From: goyal@utdallas.edu (Mohit K. Goyal)
Subject: IBM's plans for OS/2 2.0  (*VERY* long)
Organization: Univ. of Texas at Dallas
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1992 21:08:20 GMT


Here's a copy of a posting I found on Prodigy which apparently came from a
file called IBMPLANS.ZIP. The person who posted it opined that it was from
IBM.

They take some shots at a Microsoft ad. The funniest thing I've come across
so far is where they admit that Windows runs Windows apps faster.... WHEN
you're running one at a time. They tried loading Word under Windows and
under OS/2. Windows took 7 seconds and OS/2 took 9. THEN, they tried doing
the same thing while running XCOPY in a DOS window in the background.
OS/2's time went up by 67% to 15 seconds. Windows' time skyrocketed by over
500% to 44 seconds.

Man.... I'm never goin back!
------------------------------------

[******** TEXT FILE BEGINS *******]

Subject: OS/2 Issues Update                                 
                                                            

Following is a list of current issues surrounding OS/2 in the market today,
and attached below are comments about those issues.
                                                            
1. OS/2 Quality
2. OEM
3. Performance
4. 1992 Product Plans
5. Response to MS Win 3.1 vs OS/2 Document
6. Preload


OS/2 QUALITY                                                

OS/2 -- A QUALITY SUCCESS STORY                             
                                                            
 To produce the best possible quality product, a new development process
was instituted for OS/2 2.0.  This new process included small, empowered
development teams and an unprecedented beta test program involving 30,000
users.
                                                            
BUGS                                                        
                                                            
OS/2 2.0 consists of about 3.5 million lines of code. Since we began
shipping, fewer than 10% of our users have called the OS/2 Support Line.
More than 75% of these calls are usage, installation, and setup questions.
Only about 7% have turned out to be related to substantive product problems.
We have identified approximately 50 issues that are causing these calls.
(Not all are bugs.  Some are for specific device support that we did not
intend to include until later releases, but we're now working on due to
customer interest.)

of these, 5 are significant impact problems -- such as failure to install
on a certain configuration or intermittent traps on certain systems.  These
are associated with specific configurations that affect a small percentage
of our users.  Two of these five have been fixed, and there are temporary
workarounds for the other three. About 20 can cause a major function to be
impacted, but the system continues to work, albeit with an inconvenient
workaround.
                                                            
The remaining 25 or so are inconveniences which affect enough customers that
we have made them a priority. An example is failing to recognize that a
window has been closed prior to Shutdown.  Upon reboot, the window is open
and the user would have to click the mouse button twice to close it again.

SERVICE STRATEGY                                            
                                                            
We are continuing to work these problems in priority sequence and have
posted a number of fixes on COMPUSERVE, OS/2 BBS, and Internet
                                                            
Users who have a problem not yet fixed can call the OS/2 Support Line to get
registered for future fixes.  We will notify them when it is available.

In the fall there will be a Performance and Service Pack which will include
all available fixes plus some performance enhancements.  The Pack will be
available either electronically or on diskettes for a nominal charge
(materials and handling).
                                                            
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION                                      
                                                            
FIXES CURRENTLY ON COMPUSERVE
o Can't install MFM/RLL (older family 1) disk drives
o If the swapper file expands to a partition boundary, it won't shrink
  again until system reboot.
o Some Western Digital chip sets can hang during system install
o Some Tseng chip sets in SVGA mode experience display corruption going to
  and from a full screen Virtual DOS Machine
o Intermittent trap in the Win OS/2 session after exiting WIN-OS/2 on
  4MB systems.
                                                            
TIPS AND TECHNIQUES                                         

Now available on the bulletin boards:  a new version of the OS/2 Tips and
Techniques document.  It includes answers to the most commonly asked
questions on the support line.
                                                            
SUPPORT LINE CALLS                                          
                                                            
The great majority (maybe as much as 80%) are from home users. This
percentage is no doubt skewed by the fact that home users don't have
IBM SEs or corporate help desks.  However we view this as a positive
indication of OS/2's acceptance in a market segment not commonly associated
with OS/2.
                                                            
OTHER ITEMS                                                 
                                                            
In addition to the 50 substantive issues previousely mentioned, there are a
number of other items reported on the Support Line that we have logged for
consideration for future OS/2 releases.  These items, which account for the
remaining 18% of the Support Line calls, fall into two categories.

