From: sip1@ellis.uchicago.edu (Timothy F. Sipples)
Subject: Re: OS/2 vs NT features list, Revision 1.3
Reply-To: sip1@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: Dept. of Econ., Univ. of Chicago
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 01:53:22 GMT

A couple points on Brian's list:

(1) OS/2 2.0 has remote booting (RIPL), remote maintenance (network
distribution of CSDs), and remote installation (needs only a pair of
floppies to bootstrap the PC -- can even use response files to answer
configuration questions).  I know LAN Server supports all three.  But
there's no reason, at least in principle, why you couldn't do the same
with, say, IBM TCP/IP.  You don't need a new installation program.
You just set up your twin diskettes, copy the OS/2 diskettes to the
server, configure properly, and away you go.  (If anyone has such an
installation with TCP/IP, let me know.  We don't have a lot of PCs in
our office, but I'm toying with the idea of getting
installation/maintenance onto the network in this fashion.)

(2) OS/2 2.0 is available on CD-ROM.  At least, I list the part number
in the OS/2 FAQ List.

(3) LAN Server 3.0, currently in beta, supports peer-to-peer resource
sharing.  I don't know the specifics, but TCP/IP isn't the only way
now.  It is a "wide" beta -- in the U.S., anyway, you can pick up the
phone and call a 1-800 number to order at a discounted price.

(4) It might be worth mentioning the support and guarantees for each
product.  OS/2 2.0 has what I like to call the 30/60/90 plan, which
consists of a 30 day no questions asked money back guarantee, access
to 60 days of toll free technical support (the 60 day limit has not
been enforced), and a 90 day compatibility money back guarantee (if it
doesn't work on your hardware, we'll make it work; if we can't, we'll
refund your money).  IBM also offers electronic bug reporting
(CompuServe mail address, which is reachable from the Internet),
official CompuServe, IBM NSC BBS, and IBM OS/2 BBS support, and
unofficial support (Usenet, for example).  CSDs are free
(electronically, from a friend, dealer -- wherever), except if you do
not have a specific problem AND you request the CSD on diskettes from
IBM (a bit better than WordPerfect's interim update policy, actually).
Supplementary documentation is cheap and easy to get (just speak with
the Librarian at any IBM office).  FAX back documentation/literature
is available through an 800 number in the U.S.  Ad hoc patches are
available the same places CSDs are under much the same terms.  IBM
maintains an official ftp site on the Internet.  IBM releases employee
written software at no charge (programming tools, utilities,
applications, etc).

We don't know about the support structure for Windows NT.

(5) On-the-fly disk compression.  OS/2 2.0 now has this (in the form
of DCF/2).  I don't know if NT does -- I haven't heard mention of it.

(6) REXX.  I didn't see much mention of this in your list -- perhaps I
missed it.  I also have no idea whether Windows will include any
language of this sort in the base OS.  REXX is awfully powerful, and
it serves quite well as a language shared by applications -- one need
not learn a new language for each communications program, for example.

(7) Netware.  Considering that Netware is by far the most popular LAN
on the market, it probably should get some mention.  OS/2 2.0 runs
client today and server shortly (it has been demonstrated).  I'm
amazed no one talks about this -- Netware server on OS/2 2.0 is a BIG
deal (to me, anyway).

That should do it for now -- I might think of some more in the future.

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