4.0). Being a complete newbie to CD installs I had echoes of troubles I've seen on the 'Net floating through my head. It wasn't until install Disk 4 that I realized that there would be no CD problems (Duhhh... why am I sitting here waiting to feed the next disk...?).

Once OS/2 was on, I ran through my usual tune-up routine: edit CONFIG.SYS for performance, copy a bunch of Rexx scripts I've written for full-time machines, create a few standard directories and get them on various PATHs. One of these days I'll write my own custom system setup routine to do all the things I usually do anyway, but that's another story...

Then it was on to LAN Server, and my #1 favorite thing about it: it runs like "just another" OS/2 application. While the install was copying files and making Desktop objects I was tooling along unpacking more files from my "kit," editing some of my Rexx stuff, and setting up the Desktop. No need to rely on a login to the server in order to do anything meaningful with it|

While the Server was building and Tom & John did their thing to the client stations, we took turns baby-sitting the Comm server and its from-floppy install (the NEC is a SCSI drive, alas). Fortunately, this machine is very similar to the one I use desk-side, so I was sure there would be little problem. Larry scuttled around stringing 10-baseT and power cables all over. After OS/2 Warp and the OS/2 Requester were running, we re-loaded the news-wire service and set up a couple icons to start the capture and edit sides of the wire software (a DOS app called DNEWS). There's only 8M on the machine, and so this setup is a stop-gap measure until the modems and another 8M are in. We toyed with dropping the WorkPlace Shell to pick up some extra headroom, but decided to live with it for a while.

And, just because it has to be done sometime, once the server was up, I did an in-your-face test of the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) (a TrippLite 450 looking suspiciously like the kind of lunchpail I used to take to school) by just yanking the plug from the wall while everything was up and Tom & John were merrily setting up Client stations. All I got was an entry in the System Error log from the UPS handler. S-m-o-o-t-h.

Act 3: Up and Running|

Now that Warp Radio has been running for a while, we've made a few changes and learned a few things.

= Some DOS applications just aren't made to multi-task.

The DOS application handling the satellite feed just refused to be tamed. With a brute-force polling method, no error-checking or buffering and a very "bursty" incoming data stream there was no way to reliably ensure we could receive every byte every time, with everything we planned to throw at the machine. No problem: Larry had a spare 286 (a vintage AT with a 30M MFM-controlled drive) that we tucked into a corner with its own logon ID. Now we had one less (major) hassle to deal with on the Comm Server and could actually start to have fun with it.

= LAN Server takes an extra amount of time to shut down so be patient.

The OS/2 ShutDown function calls LAN Server to start shutting down the server and then proceeds to close down all other sessions. They all close except the Desktop, which waits for LAN Server to shutdown. This takes a while, and it's threaded so there's no clock to watch. Furthermore, Ctrl-Esc may bring up the Window List showing the server not running. LAN Server newbies may (well, we did) think that the machine is hung and re-boot. DON'T| Be patient and wait.

= Make Backups Make Backups Make Backups Make Backups

But you knew this already, didn't you? :)

= The WorkPlace Shell can be "good value for the memory"

We weren't going to use the graphical shell on the Comm Server so that we could use the extra memory for other tasks. But Larry got another 8M for the machine, bringing it up to 16M, and the reaction of the News Room guys to the graphical interface made the choice easy. I think it was Ferns desktop bitmap that really sold it, along with the descriptive icon names and the ability to do a lot of things without commands. "You mean you just move that picture over to that picture and it's done? Wow..." was a rough summary of reactions.

I moved most icons off the desktop and created a CKUA folder which I shadowed onto the LaunchPad. I also created a File Transfer folder which shadowed the directories that collect files from Dial-In users. The folder is marked as a Work Area and opens up a couple other folders, one for each contributing city. In each folder is a shadow of the floppy drive and a NewsRoom directory on the server, so they can move files manually. I showed them how they can cut text from the DOS newsfeed editor and paste it into WordPerfect.