The first category consists of relatively innocuous bugs that have an easy
workaround. For example, icons in the Minimized Window Viewer are not lined
up.  (The user can always handle this by selecting Arrange from the popup
menu.)  The second category items are not bugs at all, but are product
suggestions or requirements -- for example, an alternate method of
performing a function.
                                                            
There are also some reported problems that we have decided not include as
priority items for fixing. These involve very unique configurations, often
of multiple devices of uncommon brands doing strange things like daisy-
chaining a tape drive onto a diskette controller.
                                                            
 OEM STATUS

We are committed to ensuring OS/2's widest possible acceptance in the
industry, across all computer manufacturers.  To that end, we have been
testing OEM machines to verify compatibility with OS/2.  To date, more than
222 OEM machines have passed compatibility testing on OS/2.   In addition,
we are aggressively pursuing a program to sign contract with OEM vendors to
preload and/or resell OS/2 with their equipment.  Larry Rojas, the director
of OEM business development in Boca Raton, has a group of field marketing
reps calling on OEMs for the purpose of gaining these commitments.  To date,
they have signed contracts with Scandic Products in Sweden and Reply in the
U.S..  Negotiations are in progress with Olivetti, Dell, Compaq, ICL, AST,
NEC, CompuAdd, and Northgate.
                                                            
PERFORMANCE                                                 
                                                            
The Microsoft advertisement on Windows 3.1 vs OS/2 performance is misleading.
The scenarios in the ad are a narrow subset of the kinds of work that a user
might perform.  It is true that when running Windows applications one at a
time with nothing else on the system, OS/2 will run about 20 to 25% slower
                                                            
However, DOS apps run faster on OS/2.                       
                                                            
And when more than one task is being done, OS/2's performance advantage
becomes evident.  Because of OS/2's superior multitasking, it can run
background tasks -- such as file copying, communications, or spreadsheet
recalculation -- with no visible impact on foreground work.  With Windows,
the cursor movement can lag behind the mouse movement, and displaying of
characters can lag behind keyboarding to the point where the system becomes
almost unusable until the background job is done.           
                                                            
An illustrative scenario from National Software Testing Laboratories (NSTL):
To load MS Word for Windows on a Mod 57 with nothing else running takes 7.2
seconds with Windows 3.1 and 9.3 seconds with OS/2 2.0.  If you do the same
load with an XCOPY in the background, Windows load time jumps to 41.1
seconds, compared with 15.3 seconds for OS/2.

  In addition, we're continually working to improve performance. In the fall,
we're planning to improve performance for all systems, but especially those
with the minimum configuration of 4MB RAM.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                                                            
MS TESTING METHODOLOGY
                                                            
-An objective performance tester would question the methodology.
- The results published are for very small subtasks
- The test scenarios appear to be Microsoft's own, not that of an objective
  third party. They say the scenarios are "like PC World's", but what does
  that mean?
- They have not identified the vendor performing the test
- They did not indicate the specific configuration.  This makes it difficult
  for another party to replicate and validate the tests.
                                                            
OS/2 APPLICATIONS                                           
                                                            
As applications become available that take advantage of OS/2's capabilities,
e.g.  multithreading and 32 bit, OS/2 performance can be expected to get even
better.

*********1992 OS/2 PRODUCT PLANS **********                 

There will be a lot happening in the OS/2 product line through the remainder
of 1992.
                                                            
ENHANCEMENTS TO THE BASE PRODUCT
In the fall:  32-bit graphics engine; Windows 3.1; device drivers to support
XGA, SVGA, and 8514 displays in seamless mode.
                                                            
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS                                    
We're continually working to improve performance. In the fall, we're planning
to improve performance for all systems, but especially those with the minimum
configuration of 4MB RAM.
                                                            
NEW PACKAGING
In the fall, OS/2 will be available in a package containing 2 diskettes and
a CD.
                                                            
EXTENSIONS
Available in June, the Multimedia Presentation Manager/2 extensions and a
toolkit.  IBM OS/2 Pen Extensions and a toolkit are planned for availability
in late '92 or early '93.
                                                            
DISTRIBUTED SYSTEMS ANNOUNCEMENTS
OS/2 is already the Integrating Platform on the desktop.  These new
announcements will build upon OS/2's networking capability to extend that
integration to another dimension -- the Integrated Enterprise Network.
                                                            
FOR DEVELOPERS
Device Adaptation Kits to aid in the development of device drivers for SCSI
devices (June), displays (in the fall), and printers (fall).  A Developers
Migration Kit for migrating Windows 3.0 applications to OS/2 will be
available this summer.

