From: Steve.Withers@bbs.actrix.gen.nz
Subject: Re: Interesting tidbit from September 7, 1992 PC Week
Organization: Actrix Information Exchange
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1992 02:47:48 GMT

In article <1992Sep12.071313.8580@fcom.cc.utah.edu> brian@jaguar.cs.utah.edu (Brian Sturgill) writes:
> In article <1992Sep12.045233.23003@midway.uchicago.edu> sip1@midway.uchicago.edu writes:
> >In article <1992Sep12.040230.6425@fcom.cc.utah.edu> brian@jaguar.cs.utah.edu (Brian Sturgill) writes:
> >>People keep claiming that OS/2 has vendor support.  From whom?
> >>What vendor has announced for OS/2 that hasn't announced for NT?
> >
> >Lotus.  WordPerfect Corp.  Computer Associates.  Borland (except C++).
> >Novell (server).
> 
> Blush, you caught me... what I mean is do you know of anyone that will
> be on OS/2 that will not be on NT too.

But that would be silly. Clever vendors write for both. Silly ones put all
their eggs into the NT basket even while OS/2's installed base heads for the 2
million mark, maybe 3 million by year's end - sales that could be made *today*.

> 
> It's too early for WordPerfect to announce, but they go everywhere,
> NT won't be an exception.

A sensible company.

> 
> You're wrong about Borland... their whole product line is headed there.
> 

And Os/2....the 32-bit Object Vision shipped weeks ago and the C++ package is
now in beta and is due out soon. If they have any sense, they will recognise
the mood of the market and get their other apps out as soon as they can.


> Novell has committed to requestor support (so has Banyan), but as you say
> they have not committed yet to a server.  But as you know
> (and you do know... I e-mailed you the article :-)),
> that is at least in the process of being negotiated.
> (Though I guess it could fall through.)

I read on Newsbytes two days ago that they will be doing a server.....unless,
for some reason ,  they decide not too.....is this what you mean?
> 

> As to Lotus and Computer Associates -- do you have the least indication
> they won't be there?

Being sensible companies, they will cover their options and write for both.
CA, in the near future - according to their rep - and Lotus is already well
underway.

> 
> The big players will always be everywhere... the question for them is where
> will the latest apps with the latest innovations be introduced.
> You're saying this won't be on the Windows NT/3.X platforms?

Brian.....they are writing for both. OK? This is a big change frmo 4 month ago
when NTers were claiming NO ONE was writing for OS/2......

The difference is marked and the trend to OS/2 - at present - is being felt.
Even down here in the bottom of the world.....more and more corporates and
government departments are getting the message that OS/2 is a "good thing". I
know - I provide OS/2 support (among other things) to our corporate customers.
That involves helping advise them on install options.....but now the
applications queries are coming through. 
 
It is a shame that Aldus won't be writing for OS/2.....I have two copies of
their Pagemaker for OS.2 1.2 out on eval at the moment...I guess i will have
to sell them some other program - for OS/2 because they don't want to go back
to Windows now that they have seen a better system.

> ...
> 
> So there! :-)

So what :-). Sensible companies are writing for both - protecting themselves
against the unpredictable. It is interestin ghow the argument has shifted to:

"They are writing got NT, too." from "They aren't writing for OS/2." 

> 
> Now, since you've volunteered... answer the rest of the questions in the list!
> 
> Why did the NT developers conference have 4,600 and IBM is hoping
> for only 800 at their October conference?

Let's see what happens in October.....ok, NT HAD 4,600, but te 800 is still
pie in the sky.

> Why is half my e-mail from this group requests from people on how to
> get NT?

Because you are supporting it. They don't as me because i use OS/2....what is
the point of this question?

> If OS/2 is not having ISV trouble, then why is Zachmann
> complaining about all those vendors "following Microsoft down the
> garden path"?

Any problem OS/2 is having with ISV's is probably due to two things: The
failure of OS/2 1.3 - and the losses suffered hurt some people - as well as
the "wait-and-see" position many are adopting with respect to the two until
the OS/2 sales figures - and their implications - start to sink in. Plus - a
bonus reason - many developers are still in "Anti-IBM" mode even though things
have changed considerably in that quarter. IBM is not now the bully it was
even three years ago. Not to say it couldn't be, but that role seems to have
been usurped by Microsoft for now..... 

NT may be look good to those who see its potential....but we all know that
the very same potential has been inherent in OS/2 since version 1.1....but it
took several more years for that potential to be realised.

> 
> 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           :-) :-) :-)


Steve

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