= Do whatever you can to get a dial-in link working, especially if you work in a cold climate.

Edmonton can be a cold place in mid-February. Forty degrees below zero with a wind. A dial-in connection to the LAN can be the difference between a bone-chilling foray across town and a comfy night at home in front of the electronic hearth with a loved one.

The Dial-In side uses a setup I have used for over a year with another OS/2 machine connected to a Novell server. I use HyperAccess/5 (HA/5) running a modified Answer script wrapped in a layer of Rexx. This lets me operate a dial-in connection fully in the background with very little noticeable effect on foreground operations. A little HA/5 scripting and a little Rexx lets me log callers to a system-wide master log file, re-start the link from remote, play a HELLO/GOODBYE indicator, and toss uploaded files onto the network with logged, audible and printed notifications. Right now I'm working on making the newsfeed available to dial-in users, and as soon as we pick an e-mail transport we'll connect HA/5's e-mail service to it.

= LAN Server Entry runs just great on OS/2 Warp.

It just sits on top of OS/2 like any other app (actually, some pieces sit below), and if you pay for Advanced you get another slice (HPFS386) that goes under OS/2 for even better performance.

Act 3.5: Some Gory Detail, Kind of Hints...

Caution: This section is not for the casual end user. Read on and enjoy if you like technical details and want to learn from the experience of others.

= Tune OS/2 Warp first.

Out of the box, Warp is conservative in its settings. Read Information->Performance Considerations, the FAQ or the CAOS Warp Notes and then do some or all of what they say.

= Read through all the docs first, and do any planning worksheets *before* setting up the Server.

The GUI tools are fine, but if your plan is ill-formed they can only help so much, and may actually get in your way. The LAN Server documentation comes with about a half-dozen estimating and configuration worksheets that can server as the basis for your future network documentation.

= Forget FAT (File Access Table) and go straight to HPFS (High Performance File System).

HPFS is much faster and much more stable, especially if you use the (default) WorkPlace Shell. If you just want to "experiment" and stick with FAT for a while because HPFS is new to you, either have a decent backup procedure in place or do it on a non-production machine. Warp works, LAN Server works, HPFS is best: just do it.

= Learn Rexx and watch for ways to make your OS/2 machines think and act for themselves.

Out of the box, OS/2 Warp and LAN Server are fine for manual control of a lot of things. But OS/2 has more than enough smarts to think for itself (at least watch itself) if you are orderly and treat the machine as an around-the-clock entity in the first place. Learn some Rexx, and write StartUp and ShutDown code so the machine can get everything up and take everything down in a controlled fashion. Also write some "wrappers" for various utilities so that you can do other (automatic) things with them. The Comm server starts everything it needs from STARTUP.CMD and can shut down and reboot itself from some other code I wrote.

= LAN Server installation is very modular, serving double-duty for Installation and Configuration.

We backed off a couple things for fear of starting an unwanted Installation until we realized this. You should be able to install just the on-line docs, or just read them from the disk (in the Books folder). They are named with codes, but still just INFs, so I just copied and renamed them with long file names.

= Neato administration and reporting feature: DSPDOMDF.CMD, or DiSPlay DOMain DeFinitions.

This Rexx script should be run from an ADMIN logon at the server for full reporting, though you can run it from any OS/2 requester with an ADMIN logon. It basically runs through a set of NET inquiry commands and parses their output into a report of your entire setup that can be redirected into a file.

  • Definitely* do this regularly as an additional backup and

change-logging procedure.

IBM Launches Chinese OS/2 Warp

Announces support, training, channel programs, 16 software vendors, 6 OEMs announce support for OS/2 Warp

BEIJING, 19 April 1995. IBM today announced the immediate availability of the Chinese version of its award-winning operating system, OS/2 Warp Version 3.0, the first simplified Chinese 32-bit operating system.

