Oh for the day's of OS/2

OS Nostalgia overwhelms me....or maybe it's the flu...

Published on May 18, 2009 By Korwyn In Personal Computing

As I look at the RC of Windows 7, I have to wonder (longingly) where - no how - did IBM screw up so badly? I'm not just talking about the loss of their OS/2 user base (which they screwed over), but all the smaller developers that invested so much into OS/2, which was the most stable PC OS platform (except for AmigaOS) for its time, with application segmentation that is still not even approached by Windows. And Win32s wasn't such a bad API. Really...it wasn't. Honest.

Not to mention that was my first introduction to Galactic Civilization and Stardock. I still have (someplace) my GalCiv for OS/2.

It is a shame though. I thought for sure IBM would pull out when the Air Force and Navy bought ~300,000 copies of OS/2, but instead that turned out to be the end.

Comments (Page 2)

Korwyn

on May 18, 2009

psychoak

comment 9

The real question to ask is how shitty OS/2 would be today if they were still around. Companies have a habit of degrading in quality. I doubt OS/2 today would be the clean system it was then.

Good point. The virtue of a highly competitive enviornment is that it does force one to be 'leaner and meaner', but once the leanest and meanest wins out, they tend to get a bit flabby.

jacklv

comment 14

My point of view is not technical, just business. OS/2 was DOA. MS had already outmaneuvered the Blue. I'm no fanboy of Gates, but was happy to see the wingtiped, white shirted clones of Perot take a hit. In the 70's they were the most arrogant, got my hand in your pocket people I have ever experienced.

@jacklv

I know you directed that at Frogboy, but I have to agree with you. I still don't know that Bill actually outmanouvered them per se, but more that they shot themselves in the foot (ok, both feet and the rear end) with their: "Verily, we are IBM and thou shalt bow before the altar of our big blueness, and shalt deem it an honour that we allow thine unwashed selves to gaze upon us," attitude.

jacklv

on May 19, 2009

Korwyn

reply 16

"Verily, we are IBM and thou shalt bow before the altar of our big blueness, and shalt deem it an honour that we allow thine unwashed selves to gaze upon us," attitude.

Amen

edit: in these times, it appears to be a direct shot to the head/

Phoon

on May 19, 2009

white shirted clones of Perot take a hit

NICE!

A few years ago my department got outsourced to this rotten sob's company. We all became Perot employees.

That man talks a good game but his company does not operate that way at all. The biggest group of LIARS and double back jointed self ass kissers I've ever seen.

Thankfully, the company that purchased us terminated the Perot contract.

Uvah

on May 19, 2009

quote...i wonder what that little startup company name is...unquote.

STARDOCK!!

Don't shoot me

jacklv

on May 19, 2009

Korwyn

reply 16

I still don't know that Bill actually outmanouvered them per se

not to argue, just put a finer point on the issue. Gates had already made the best (luckiest?) investment in business history. The distant second is Hunt's Daisy purchase. Not to praise either, both have ethical questions.

jacklv

on May 19, 2009

Phoon

reply 18

double back jointed self ass kissers

I have not heard this phrase before now. hope you don't mind if i use it in the future.

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