The following is a consolidation of messages I
wrote shortly after attending the IBM PS/2 Forum
at the Washington, DC, Convention Center on
April 18, 1991.
------------------------------------------------
These notes and those in following messages are from
the IBM PS/2 Forum held at the Washington D.C.
Convention Center on April 17 and 18.
|
Before beginning to describe the sessions I attended,
however, I wish to point out that despite the name of
the seminar, the major subject was OS/2. And, to set
the record straight once again, you do NOT need a
PS/2 to run OS/2. Of course, IBM would LIKE you to
buy a PS/2 and they GUARANTEE that OS/2 will run on
PS/2s. After all, that is their primary business!
|
OS/2, version 1.3, will also run on most compatible
386 machines although earlier versions were more
picky. And hardware manufacturers have rushed to
correct incompatibilities identified in those
earlier versions. IBM, of course, does not
guarantee that OS/2 will run on other vendors'
machines, however, they have done a lot recently
to assure compatibility. Version 1.3, will also
run on most AT 286 clones although the coming
version 2.0 will require a 386 (this includes
the 386 SX which runs OS/2 OK).
|
Each of the following messages will discuss topics
covered in one of the sessions I attended. You are
encouraged to join in a discussion of the topics
and issues presented.
-----------------------------------------------------
The opening session introduced the "IBM 1991
PS/2 Forum 'Imagine the Possibilities'". This
was a slick, multimedia event intended as an
Executive Perspective. It was, of course, a
skilled sales pitch intended to build attendees'
confidence in IBM and IBM products. It did
showcase IBM's PS/2 product line as well as
their thrust into multimedia presentations
and advanced systems software for 386 and above PCs.
|
OS/2 obviously plays a central role in IBM's
strategy for computing in the '90s. They did,
of course, pay homage to DOS and Windows as a
limited platform for users who do not need a
full multitasking capability. They also introduced
the joint venture that IBM is working on with
Metaphor. The Constellation project should produce
a full object-oriented computing environment that
sometime in the future will run on multiple
hardware platforms. But for today and the near
to mid range future, IBM sees OS/2 as the
strategic software platform for individuals as
well as for organizations.
|
Several themes seemed to predominate the opening
session. These included:
|
a. IBM's advances in audio/visual (called
multimedia in current jargon) computing.
This included advanced displays; fast
computers; powerful video adapters such
as their new XGA 1024 x 768 256,000 color
adapters; and special video effects
coprocessors (such as capture and motion
boards).
b. DOS is not powerful enough or reliable
enough to serve as the platform for the
new advances in products and applications.
c. IBM is committed to interoperabilty of
their hardware and their software through
Systems Applications Architecture (SAA)
products. (The pull-down menus, icons,
and general screen layout you see in
Windows or the OS/2 Presentation Manager
are the Common User Access manifestation
of SAA.
d. OS/2, version 2.0 has now gone public and
will reach the public later this year
after the most extensive testing period in
IBM software history. More than a thousand
Beta testers and Early Experience Program
participants will participate in this test.
e. OS/2 version 1.3 is a strong, viable computing
platform NOW. IBM has dramatically lowered
the price of 1.3. It multitasks, has advanced
Presentation Manager (PM) SAA interface and
runs more than 400 PM and 2500 OS/2 character
mode apps today!
f. IBM says more than 600,000 copies have shipped
to date and they expect the total to exceed
1,000,000 by year's end.
g. The price of both current versions of OS/2 have
been lowered dramatically in response to user
demand!
h. OS2 Version 2.0 will be:
- A better DOS Than DOS!
- A better Windows Than Windows!
- A better OS/2 Than [the present] OS/2!
