Newsgroups: bit.listserv.sas-l
Date:         Fri, 31 Jul 1992 12:25:34 EDT
Reply-To:     Andy Norton <76350.1604@COMPUSERVE.COM>
From:         Andy Norton <76350.1604@COMPUSERVE.COM>
Subject:      OS/2 -- look before you leap!
Comments: To: SAS-L <SAS-L@AWIIMC12.IMC.UNIVIE.AC.AT>

----------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENT:   Information / Opinion
SUMMARY:   Think carefully before installing OS/2
           Check out IBMOS2 forum on Compuserve first
REL/PLTF:  OS/2
E-ADDR:    76350.1604@compuserve.com
NAME:      Andy Norton
ADDRESS:   Trilogy Consulting, 5228 Lovers Lane, Kalamazoo MI 49002
PHONE:     (616) 344-2191
----------------------------------------------------------------------

My understanding is that SAS Institute is steering people away from
PC-DOS towards Windows and OS2.  In addition, they are hinting that
Windows will probably not be a very good platform for power users, and
that OS2 would be better.  Thus my justification for this apparent
cross-posting:  SAS users are more interested in OS2 than most
microcomputer users because of the demands of SAS applications.

My main concern on PC's, by far, is SAS.  So I bought a copy of OS2 and
installed it.  I haven't installed SAS on OS2, but I hear rumors it's
very impressive.

OS2 is very interesting and promising.  But I urge everyone to
investigate more carefully BEFORE installing OS2 than I did!

1)  First of all, subscribe to Compuserve, and connect to the IBMOS2
forum.  This will cost some money ($12.60/hour).  But you might be able
to find a deal such as "first month free with a $25 credit".  In those
two hours you can learn a lot.  With the Compuserve software (CIM) you
can download messages and read them offline, helping to stretch your
dollars.

The IBMOS2 forum is an official support mechanism for IBM.  There are
IBM support staff members paid to monitor the forum and respond.  The
OS2 developers will often join in, candidly discussing the strengths
and weaknesses of their design issues.  Prominent industry columnists
such as John Dvorak and William Zachman are avid participants.  There
are also ordinary mortals such as myself.

2)  Buy "Inside OS/2 2.0", by Mark Minasi, et.al., published by New
Riders Publishing (1992, $34.95).  It helps (but didn't explain as much
as I was looking for).  The online OS2 documentation is cute
(hypertext) but it never has enough information to answer your
questions.  Printed documentation (in the box) is a few pamphlets
telling you how wonderful OS2 is.

3)  De-installing OS2 is not an easy task.  It can be done, but
involves activities such as rummaging through a bunch of directories
(nobody can tell you exactly which) deleting hidden files.  The OS2
documentation does not tell you how to get OS2 off your system once you
give up in despair.

I suggest you seriously consider backing up your entire system before
installing OS2.  Then you can reformat your hard disk if you have to.

4)  Learning OS2 takes more resources than learning PC-DOS.  I expected
to have an easier time learning OS2 fundamentals.  There is a real lack
of documentation describing basic concepts.  OS2 appears on the surface
to be intuitive, but I am finding it difficult.  [ I have little prior
experience with Graphical User Interfaces, but have twelve years
programming experience with MVS, VMS, CMS, and some PC-DOS and UNIX].
If you think MVS JCL is difficult ...

Watch out for this learning curve.  Remember, with PC-DOS, you have the
benefit of 11 (?) years of accumulated culture, wisdom, and
documentation.  On the cutting edge, you get some nicks and dents.

If you are in a big company where you have access to somebody who is
studying the OS/2 operating system full time, you will probably do
fine.  SAS Institute falls into this category.  On the other hand, if
you are providing technical support to yourself, you will probably have
to divert resources from your real job.

IBM technical support is remarkably friendly and cooperative, but
poorly informed.  In my experience, the Compuserve forum has the
answers to many questions that the 800-number does not.

5)  Don't depend on OS2 working.  Ideally, you should put it on a spare
machine off in the corner.  Don't depend on your DOS applications
working either.  Remember, DOS is being simulated by OS2, rather than
running native DOS.  [I think there are ways to run more-or-less true
DOS using "Dual Boot Mode", but I haven't figured them out yet.  I am
using DOS windows].

6)  Particular trouble areas include homebrew or off-brand machines
(such as mine), and machines with less than 8 megabytes of memory.

7)  Note that I am not particularly concerned with the bugs (although
2.0 really should be termed a Beta release).  I just work around
those.  I am stressing that installing OS/2 is truly a migration to a
different operating system (and a complex one).  This conversion is of
a different magnitude than installing Windows.

I *want* to like OS/2 and could be happy with it as the operating
system of the future.  I understand why SAS will run better on OS/2.
But I wanted to warn everyone that installing OS/2 on your machine is a
serious commitment.  The purchase cost is trivial next to the real
cost.

This is my perspective as an old-time mainframer dabbling in micros.
How about you PC hackers?  Who or what would you recommend OS2 for?
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