From: brian%jaguar.cs.utah.edu@cs.utah.edu (Brian Sturgill)
Subject: Re: X is a hack? (was Re: NT goes "late Beta" in 8 weeks!)
Date: 29 Aug 92 12:17:29 MDT
Organization: University of Utah CS Dept

In article <1992Aug29.103953.12089@actrix.gen.nz> Steve.Withers@bbs.actrix.gen.nz writes:
>In article <1992Aug27.145816.24108@hellgate.utah.edu> brian%jaguar.cs.utah.edu@cs.utah.edu (Brian Sturgill) writes:
>> 
>> I see no reason to spend my money
>> on OS/2 2.0 apps until it's clear that OS/2 will have as many apps
>> as NT.  With the way OS/2 2.0 currently handles 16-bit windows apps
>> I see little reason why a user that uses mainly Windows apps would prefer
>> it to Windows 3.1.
>
>Well.....OS/2 as a multi-tasker makes Win3.1 look sick. *Smooth* is he word. I
>tried running SAS under Windows - 3 minute response from any other app *if* I
>could get to one! No problem under OS/2.
> 
>If all you do is use a GUI for cut and past and a bit task-switching.....well
>Win3.1 does that just fine. 
> 
>If you want to several thiks at the same time - both within one and/or
>multiple apps (multi-tasking multi-threaded apps), then OS/2 is King and
>Win3.1 is a waste if time.

I'm glad we agree.

...
>> If you do mainly command-line stuff then OS/2 is
>> clearly better.
>
>You would use the command line - because you won't buy any apps. I hardly ever
>see the command line under OS/2. Mind you, I hardly ever see WinOS/2 either.

Wow, you most own BOTH PM apps.  :-)

>> have will be on NT long before they are on OS/2.
>
>This will only happen if people close thier eyes to the power (and the grace)
>that OS/2 brings to the desktop - today. It would not be merit that caused
>this.

Why is it "closing their eyes to the power... OS/2" to want to be
running the better (in terms of features) of the two OS's.  I suspect a
fair portion of the initial crowd on NT will be people that have bought
OS/2, but found it didn't quite live up to what they need.

>With almost 1.5 million copies sold since the beginning of April, OS/2 looks
>like it has a reasonably bright future. 
> 
>Apparently 300,000 copies have been sold in the past 10 days........

Yea, like I believe this.  I originally believed IBM shipped 1,000,000
in the first 6 weeks or so and got burnt.  I'll believe that number only when
IBM announces it...  and if they really were selling things that fast
they would be announcing it.

>
>> >2) Why are willing to use 16-bit apps under NT and not OS/2?  Sounds like
>> >a double standard to me.
>> 
>> I'm not willing to use 16-bit apps under NT ... yet, currently things
>> are far too slow.  On the other hand I do believe that NT will, when it
>> hits true beta, support 16-bit apps better than OS/2 does currently.
>> Why would anyone believe that OS/2 can/will support 16-bit windows apps
>> better than NT?  At the very least I would expect that Microsoft will
>> do things to make it difficult for IBM after the current contract expires.
>
>What...dirty tricks instead of relying on a quality product? I can't *wait* to
>buy software from a company like that!

Dirty tricks?  It's dirty tricks to enhance your own product?  The Cairo
stuff alone will be enough to blow away Windows compatibility on OS/2.

>
>> No I "don't like" OS/2 because I don't believe it will have
>> the app base I believe NT will. And yes I realize that attitudes like
>> mine are what keeps it that way.  The point is that attitudes like mine
>> seem to be prevelent in most of the PC world at the moment.
>
>It's called the "herd instinct" and is a substitute for rational
>thought.....:-)

See my .signature. :-)

>Steve
>-- 
>Steve Withers - Wellington, New Zealand | End the two-party duopoly. Vote 
>Steve.Withers@bbs.actrix.gen.nz         | for the Mixed-Member Proportional 
>withers_s@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz            | (MMP) voting system on Sept. 19th. 
>**** Happy user of OS/2 v2!! ****       | Give yourself a vote that *counts*!

Brian
-- 
C. Brian Sturgill                       *** OS/2 2.0 is for YOU! ***
University of Utah                  Microsoft needs some competition, but
Center for Software Science        -I- want to be one of the many using NT.
brian@cs.utah.edu; CIS: 70363,1373           :-) :-) :-)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.advocacy