-----------------------------------------------------
The first session I attended was titled:
"OS/2 More Than Just an Operating System"
|
[By the way, all of the slides presented
were prepared using Lotus's Freelance
Graphics for OS/2--an excellent package
similar in concept to Microsoft's
PowerPoint which is only available in
the more limited DOS Windows environment].
|
This presentation started with the familiar
IBM slide depicting all of the components of
the Systems Applications Architecture with
special emphasis on the Common User Access
standard which:
o Provides a Consistent User Interface
o Allows Easier Learning and Skills Transfer
o Defines a set of guidelines for:
- Entry model
- Graphical model
- Workplace environment
o Will Evolve to Meet Future Needs.
|
The presenter, D.L. (David) Barnes, is from the
Personal Systems Briefing Center in Boca Raton,
Florida.
|
The components of OS/2 are:
o Multiple Threads, Protected Mode Operations,
and Preemptive Multitasking
o High Performance File System
o Adobe Type Manager [for better WYSWIG]
o Desktop, File Manager and Usability Features
|
He compared the generations of PCs as:
o 8088/8086 machines which could address only
one megabyte of memory of which DOS made 640KB
available to the user.
o 80286 machines which could address 16 MB of
memory and which in OS/2 version 1 required
programmers to swap 64kb program segments.
o 80386 (and 80486) machines which can address
up to 4 gigabytes (4 billion) of unsegmented
memory (the flat memory model) and up to
48 terrabytes of virtual memory. OS/2 version
2.0 will be a 32 bit operating system which
can manage multiple OS/2 as well as DOS
programs.
|
Well, the witching hour is too near, so I'll have
to stop for tonight. More tomorrow if you are
interested.
-----------------------------------------------------
Continuing from yesterday's session on
"OS/2--More Than Just an Operating System"
|
The chart on microcomputer characteristics showed
the 32 bit i386/i486 families of processors using
an operating system which supports Multiple
Virtual DOS Machines (MVDM) each of which will have
approximately 613 K of AVAILABLE memory after loading
DOS, etc. Each MVDM will have its own CONFIG.SYS,
its own AUTOEXEC.BAT and will support drivers and
Lotus-Intel-Microsoft (LIM) expanded memory.
|
OS/2 version 2 will support Multiple Concurrent
Applications:
o This requires the hardware assist of
the 386/486 processors in order to support
sophisticated memory management.
o OS/2 uses the memory "Protect Mode"
to give greater reliability to programs.
i.e. To protect programs from each other.
(If one crashes, it doesn't kill the
others).
o OS/2 supports "multiple threads" wherein
the application is divided into separate
processes which can run concurrently for
better performance. i.e. When you start
formatting a document for printing, the
thread can start and (if you have a long
document) control is given back to the
user while the reformatting continues in
the background.
o Interprocess communications to pass messages
control information and data between threads
or programs.
o Multiple levels of priority (preemptive
scheduling) allows the highest priority
thread to continue processing first. This
generally gives priority to the foreground
thread (i.e. to those things on which the
user wants to focus).
|
The High Performance File System is an important
feature of OS/2. OS/2 supports HPFS as an
"Installable File System", which means that when
needed, new files systems can be installed to
take advantage of new devices. HPFS:
o Manages large hard disks/large files in a
fast and consistent manner.
- Up to 2 gigabyte partitions
- Up to 16 partitions
o Built-in caching of directories, data and
file system structures
o Supports Large File Names
- Up to 254 characters
- Extended attributes
o Several times faster than FAT disks
o Uses "balanced B-tree" methods for speed
and limiting fragmentation
|
Adobe Type Manager (ATM)
o Built in font manager both for screen and
print
o Provides much more accurate WYSWIG screens
(What You See Is What You Get)
o Uses leading industry Postscript Type 1 fonts
- on screen
- to drive the defined system printer
(EVEN IF IT IS NOT A POSTSCRIPT PRINTER)
|
The OS/2 Presentation Manager includes a
Desktop/File Manager and Direct Manipulation of Files
o Uses icons to represent programs/groups
o Provides a program/group hierarchy structure
o Allows moving of items singly or in groups
o Provides for direct manipulation of programs
within groups
This exists in improved form in the 1.3 version, but
will be significantly improved in the 2.0 version.