At a major launch event in Beijing today, six major Chinese and international computer manufacturers (OEMs) announced their plans to support Chinese OS/2 Warp, and 16 Chinese and international software developers (ISVs) announced commitments to develop native OS/2 Warp applications.

IBM also announced comprehensive support and channel programs to help advance the Chinese software market, including a new software distribution structure, certification and training programs in partnership with 12 Chinese universities, and a software service and support infrastructure.

The announcement in Beijing was celebrated throughout the city, with OS/2 Warp hot air balloons in the university and computer districts, hundreds of OS/2 Warp kites flying near Tiananmen Square and thousands of OS/2 Warp balloons given away in Beijing's business district.

The launch event in Beijing is the fifth in a series of major international OS/2 Warp launch events, following the February launch in Japan, and last October's events in New York, London and Sydney. IBM has shipped more than 2 million copies of OS/2 Warp worldwide in less than six months on the market, bringing OS/2's installed base to well over 8 million. The Beijing event today was attended by more than 1000 people, including representatives from the Chinese Ministry of Electronics Industry (MEI), university faculty and staff, customers and business partners. It will be followed by events in Shanghai and Guangzhou in the next two weeks.

"IBM has made a long-term commitment to the Chinese software market," said Mr. Bob Timpson, general manager of IBM Greater China. "We are working with partners in all aspects of the software business, from development to distribution, as well as government ministries and customers, to ensure we build a world-class software infrastructure appropriate to China's needs."

The Chinese version of OS/2 Warp was localized and manufactured in mainland China, in partnership with Great Wall, a Beijing-based software development company, and tested by Tsing Hua University, one of China's most prestigious universities.

Sixteen ISVs were present at the launch event,to announce and demonstrate applications developed for the Chinese version of OS/2 Warp. Simplified Chinese applications announced include desktop productivity software, mission-critical applications and application development tools.

Several major PC manufacturers announced their support for Chinese Warp today. The IBM PC Company announced that OS/2 Warp will be available in either English or Chinese versions on all 8MB systems shipped in China by the summer of 1995. Legend, the largest PC manufacturer in China, announced that OS/2 Warp and IBM PC-DOS will be preloaded on all of its midrange and high-end PC systems. STI Certified Products also announced plans to preload OS/2 Warp on its multimedia systems. In addition, AST, Hewlett-Packard and Compaq made statements announcing that their PCs shipped in China are ready to run the Chinese version of OS/2 Warp.

At the event today, IBM China announced a comprehensive certification and training program partnership with an initial group of 12 Chinese universities, by which it will provide Certified OS/2 Warp Instructor training to hundreds of university professors over the next two years. IBM will establish Authorized Training Centers at 20 key universities to train software professionals in servicing and supporting IBM OS/2 Warp and LAN Server products by the end of 1995.

To ensure that Chinese software customers get access to IBM's industry-leading service and support, IBM China also announced the establishment of three regional support centers in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. IBM's support infrastructure in China is designed to provide customers with easy access to technical help and product information, while minimizing their costs. The support system features phone-in and fax-back services, with plans to offer electronic access consistent with that used by IBM customers worldwide.

IBM will ensure customers have ready access to OS/2 Warp and other IBM software products with a newly-established software distribution structure. IBM has named Crownhand Devlopment Ltd. and Beijing HOPE High-Tech Group as software distributors, and Nantian Software Engineering Ltd. and Beijing Read Technic & Trade Developement Co., as authorized dealers. The distributors will work with IBM to provide product education, service and support, marketing and other activities to dealers.

OS/2 Warp is the third version of IBM's award-winning 32-bit OS/2 operating system. OS/2 Warp can run in as little as 4MB of memory, and allows users to run DOS, Windows and OS/2 applications on the same desktop when installed on top of Windows. Each copy ships with a BonusPak of native 32-bit OS/2 applications, including a word processor, database, spreadsheet, fax program and Internet access. OS/2 Warp P3.0 for Windows is now available from IBM dealers and distributors throughout China at a list price of RMB 1350. OS/2 Warp P3.0 with WIN-OS2, or "fullpack" version, will be available in China in June.

