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Lets face it, Windows kinds sucks. I want more of a stable operating system that does true multi tasking. However I am not sure if OS2 is for me. I had a couple come into my work place tonight really making OS2 look like the greatest thing in the world. I am still not sure. I need OS2 to do a few things for me before I consider downloading it. First off, can it play file formats such as mp3 and mpg? Are there IRC and AIM Programs out there for OS2? Can I read and format Word documents on OS2? Can I easily use it with my ADSL? Is it as simple to operate as Windows? (Screen shots would be helpful…) If someone would answer those questions I would be grateful. I plan on putting a different operating system on the smaller of my two hard drives and I am not sure id it will be OS2 or Linux. And any opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Other notes. Will it work well with my home built system?
AMD Atholon Thunderbird 1000 mghrtz
GeForce MX Video Card
Maxi Muse Sound card
D-Link 10 base networking cardThanks A lot:)
You're gonna have trouble installing OS/2, because unless you get a version 5.0 or higher (which will cost $300+), the installer won't recognize hard drives larger than 8 gigabytes. This is what happens when a gigantic company like IBM abandons a project but their customers just won't let it go. IBM doesn't even provide tech support for OS/2 anymore; they do, however, provide technical support for Linux.
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The only thing I foresee trouble with is your sound card (of course, if that doesn't work, you won't be able to play MP3s.)
If you're really serious about playing around with OS/2, I'd strongly recommend another forum, such as www.os2.org (where I usually hang around). In my opinion, there's just too much trolling and junk on this forum.
CaliSpell, to update Warp 3 to use large disks costs you exactly one download (and Warp 3 is cheap to have on eBay, as is Warp 4).
There's no such thing as Warp 5, by the way (it's either called Warp 4.5, eCS, or MCP).
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Calispell is right !!! OS/2 is a blot on IBM's image as a computer software company, and IBM did right by finally orphaning it ! However, I will TRADE you a copy of OS/2 Warp Server v 4.0 for something if it's good enough. Email me if you are interested. I'll even send you the 1300-page manual !
I think OS/2 is a piece of junk, so I don't want it, but apparently one man's junk is another man's treasure. There are even some people that like MacOS !
By the way : Calispell and me are not the same person, but she doesn't really have a website so she's been linking to mine instead. I am who I really say I am, on my website.
IBM is the greatest !!!
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Brett,
I don't think any of your requests should be an issue. I run Warp 4.5 (Warp 4.0 w\ Fixpack 14) and Ecomstation, along with NT4.0. Ecomstation is a new client based on Warp Server for E-Business. I've also had two versions of Linux on my machine. I run Telocity SDSL through an Ethernet card with no problems. I connect to AIM with a very nice Java version, along with ICQ (there are native and Java versions)I also run Yahoo messenger Java version. There is a great mp3 player called Z, and mpg files will play.
To check for supported device drivers go to:
http://service.software.ibm.com/os2ddpak/index.htm
I've not heard of your sound card but check out the chipset and look for drivers based on the chipset. If it has ESS you'll have no problems.
For other good sources go to :
http://os2.about.com/compute/os2/index.htm?rnk=c1&terms=OS/2
http://www.bmtmicro.com/home.html
http://www.indelible-blue.com
http://www.stores-online.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/SSI/main.d2w/report
or do an internet OS/2 search!
Good Luck!
Ryan
PS: IBM still supports OS/2
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yes, the only problem afais is your sound card, HD Size abouth 8GB is not the problem
For Word Processing you'll have f.e. StarOffice 5.1.a, mp3 mpeg is possible, and so on.
Have a look on: http://de.os2.org (page is also loohable in english)
Thomas
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Just a little bit of nitpicking about IBM not supporting OS/2:
While it's absolutely correct that IBM doesn't want to deal with home users (leading to nearly no improvements regarding specifically the SOHO market), there's still a considerable volume of OS/2 in use at big companies (I know since I make a damn fine living supporting OS/2 - it's a niche market, but a nice one.).
The support for these companies will be carried through till at least 2006. All improvements to OS/2 from IBM will be geared towards the requirements of these large customers (which is one of the factors that OS/2 has a mighty fine IP stack, a great Java engine and other goodies).
If someone's interested in using OS/2 as a home user, a better way to go would be with eComStation (eCS), as these guys really seem to care about user concerns.
Then again, the cheapest way to go (providing cheap net access) is just to get a copy of Warp 4 from eBay or such and then throw fixpacks at it.One more thing: I've been hearing the "OS/2 is dead" mantra for at least 8 years now. Seeing that I can still make the aforementioned living of it seems to prove otherwise.
Another 'one more thing': you asked if OS/2 would be as easy to use as Windows - actually, I find Windows to be horribly difficult to use, so your mileage will vary. But it's an undisputed fact that OS/2's Workplace Shell is the most powerful windowing environment across all platforms (which sometimes makes it harder for new users to get acquainted with it.).
(leave out Pi to reply)
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You'll be able to do all the things you mention with OS/2. Your system looks OK, except for the soundcard. Also, you'll need updated hard disk drivers before you even begin install. Once you get these, you shouldn't have problems installing OS/2 on your system. Email me privately if you need more help locating the files you need.
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I've been running OS/2 as my main desktop for more than ten years. Prior to that I'd run only character (text) oriented operating systems on various non-pc platforms.
OS/2 is by far the best operating system for PC's. It runs nearly all DOS programs, nearly all Windows 3.x programs, and quite a few Unix programs via Xwindows. It is unGodly stable, has the most beautiful, flexible, and modifiable graphical user interface ever fielded by anybody.
For IRC there are a number of programs native to OS/2. For instant messaging I use the Java version of ICQ, and for AIM I use the Windows 3.11 version of the client from AOL/Netscape. Both are seamless and work well.