It allows true "click and drag" operations. (I never
realized before though that I could click on a file,
drag it to the printer icon and drop it into the
printer--but it does work now)!
|
OS/2 comes with a Dual Boot Facility. If for any
reason you need to revert to plain DOS, you can
reboot your system with a command or icon.
|
The System Editor is a vast improvement over the
DOS line editor. It is a full-screen SAA editor
with pull-down menus, loadable fonts, etc. but
still puts out ASCII files. (I'm using it now).
o A windowed PM application
o Uses keyboard and mouse input
|
There is an extensive On-line HELP facility
and complete on-line documentation
o Search facility
o Electronic bookmarks
o Hyper text cross references
OS/2 Directions (futures)
|
Windows features:
o Common User Access (of SAA)
o 1 to 2 MB minimum
o < 30 Mb disk
|
OS/2 Entry Level (1.3) all of above plus
o 2 Mb target
o Common toolkit
o Converging LAN products
o Swappable DOS
o Threads
o Long File Names
|
OS/2 90s Platform (2.0)
o i386/i486
o 4 Mb
o 60 Mb disk
o 32 bit OS/2
o Multiple PM apps
o Lan requester/server
o HPFS
o Demand paging
o Multiple DOS apps
o 32 bit memory model
[and later]
o RISC support
o DOD security
o Full object-oriented
o Multi-processing
|
KEY FEATURES OF OS/2 VERSION 2.0
o Exploit capability of i386/486
o Upward compatibility for today's PM apps
o 32 bit flat memory model
o Demand paging
o 32 bit APIs
o Multiple Virtual DOS Machines
|
This concludes notes on the session titled:
"OS/2--More Than Just an Operating System"
-----------------------------------------------------
This is the first message about yesterday's
session on "IBM OS/2 & DOS+Windows 3.0"
|
The general session outline was:
o IBM OS/2 Directions
o User Environments
o Functional Comparisons
o Positioning Considerations
o Cost Comparisons
o Summary
o Demonstrations
In a one-hour session there was no way to cover
all of the desired details of this topic. The
handouts would suggest design for a two-hour
session.
|
First, they outlined formal agreements between
IBM and Microsoft. They said the strategic
agreements still exist, however, Microsoft has
diverted much of their OS/2 resources into
other (Windows) projects. The presenter, a
Mr. Bill Milam (I didn't get his card so don't
know his position), made it quite clear that
IBM was fully committed to OS/2 whether Microsoft
lives up to its commitments or not. My note
exclaims..."IBM playing hardball in public".
|
Division of Responsibility
--------------------------
WHAT WHO
DOS 4.x IBM Lead
DOS 5.x Microsoft Lead
Windows 3.x Microsoft Exclusive
OS/2 1.x IBM Lead
OS/2 2.x IBM Lead
OS/2 3.x Microsoft Lead
OS/2 Extended Edition IBM Exclusive
|
IBM OS/2 Directions
-------------------
OS/2 a Better DOS Than DOS!
OS/2 a Better Windows Than Windows!
OS/2 a Better OS/2 Than OS/2!
Systems/Network Management
OS/2 as "The Integration Platform"
|
USER ENVIRONMENTS
=================
o Standalone
- Dedicated resources
- Discrete applications
* Spreadsheet
* Graphics
* Electronic mail
* Word Processing
* Database
o Client/Server Computing
- Shared Resources
- Both standalone and server-based
applications
o Distributed System
- Distributed Applications and Data
- Distributed resources
- Enterprise-wide (agency-wide)
architected solutions
- Transparent access (means the
user need not know - or care -
where the data or programs
reside on the wide area net
Use the best resources where and
when needed.