OS/2 Sightings

"In the May issue of Car & Driver, there is a feature about Formula 1 racing boats (yes, boats). The one that the Car & Driver writer got a chance to play with (i.e., go ca. 150 MPH on a lake course) is plastered with IBM logos, including a prominent OS/2 on the cowl."

The LAN Systems Marketing Support Department was sighted in Mexico City, Mexico last month presenting the LAN Server 4.0 Jumpstart Program, a complementary two-day introductory course, for key Business Partners in the Software Channel. Similar events have been planned for Brazil, Canada, United States, Europe and the Asia/Pacific regions.

For more information on the LAN Server 4.0 Jumpstart Program please write to lansystems@vnet.ibm.com

As of April, 1995 IBM OS/2 Warp 3.0 CD has been seen for eight consecutive weeks at the top of the Ingram Micro Retail Products Best Sellers List in the category of operating systems and languages.

OS/2 Warp, by way of IBM Italy, is sponsoring the Giro D'Italia, a major European cycle race lasting 23 days. IBM will sponsor a series of Web pages on the race and will be publishing daily results. The URL is: http://www.europe.ibm.com/getdoc/psmemea/underground/warpgiro/.

OS/2 Warp is sponsoring a Cyberhunt Chase. This interactive game developed by TRACER Design, Inc. provides a fun and easy way to learn to navigate the Internet with IBM's OS/2 Warp. People can win prizes by following clues left behind by an elusive character named Vincent who is trapped in Cyberspace.

OS/2 Warp turns the INDY 500 race course into 2.5-mile information superhighway. An automatic transmitter-based timing system, running under OS/2, will post the times and speeds of every car on every lap run in practice, during the time trials beginning on May 13, and throughout the race on May 28.

Getting Started with OS/2 Warp

The new OS/2 Warp makes it easier to do more with your computer and your time, while other operating systems still keep you waiting. With OS/2 Warp, there's no need to wait any longer.

Order OS/2 Warp and LAN systems products today by contacting your IBM Authorized Reseller or call IBM directly.

 Country              Telephone number
 Argentina              319-6666
 Australia                62-1-132426
 Austria                   43-1-21145-2500
 Bangladesh            880-2-231-022
 Belgium                 02-225-3333
 Brazil                     0800-111426
 Bulgaria                 0035-92-731076
 Canada                   1-800-465-7999
 Chile                      800-203037 or 56-2-6332292
 China                     86-10-437-6677
 Croatia                   0038-51-624500
 Czech Republic     00422/67106111
 Denmark                45-45-93-45-45
 Finland                   358-0-4591
 France                    16-38-55-7055
 Germany                49-1003-317131
 Hong Kong            852-2825-7878
 Hungary                 00361/1654422
 India                       91-80-526-8344
 Indonesia               62-21-523-8200
 Italy                        167-017001
 Korea                      822-781-6114
 Malaysia                 603-735-8828
 Netherlands            030-383773
 New Zealand          0800-801-809
 Paraguay                 595-21-444094
 Philippines              63-2-892-3026
 Poland                     00482/6251010
 Portugal                   1-7915900
 Singapore                65-320-1234
 Slovakia                  00427-786-403
 Slovenia                  0038-661-1252-154
 South Africa           0800-126126
 Spain                       900-100-400
 Sri Lanka                941-440-810
 Sweden                   08793-1000
 Switzerland            01436-7478
 Taiwan                   886-2-776-7658
 Thailand                 66-2-273-4286
 United Kingdom    01329-242728
 United States          1-800-436-2255
 Uruguay                  598 2 923617

For Developers: The Developer Connection for OS/2 The Developer Connection Device Driver Kit (DDK) Order Numbers North and South America:

 Brazil       0800-111205      (The Developer Connection for OS/2)
              (011) 866-3222   (fax - The Developer Connection for OS/2)
              02-1-800-6120    (The Developer Connection DDK)
 Canada       1-800-561-5293
 Mexico       91-800-00639
 Mexico City  627-2444
 United States 1-800-6DEVCON
               (633-8266)
               1-303-330-7655 (fax)

In Asia Pacific: The Developer Connection can be ordered in Asia/Pacific countries. Please ensure that you dial the international access code applicable to your country before the listed phone number. Note that 61 is the country code for Australia.

