From: robert.heuman@rose.com (robert heuman)
Subject: OS/2 shipments
Organization: Rose Media Inc, Toronto, Ontario.
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 10:50:35 GMT
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Date Entered: 01-25-93 05:47
To enter into the discussion (:-)) of the number of copies of OS/2 
shipped by IBM, do not believe that the number means that number were 
sold.  For example, I just received an upgrade to the Extended 
Services, (new version, to work with Advanced LAN 3.0). Guess what, 
included was a copy of OS/2 2.0 (without the service pack, of course), 
which I did NOT need.  I already had it.  So now I have two (2) copies 
of OS/2 for one machine!  Of course, IBM will count that as another 
copy of OS/2 shipped.... which it was.  That I did not need it, and 
did not really want it, doesn't count, does it?

Enjoying the IBM crapola.  I have a SVGA card with 512K, and see that 
the 2.1 beta will not support it.  Do they really expect me to move to 
it if they will not support MY requirements:
1. 1024x768x16, NOT 1024x768x256,
2. Proper password security (as far as I can tell, it is NOT there),
3. The ability to have a window near the bottom of the screen and NOT 
have the menu go off the bottom when I click on the top left button,
4. The ability to print without replacing my three year old, 8 bit 
buss parallel printer card,
5. The proper recognition and support for my 16550A uart,
6. A CONFIG.SYS that actually makes sense,
7. Documentation that tells me something and does not say "if you 
want this information, purchase XX.XXXXXX from us"... Like how do I 
redirect LPT1 to LPT1.OS2?  I cannot find it in ANY of the offline or 
online documentation.
8. A description (PRINTED) of all of the executables included with 
OS/2, so that something like DSPINSTL can be figured out!
9. Control over the screen fonts, so that I can select the specific 
font I want for EACH purpose in menus, windows, etc., instead of one 
for global use. (Sorry, I really believe it is two, but that is 
insufficient)
10. An explanation of how to make programs such as VPPROF (the GEM 
environment) and WordPerfect work in a DOS window under OS/2, yet 
still work under DOS when the user does a BOOT /DOS. The explanations 
supplied are an insult to any user without the inclination to 
experiment for hours. (There aren't any!)
11. An installation procedure that does NOT require me to feed through 
disks 8-15 to install two items, one on disk 8 and one on disk 14, as 
a subsequent install, then have to run the service pack (disks 1, 2 
and 12, and then, every time, the Display driver disk even though the 
display driver is NOT being changed?  Who has all that time to waste? 
(Wonder what IBM would do if I billed them at my chargeable rate for 
the extra time spent doing this type of installing? - Be interesting 
to invoice them for several hundred dollars, wouldn't it.)
12. A BBS that actually has some support for OS/2 here in Toronto. 
Lots of stuff for OS/2 1.2 and 1.3, but virtually nothing for 2.0!
13. Telephone support that could answer technical questions, such as 
how do you protect passwords, instead of trying to tell me to buy 
their Servicextra package, for several thousand dollars. (re Advanced 
LAN, of course.)
14. A syslog entry that is readable.  I get errors, record them and 
HAVE NO IDEA what the error report means.  Its all in meaningless 
numbers and words, and there is NO explanation that I can find to 
tell me how I CAN INTERPRET it.  I want to deal with it myself, NOT 
call IBM with each one. [Does anyone know where the documentation for 
this is?]
15. A way to use the Canadian [English] setup.  I see it in the table 
but there is NO selection for it re keyboards, so how do I select it?
16......... etc.

Perhaps some of this is fixed with OS/2 2.1, but I get the feeling 
that it isn't from the message traffic I see.  Feel free to flame me, 
but e-mail me directly unless the information is of benefit to all.

Bob


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