FUNCTIONAL COMPARISONS
=======================
of the following systems:
o DOS + Windows 3.0
o IBM OS/2 Standard Edition 1.3
o IBM OS/2 Extended Edition 1.3
o IBM OS/2 Standard Edition 2.0
--------------------------------------------
This is the second message about yesterday's
session on "IBM OS/2 & DOS+Windows 3.0"
|
DOS + Windows 3.0
Processor Memory Mode # Win # DOS
(min) (min) Apps Apps
o 8088/8086 640 kb Real few 1
o 80286 1MB-16Mb Protected multi 1
o i386/i486 2-16 Mb Protected multi multi
|
DOS + Windows 3.0
o Expands functionality of DOS
o Icon-Based Program Manager
o 16 Mb addressable memory
o Limited multi-tasking
o Limited application protection
(limited reliability)
o Multiple Virtual DOS Machines
(386 Enhanced Mode only)
[More on following message]
-----------------------------------------------------
This is the second message about yesterday's
session on "IBM OS/2 & DOS+Windows 3.0"
|
DOS + Windows 3.0
Processor Memory Mode # Win # DOS
(min) (min) Apps Apps
o 8088/8086 640 kb Real few 1
o 80286 1MB-16Mb Protected multi 1
o i386/i486 2-16 Mb Protected multi multi
|
DOS + Windows 3.0
o Expands functionality of DOS
o Icon-Based Program Manager
o 16 Mb addressable memory
o Limited multi-tasking
o Limited application protection
(limited reliability)
o Multiple Virtual DOS Machines
(386 Enhanced Mode only)
|
IBM OS/2 Standard Edition 1.3 [avail NOW]
o 16 Mb Addressability
o Full multi-tasking
o DOS compatibility mode [one DOS box]
o Dynamic Data Exchange
o Advanced Graphical User Interface
[Command mode interface still there
too, just a click away]
o High Performance File System
o Multiple threads
o Preemptive scheduling
o Dual boot
o Advanced graphics
o Less memory [than earlier OS/2] (2 MB RAM)
o Less disk space required
o Improved performance
o Advanced text support
o Data and Network management
|
IBM OS/2 Extended Edition 1.3
o All features of Standard Edition
o Communications Manager for asynch and mainframe
connections
o Database Manager [Subset of mainframe DB/2
Structured Query Language relational database].
o LAN Requester
|
IBM OS/2 2.0
o Everything in OS/2 1.3 PLUS + + +
o Exploits i386/i486
o DOS and OS/2 Applications upwardly compatible
o 512 Mb physical memory addressable
o Flat memory model
o Workplace shell
o Multiple Virtual DOS Machines
|
BETTER DOS THAN DOS
o Multiple DOS Applications
o DOS Applications continue to run in
background
o DOS apps run in OS/2 windows
o Cut and paste between DOS and OS/2 apps
o Unique DOS applications
o Specialized Hardware Support
o Able to boot other versions of DOS
|
BETTER DOS THAN DOS [Memory Requirements]
DOS 5.0 Win 3.0 OS/2 2.0
Conventional
DOS Memory 620kb 570kb 620kb
But then you must add
Mouse Device Driver -14kb -14kb Incl
LAN Adapter Device Driver -30kb -30kb Incl
3270 Adapter Device Driver-20kb -20kb Incl
----- ----- -----
Available memory 556kb 506kb 620kb
|
-----------------------------------------------------
This is the third message about yesterday's
session on "IBM OS/2 & DOS+Windows 3.0"
|
Windows Better Than Windows
o OS/2 2.0 Runs All Windows Applications
o OS/2 2.0 Delivers Superior Performance
o OS/2 2.0 Provides Superior System Integrity
|
OS/2 Better Than OS/2
o OS/2 16 bit Compatibility
o Greater than 2,000 OS/2 applications today
o Greater than 400 PM applications announce
and/or shipping
o 2 billion $ invested by customers in
applications development for OS/2
|
IBM OS/2: THE INTEGRATION PLATFORM
o Base operating system services
o Advanced user interfaces
o Multiple communications services
o Relational database services
o client/server databases
o multiple hardware platforms
o multiple operating environments
o distributed applications
o distributed computing
o systems/network management
o Open Systems Architecture
|
POSITIONING CONSIDERATIONS
--------------------------
o User environment
o Application requirements
o data requirements
o connectivity requirements
o system integrity
o security
o systems applications architecture
o hardware platform
|
DOS Positioning Considerations
o 20,000 + applications
o Runs on entry level machines with < 2Mb memory