  61-2-354-7684 (phone)      61-2-354-7766 (fax)

In Europe: The Developer Connection can be ordered direct from the IBM Software and Publications Center (SPC) in Denmark if you live outside the US, Canada, Asia/Pacific, Brazil, or Mexico. Please ensure that you dial the international access code applicable to your country before dialing the appropriate phone number. This applies to both telephone and fax orders. Operators speaking the following languages are available. Note that 45 is the country code for Denmark.

    Dutch 45-4-810-1400
    Italian  45-4-810-1600
    English 45-4-810-1500
    Scandinavian  45-4-810-1300
    French 45-4-810-1200
    Spanish  45-4-810-1100
    German 45-4-810-1000
           45-4-814-2207 (fax)

Electronic Support for Developers is provided through CompuServe, OS/2 BBS, and the Internet. Obtain technical support or use the forums to exchange messages, ideas, comments, or concerns with The Developer Connection for OS/2 team or other members.

The dedicated Developer Connection section on CompuServe is located in the IBM OS/2 Developer Forum 2. To obtain access to this section, please send a note with your subscription number to the Developer Connection Administrator at CompuServe user id 73423,2767. You will receive notification or access to the Developer Connection q section within 2 business days.

To access the forum, type GO OS2DF2 at the | prompt; then, select the Developer Connection section.

For CompuServe membership information, call one of the following numbers:

From Germany: 0130 37 32
From the United Kingdom: 0800 289 378
From other countries in Europe: (+44) (+272) (255 111)
From the U.S.: 1-800-524-3388
From elsewhere: 1-614-457-0802

Ask for Representative 239. You will receive a special introductory membership for IBM customers.

OS/2 Warp and LAN Server Reference Form

If you would like to share your experiences with OS/2 Warp or LAN Server, please fill out the following form and get it back to us. We are especially interested in entrepreneurs who use OS/2 Warp or LAN Server and people who use these products in unusual circumstances.

  • FAX: 407-982-2222
  • INTERNET ID: JDUBE @ VNET.IBM.COM
  • MAIL: Jeri Dube
  IBM Personal Software Products
  1000 51st Street
  Boca Raton, Fl 33434
GENERAL INFORMATION:

Name:_____________________________________________________________
City:______________________________________________________________
State/Province:______________________________________________________
Country:___________________________________________________________
Fax:_______________________________________________________________

Email
Address:______________________________________________________

Mailing Address: Street/P.O.
Box:_______________________________________
City:______________________________________________________________
State/Province:______________________________________________________

ZIP/Postal
Code:_____________________________________________________

INDUSTRY: ____Communications ____Cross Industry ____Distribution
____Education ____Finance ____Government ____Health
____Insurance ____Manufacturing ____Petroleum ____Process
____Transportation ____Travel ____Utilities

SIZE:

Annual Revenue US$: ____< $5M ____$5 - 50M ____$51 - 100M____$101 - 500M

____$501 - 999M ____$1 - 10B ____> $10B

 No. of Employees: ____Small <100 ____Medium 100-500 ____Large >500

 No. of Students if College/University: ____<5000 ____5000 - 10000 ____>10000

BACKGROUND:  (Briefly describe the business or situation where
you used the products.)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

NEED:  (What problem/situation existed which caused you to seek
a solution using OS/2 Warp and/or LAN Server?)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

DESCRIPTION OF SOLUTION:  (Please provide a detailed
description.  Describe any mission critical applications. For a
networking solution,  include a description of the network.)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

BENEFITS:  (Please describe business or personal benefits.)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Staff Biographies

Rob Bugh has worked for IBM much of his adult life. He is currently working as an OO software programmer porting Taligent's CommonPoint Frameworks to OS/2. When he's not slinging code, you might find him hammering one of the many mountain biking trails around Austin. "I like to brag about my spectactular face-planting endos to my friends but noone believes me 'cause I still have all my teeth."