As far as large disks are concerned, all you need do is apply the latest version of IBM1s506.add and Fdisk.com files to your install disk by simply copying them over the originals. The updates are free from Software Choice (ibm.com).
As for people saying that OS/2 is 'trash', they must not know what they are talking about. I'll gladly debate anyone on the superiority of this operating system.
OS/2 is very scaleable. It will run nicely on a 386sx/16mhz processor with as little as 4mb ram all the way up to multi-multi-multiprocessor monsters. You can strip the beautiful gui and substitute simpler, less memory intensive ones, or just discard it and go command line or Xwindows only.
I routinely go for weeks and weeks without rebooting my machine and when I do, it is usually to boot my teeny win98 partition to play Counterstrike! or to make a change in configuration such as installing a new card.
The 3d accellerator drivers for Warp work so well that changing video cards is as simple as swapping the card. The drivers automatically detect the new card without so much as a reboot or a 'found new hardware' dialog.
OS/2 is used by nearly all the world's banks, the Associated Press, Kmart, Wall Mart, Sears..... The reasons being flexibility and stability mainly.So remember next time some ignorant fool says OS/2 is 'crap' or 'dead' that every check you ever wrote or received, every shirt you bought at a major store, every financial transaction of any sort (nearly) was done on OS/2.
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Oh, I forgot to mention:
I'm running an Injoy router on Warp Connect (warp 3) to share my cable modem with all my other machines (two other warp machines, a Sun Sparcstation 4/330, a Data General Mv4000dc minicomputer, a Vaxstation 4000/60, an Atari Mega ST4, and my wife's Windows 2000 box.)
OS/2 is the easiest to use in my opinion because of it's consistency of operation ( to the point of anal retention! ).
I use Star Office from Sun Microsystems for my office requirements. It will read/write/convert MS Office 2k or earlier documents including Word, Excel, etcetera.
For MP3 playing etc I use PM123 an OS/2 native MP3 player very like the Windows players including the cool skins.
As others have said, you won't have any trouble running Warp on your system but for the sound card. Most cards come with OS/2 drivers though. Might want to check your driver cd for them. Sometimes they bury them kinda deep on these disks.
I'm running an Intel Celeron 700, 256mb ram, ess audiodrive 1688 sound card, Geforce 256 AGP video card with 32mb ram, a 30gb Western Digital hard disk, HP 8200 atapi cd burner, and a scsi HP flatbed scanner.To burn cd's I use the RSJ Cdwriter software and can multitask my brains out while burning. There are free burner apps for Warp but I like RSJ a whole lot. To scan I use "SANE - Scanner Access Now Easy" which is a unix app ported to Warp.
Routing DSL/ADSL is just as easy as routing bidirectional cable. I could use a Proxie, but I prefer NAT.
As you can see from the eclectic/heterogenous network I run, that OS/2 'works and plays with others' very very well. It is the heart of my network.Unlike Windos and it's various incarnations, if you do have a problem under OS/2 there is allways an identifiable REASON. I fix computers/networks for a living and that is one of the most frustrating aspects of Windows. It fails and like all the kings horses and all the kings men, you really have your work cut out for you. OS/2 is rationally designed and consistent to the n'th degree.
The DOSBOX is so good you can not only run ANY version of dos in a window, you can also run ANY 16bit PC operating system in a window such as Xenix or Geos or whatever.Name another operating system with that breadth of support:
OS/2 Runs:
16bit and 32bit OS/2 programs
Windows 3.11 and it's associated programs
All versions of MSDOS/DRDOS/PCDOS etcetera
Xenix and xenix programs
Linux programs
NetBSD/OpenBSD/FreeBSD programs including Xwindows.
Some Windows NT/95/98 programs such as Quake II. Win32 support is still in a beta stage and is known as Progect Odin. It is pretty far along as you can tell from the Quake II claim, but it won't run MSOffice yet....
OS/2 runs all this software together, on the same desktop, seamlessly as though the non-native programs were native.
So, even in the unlikely event you are unable to find an acceptable OS/2 native program, OS/2 will run someone else's program for you and you'll never notice that it isn't an os/2 program.
Mpeg viewers, wave players, and most multimedia formats are useable without adding any third party software at all.
For those who may not know, Windows NT is built on OS/2 to a fair degree though NT it isn't nearly up to OS/2's level yet and probably never will be. MS and IBM split about the time Windows NT 3.51 was being developed. NT 3.51 was originally slated for release as "OS/2 version 3".
IBM continued to develope OS/2 and released versions 2.0, 2.1, 2.11, 3, 4, 4.5, and server versions/variants. MS will probably never catch up. All they can do is spread lies and doubt.
If you need any help getting your OS/2 machine up and running, you just drop me a line. I'll be more than glad to help.
Regards,
Jeff
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As you have seen there is more good using OS/2 than not! Additionally, using the IDE drivers from DDK, OS/2 have no problems recognizing and installing on a partitioned 20GB hard drive. Go with the older sound cards like SB-Pro or Crystal Audio and you will not have a driver problem. The design of the multimedia extensions for OS/2 (aka MMPM/2) makes the older sound cards produce better quality than Windows could hope for.
By the way, the features which Microsft are touting now as being new, cutting edge, OS/2 had them working and perfected a long time ago. Windows 9x is just a broken version of OS/2. Don't believe me? Look at the 98DDK you can download from Microsoft, there are still references to OS/2 code, but unfortunately the same problems fixed in OS/2 were not fixed in Win9x. DSL/Cable broadband is supported and can be seamless if using a LAN to a router (dhcp) and cable modem. Just tell OS/2 TCPIP to use DHCP. 3COM network cards are supported with an abundance of drivers.
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