PERFORMANCE AND SERVICE PACK
We'll package up the available fixes to known OS/2 problems together with the
performance improvements and make them available in the fall in a Performance
and Service Pack.
                                                            
APPLETS PACK
In the fall, we plan to offer a package of approximately 200 productivity
applications, tools, utilities, games, and bitmaps
        
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION                                      
                                                            
ENHANCEMENTS TO THE BASE PRODUCT
Available to installed customers for a nominal fee (media and handling).
Free (except for connect time) via electronic download.

PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS

The focus will be on improving performance in those tasks and functions in
which the user interacts with the screen (as opposed to background
processing).
                                                            
NEW PACKAGING

Expect to see us continue to make use of CD packaging in the future.  The
added capacity of the CD makes it easy to bundle other programs with OS/2,
allowing us to get creative in promotions with application software vendors,
as well as in bundling our own offerings.
                                                            
MULTIMEDIA MMPM/2
.. adds audio and limited image capabilities to the OS/2 2.0 32-bit base.
It exploits the features that OS/2 delivers that are required to make
multimedia effective.  This includes multitasking and the flat memory model
-- required for handling data objects many megabytes in size.
                                                            
The MMPM/2 architecture enables new functions, devices, and multimedia data
types and formats to be added as technology advances.
                                                            
PEN The IBM OS/2 Pen Extensions provides OS/2 2.0 support with special
features for pen-based personal systems.  The software allows the user to
annotate images online, use gesture commands to invoke fastpath operations,
soft keyboards for quick updates to spreadsheets and notes, as well as use
of freehand drawing, handwriting/ink capture, and character recognition for
limited data entry.  Included are utilities for a pop-up keyboard which
allows customization of the soft keyboard.
                                                            
LAN SYSTEMS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Coming this fall are a new release of LAN Server, enhancements to
Communications Manager, a Developers Toolkit for Distributed System Services,
Lotus Notes, and LAN Enabler 2.1.  The CID (Configuration/Installation/
Distribution) product will greatly enhance the ease of installation of OS/2
and other products across networks, by offering automated and unattended
configuring, distribution and installation.
                                                            
DEVELOPERS' MIGRATION KIT
This kit will make it possible to port applications and drivers with little
or no code changes.  The developer can generate applications and drivers for
Windows 3.0 and OS/2 2.0 from a single source.  The kit includes - Conversion
utilities for resource files, definition files, icons, cursors. Bitmaps and
help files.  - MIRRORS.DLL (debug) - Headers, libraries, samples -
Documentation
                                                            
SERVICE AND PERFORMANCE PACK
Available to installed customers for a nominal fee (media and handling). Free
(except for connect time) via electronic download.

APPLETS PACK
We're currently in the process of selecting these applets from the many
submitted by software vendors and IBMers, so we can't mention any specifics,
but stay tuned to this space.  We'll probably offer a CD version of this also.

RESPONSE TO MS DOCUMENT ON WINDOWS 3.1 VS OS/2

There is so much misleading information in this document that it is hard to
know where to start. Following are some brief responses to individual items.
                                                            
RELIABILITY                                                 
- Microsoft claims that Windows 3.1 eliminates UAE (Unrecoverable Application
  Errors).  It doesn't eliminate them, it renames them to GPFs (General
  Protection Faults). When a GPF occurs it still recommends that you reboot
  your system.
- Win 3.1 still does not make use full use of the 386 hardware protection
  as OS/2 does.
                                                            
MINIMUM CONFIGURATION COMPARISONS                           

- MS's tables are apples to oranges comparisons - The tables quote system
requirements for the most basic, limited-function mode of Windows' three
modes.  Then, when functions are compared, MS quotes the function of the mode
with the largest system requirements.
                                                            
THE NUMBER OF OS/2-CAPABLE MACHINES
- MS quotes Infocorp as a source. Infocorp says they do not recognize the
  number attributed to them.
- Infocorp says 28% of the install base is OS/2-capable
- The majority of machines shipped today are OS/2-capable. This percentage
  will grow very rapidly in the next few years.
- Microsoft's numbers for Windows-capable machines include 286s, which don't
  support the full Windows capability.
                                                            