Vicci Conway is a Senior Marketing Communications Specialist with the Personal Software Products Division of IBM. In that capacity she is the Program Manager responsible for Worldwide OS/2 Electronic Information Strategy and Planning. Vicci has been with IBM for 14 years, has been on CompuServe for 8 years, enjoys reading, motorcycling and computers. She can be reached at Internet: vicci@vnet.ibm.com or at CompuServe: 76711,1123.

Jeri Dube has been working for IBM for 12 years now. She is currently working as a Senior Marketing Support Rep, putting together communication vehicles for OS/2 Warp and LAN Server. She swears this is the best job she has had in a long time. Outside of IBM, Jeri spends time with her family, scuba diving, and practicing Yoga. Her favorite quote is: " Humanity has advanced, when it has advanced not by being sober, cautious and responsible but by being playful, rebellious and immature."Tom Robbins, Still Life with Woodpecker. Contact Jeri at Internet:jdube@vnet.ibm.com.

James Gillig is a Technical Planner and System Programmer at IBM. Software he has written includes sonar signal processing, radar signal processing, and point-of-sale systems. Places he has been include the Matterhorn, Moscow, and Magic Kingdom.

Since June 1993, Katy Hart has been at IBM with the LAN Systems Marketing Department. Currently, she is working with the Marketing Support Group. In her spare time, Katy enjoys mountain climbing, rebuilding antique cars, designing and sewing her own clothes, freelance wildlife photography and working on her autobiography entitled: Dealing with Dishonesty: Diary of a Pathological Liar. Contact Katy at lansys@vnet.ibm.com.

Richard Hawes has worked in the PC industry for too long with a slight detour into IBM mid-range systems when he joined IBM nearly seven years ago. Richard is now working in Basingstoke, England as a LAN Technical Consultant in a European Project Office where he provides assistance to IBM support organisations. Richard's spare time mainly revolves around keeping his young daughter from wrecking the house. His other hobbies include swimming, cinema and juggling. Low ceilings in his house prevent him from juggling five balls; otherwise, he would have surely mastered it by now. He can be reached at Internet:juggler.vnet.ibm.com.

Steve McNally develops promotions with Marketing Reps as the Editor for the IBM US Promotions and Price Actions Board. He spends his free time with his wife Kim and seven-month-old daughter, Olivia Hope, and tries to put in as much time as possible writing fiction of all shapes and sizes. A quote that came to mind while composing his bio was "It's like a sauna in here." Cosmo Kramer, in the sauna at a health club. He can be reached at Internet: smcnally@vnet.ibm.com.

Stacey Miller, an avid Phoenix Suns fan, spends her working hours as the Developer Connection and Device Driver Kit strategist for IBM. Prior to her current position, she was the first editor of the OS/2 Developer Connection Newsletter. (That's why we let her write for this newsletter.) Besides basketball, Stacey loves her dogs, her husband and trying not to fall off rollerblades. She can be reached at stacey-miller@bocaraton.ibm.com.

Chris Novak is a Senior Systems Engineer with IBM in Chicago. A Certified OS/2 Engineer, he works with IBM's Software Channel customers in IBM's BESTeam program. He's been with IBM for 17 years and has worked with PCs since DOS 1.0 days. Chris is married with three children. Between Little League, Soccer, Cub Scouts, and Chess Club, he has no life of his own. To create a life of his own, he travels extensively in the US presenting OS/2 Warp to software resellers. Chris can be reached at cjnovak@vnet.ibm.com.

