From: sip1@ellis.uchicago.edu (Timothy F. Sipples)
Subject: Re: Interesting tidbit from September 7, 1992 PC Week
Reply-To: sip1@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: Dept. of Econ., Univ. of Chicago
Date: Wed, 16 Sep 1992 02:09:00 GMT

In article <7336@lib.tmc.edu> jmaynard@oac.hsc.uth.tmc.edu (Jay Maynard) writes:
>>No, I make purchase decisions on the word of people like Bill Gates,
>>Lee Reiswig, and John Soyring (as always I use a grain of salt... it's
>>a complex world).  Unfortunately Lee Reiswig and John Soyring have let
>>me down...
>...as if Bill Gates didn't when, after saying for years that OS/2 is the
>strategic way to go, MS dropped all support for OS/2 and REMOVED it from
>existing products. Why should we trust Bill Gates? By comparison, Lee Reiswig
>and John Soyring have, at worst, made little white lies. I don't trust Gates
>any farther than I can throw Redmond.
>>next time I deal with IBM I'll get it in writing.
>Is that true for MS as well?

I agree with the response, but OS/2 mavens, you conceed far too much!

Neither Lee Reiswig nor John Soyring made any statements even remotely
encouraging "June CSD" rumors, and let's put this to rest now.  If
anyone can supply information on the contrary, even quoting an unnamed
IBM source who is speaking in an official capacity for the company,
then go right ahead.  If you can't supply proof, well, let's end this
thread, OK?

Now, on April 7, at Comdex/Spring, Lee Reiswig demonstrated two
important future OS/2 2.0 components.  One was Novell NetWare Server
for OS/2 2.0, and the other was Windows 3.1 support.  I was able to
attend that rollout, and I have a tape recording of the presentation.

Reiswig referred to both the Windows 3.1 and Novell NetWare examples
as "demonstrations."  In particular, with the Windows 3.1
demonstration, he said nothing about dates, and qualified things by
saying it was "just a demonstration," and that Windows 3.1 support was
not in the OS/2 2.0 GA code.  The most he said was that they had made
"substantial progress" on the "uploading to 3.1."

A "demonstration" or "technology demonstration" in IBM-speak means,
"not ready for prime time," "no date fixed," and "may not even be
released, especially in this form."  That magic word carries a lot of
weight.

John Soyring was interviewed by Joel Siragher on the same day.  The
interview appeared in Issue 3 of OS/2 Monthly Magazine.  Here's the
relevant excerpt:

"Joel: I understand that sometime in June, you're coming out with a
32-bit graphic engine upgrade."

"John Soyring: ...Our top priority remains quality.  What we want to
do is get the full 32-bit graphics engine out among the beta testers
and get the feedback from them.  They'll tell us if it's right, and
when it's right we'll ship it.  We'll update OS/2 2.0 at that time, or
allow users to update as well as update our own manufactured line."

In short, Soyring ACTIVELY DISCOURAGED speculation on a June delivery
date.  Again, that was on April 7, 1992, at Comdex/Spring in Chicago.

In the next question, Joel asks Soyring, "What new features are coming
up for OS/2 2.0?"  Soyring enumerates a few, but the only specific
date he cites is "this summer" [1992] when he claims that many OS/2
multimedia application titles will start appearing.  He was right.
Shrinkwrap MMPM/2 was delivered this summer, as were such titles as
Illuminated Manuscript and Columbus's Voyage of Discovery.

Another poster here has related specific posts to this and other
Usenet forums by Microsoft employees with specific NT release dates,
many of which have gone by the boards.  I also don't have to remind
people about the Windows 3.1 dates which passed by like so many
signposts on a highway, some given by Bill Gates himself.

Now if anyone can provide similar evidence of an IBMer stating that
there would be a "June CSD," go right ahead.  IBM cannot be held
responsible for rumors.  If you believed them then you will have to
face those consequences on your own.

-- 
Timothy F. Sipples      | The OS/2 FREQ. ASKED QUESTIONS LIST is avail. from
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