OS/2's OBJECT-ORIENTED WORKPLACE SHELL
- MS says the OS/2 Workplace Shell requires a learning curve.
- This depends on where you're coming from. MAC users are usually instantly
  productive, new users likewise learn quickly.
- Much as DOS users had a short learning period to move to the next generation
  interface -- Windows, Windows users will have a short (a few hours)
  learning period to become familiar with the next generation object-oriented
  Workplace Shell.
- Windows users who have become familiar with the WPS find the old Windows
  GUI to be primitive by comparison.
- Users can always choose to have it the old Windows way and operate with
  menus instead of objects.  They can even choose an option which gives the
  screen the look and feel of Windows.
                                                            
CONNECTIVITY                                                
- MS says OS/2 has limited host connectivity. Unsaid is the fact that they're
  talking about the OS/2 base product only.
- The connectivity is delivered in OS/2 Communications Manager, the most
  comprehensive host connectivity tool available:

  - The connectivity is delivered in OS/2
  - All the DOS/Windows asynch emulation packages work on OS/2 as well
  NETWORK CLIENT
  - No company has more experience and capability in networking than IBM.
  - OS/2 is the industry's best desktop client for connecting to complex
    enterprise networks.
                                                            
APPLICATIONS                                                
- MS shows tables comparing the number of OS/2 graphical apps with Windows
  graphical apps
- Since OS/2 runs DOS, Windows and OS/2 graphical apps, OS/2 will always have
  the most applications
                                                            
INSTALLING DOS-BASED APPS                                   
- MS makes a point of the difficulty of installing DOS apps on OS/2 --
  configuring settings, etc.
- Very misleading.  We ship a default setting that will run most DOS apps
  just fine.
- OS/2's settings capability gives you flexibility if you want it
- In our opinion, OS/2's DOS settings dialog is easier to use than Windows'
  PIF editor.
                                                            
FLEXIBILITY
- MS tries to turn a virtue into a vice by decrying the fact that OS/2
  offers the user choices in interfaces:  command lines, menus, or
  object-oriented.
- We believe in letting the user have it their way.         
                                                            
WIN 3.1 ON OS/2
- MS says OS/2 runs a modified version of 3.0.  One of the key modifications
  IBM made is the kind of parameter validation MS touts as a reliability
  improvement in 3.1.
- Win 3.1 on OS/2 will be available in the fall.            
                                                            
INSTALLATION
- It takes longer to install OS/2's 20 diskettes than Windows' 6. True.
  That's because you get so more with OS/2:
                                                            
  - Three operating environments                            
  - The Workplace shell                                     
  - Pre-emptive multitasking, Adobe Type Manager, etc.      

- In the fall, OS/2 will be available on 2 diskettes and a  

CD-ROM

- In the fall, automatic, unattended installation over a network will be
  enabled with the CID product

WINDOWS HAS MORE DEVELOPMENT TOOLS                          
                                                            
- OS/2 has a full complement of development tools.          
- Many of the leading edge tools originated on OS/2         
- OS/2 is the preferred development environment -- even for Microsoft.
                                                            
WINDOWS SCALABILITY                                         
- Pen Windows appls don't exist.  NT doesn't exist. Their scalability is not
  proven
- The Microsoft portability guide clearly indicates problems running DOS/
  Windows apps directly on NT.
                                                            
DEVICE DRIVERS                                              
- OS/2 print drivers support 205 printers, which address the vast majority.
  More are coming later this year.  - SCSI drivers are coming in June - More
  display drivers are coming in the fall.
                                                            
FONTS                                                       
- Windows uses the proprietary TrueType fonts               
- OS/2 includes Adobe Type Manager, the universally accepted industry
  standard.
                                                            
PRELOAD                                                     
o OS/2 2.0 at no additional charge
o IBM Mouse at no additional charge                         
o System is ready to use right out of the box. No installation required
o The preload version of OS/2 has some additional features:
 o Additional pre-installed information aids to help users get productive
   quickly:

  - Welcome and Quick Tour
  - "For the DOS User" tutorial                             
  - Application install tutorial                            
  - Hardware system overview for hardware
  - Service and support information                         

 o Additional useful utilities

  - Uninstall utility for easy pruning of unrequired features
  - Bootable diskette and System Backup Utilities to easily allow you to
    backup and protect your system

 o Additional Workplace Shell folders to better organize the additional
   features on your desktop

  - Welcome and Quick Tour Folder
  - Additional Tutorials Folder                             
  - Features Folder
  - Service and Support Folder                              
  - About Your System Folder                                
  - Applications Folder                                     
  - Configurations Tools Folder                             
 
                                                            
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