Nilay Patel has been an avid OS/2 user and advocate since OS/2 v2.0 came out in March 1992. He was been working for IBM for almost 2 years marketing and supporting IBM RISC System/6000 and OS/2 Warp at the University of California. He is currently an undergraduate studying computer science at UC Berkeley. When not working, Nilay likes to go hiking in the Berkeley hills and enjoy a beautiful view of San Francisco. Just don't bother him on Thursday nights during Seinfeld and Friends. Drop him a note ... nilayp@ibm.net.

Patrick Senti joined IBM in 1989 as a commercial trainee. In 1991, he joined the OS/2 support group, where he made his first contact with OS/2. It quickly became his favourite opperating system. Right now Patrick is working as a Programmer for IBM internal application development on MVS systems. Patrick uses OS/2 at home and on small projects at work. Patrick can be reached at Internet: psen@vnet.ibm.com.

Duncan Strong started with IBM as a co-op student in 1993. He is currently starting a new assignment as Western Region Software Channel Manager for IBM Canada. Besides crafting witty bios, Duncan enjoys aimlessly wandering the 'Net in search of the Ultimate Home Page, swimming, and watching Simpson's re-runs (Not neccessarily in that order). Duncan thinks Star Trek is a documentary. Duncan can be reached at Internet: dstrong@vnet.ibm.com.

Collin Summers' company has been contracted by IBM to help in central Illinois with OS/2 LAN Server and all those other PC Software type stuff. Before IBM took up all his time, he did independent computer consulting in many areas, but focused on OS/2 work (Guess that's how he ended up working with IBM). Collin spends his free time, when there is some, tinkering around and looking for new and better ways to use computers. Of course, he only runs OS/2 and OS/2 LAN Server on his business' LAN. Collin is available at Internet: summers.vnet.ibm.com or 73422,3364@compuserve.com.

Jerome Yuzyk graduated from the U of Alberta in 1984 with a B.Sc. Psychology, specializing in Human and Machine Vision. In 1993 he set out on his own, forming BRIDGE Scientific Services. He consulted to various large and small business in the Edmonton area. Being an OS/2 user since 1992 in the midst of a sea of ignorance and misinformation Jerome started CAOS/2: Central Alberta OS/2 Users Group in August 1993. The group has grown to 100+ members since then. In October of 1994 he joined IBM Canada as a Retail Marketing Specialist, travelling the prairies talking to retailers, consultants and user groups about OS/2 Warp and OS/2 products in general. He also just started teaching OS/2 courses for IBM Education Services. When he's not doing any of that he's a hobby gardener and amateur landscape designer. And when not doing *that*, he takes apart various rooms in his house and (sometimes) puts them back together again.

Jerome can be reached at Internet: jerome.supernet.ab.ca.

Survey

We want to produce a quality newsletter that meets your needs. Please take a few minutes to answer the following questions and send your responses to:

  • FAX: 407-982-2222
  • INTERNET ID: JDUBE @ VNET.IBM.COM
  • MAIL: Jeri Dube
    IBM Personal Software Products
    1000 51st Street
    Boca Raton, Fl 334
  • IBM VNET: BCRVM1(WARPWIRE)

1. What other information would you like to see published in this newsletter? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

2. Is the length of the newsletter:_____ Too short _____ Too long _____ Just right

3. Does this newsletter improve your product knowledge of OS/2 Warp and LAN Systems products? _____ Yes _____ No

4. Do you currently have an OS/2 Warp or LAN systems product installed? _____ Yes _____ No

5. Do you plan to have an OS/2 Warp or LAN systems product installed? _____ Yes _____ No

6. Optional Name:___________________________________________________________

Address:_________________________________________________________
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WARPED, ETC.SOLUTIONS FOR A SMALL PLANET