o Will continue to be enhanced over time
|
DOS+Windows Positioning Considerations
o Graphical solution for entry level or
immediate systems
o Designed for systems with > 1 Mb memory
o Good for personal productivity applications
o Supports entry level communications
o Will continue to be enhanced over time
|
-----------------------------------------------
This is the fourth message about yesterday's
session on "IBM OS/2 & DOS+Windows 3.0"
|
OS/2 1.3 (16 bit) Positioning Considerations
o Graphical user interface
o Full multi-tasking
o Full multi-threading
o Intermediate (286) and advanced systems
o 16 bit OS/2 designed for systems with
> 2 Mb of memory
o Ideal for Mission-Critical, Line-of-Business
Applications
o Supports Multiple and Simultaneous
Connectivity Protocols
|
OS/2 2.0 (32 bit) Positioning Considerations
o All of the factors for OS/2 1.3 PLUS +++
o 32 bit OS/2 designed for systems with
> 3 Mb of memory
o Enhances investment in DOS applications
o Can update host systems databases
o Good as client or server
o Will continue to be enhanced over time
|
COST COMPARISONS
=================
Components DOS+Win3(Neh) OS/2 SE OS/2 EE
[PS/2 55SX (2 Mb, 60 Mb Hard disk)]
$3295 $3295 $3295
Additional 1 MB 255
Additional 2 MB 495
DOS 4.0 165
Windows 3.0 149
OS/2 150 690
----- ------
TOTALS: $3864 $3445
Connectivity
Windows Connection 214 0
Personal Comm/3270 544 0
Asynchronous Comm 195 0
PC Lan Pgm 1.3 66 0
LAN Support Pgm 1.1 800 0
----- ------
TOTALS: $5962 $4480
|
MIGRATION CONSIDERATIONS
o Train technical staff
o Evaluate current application environment
o Select and test hardware platform
(new inventory)
o Determine application availability
o Certify new applications
o Migrate in-house applications
o Prepare deployment plan
o Select pilot groups
o Migrate power users first/train end users
o share migration experiences
o Adjust plan if necessary
------------------------------------------------
This is the fifth and last message about yesterday's
session on "IBM OS/2 & DOS+Windows 3.0"
|
SUMMARY: COMMON BENEFITS
o Greater return on investment
o Better utilization of resources
o Increased user productivity
o Increased application performance
o Reduced systems complexity
|
SUMMARY: KEY DIFFERENCES
o Memory requirements
o Memory addressing
o Compatibility
o Multi-tasking
o Multi-threading
o System integrity
o IBM Support
|
SUMMARY: Functionality
Win OS/2 OS/2 32 bit
Factor DOS 3.0 1.3 Directions
------------------------ ----- ----- ----- ----------
Integrated Comm/Database 640kb 16 Mb 16 Mb 4 Gb
Base Operating System Y Y Y
Single Task Y Y Y Y
LAN Client Y Y Y Y
Task Switching N Y Y Y
Graphical User Interface N Y Y Y
Inter-Task Communications N L F F
Multi-Tasking N L F F
Application Protection N N Y Y
Integrated Comm/Database N N Y Y
LAN Server N N Y Y
Distributed Data Management N N L F
Full 32 bit API N N N Y
Portable OS/2 N N N Y
Y=Yes, N=No, L=Limited, F=Full
SUMMARY: IBM OS/2
o System Integrity
o Multiple Threads
o Preemptive multi-tasking
o Protected Mode Exploitation
o Enhanced Memory Management
o High Performance File System
o OS/2 2.0 MVDM - Better Than DOS
o Investment Enhancement
o Connectivity -- Lan/Host
o Database services
o Systems and Network Management
o The Integration Platform
o Systems Applications Architecture
o IBM Commitment to OS/2
---------------------------------------------------------
At the IBM PS/2 Forum, I also attended a session
on Client/Server Computing. This session explained
IBM's strategic concepts for how organizations will
integrate the various computing and data resources
"enterprise-wide". This session was not
specifically focused on OS/2 although it showed the
importance of OS/2 to enterprise-wide computing.
IBM describes Client/Server Computing as the
situation where a client computer requests a
service and the server provides the service. For
example, in my job, we intend to provide a central
database of electric power industry information on
the Energy Information Administration mainframe
computer. But we want to process the data at remote
PCs. We have programs on the PCs to perform screen
manipulation, editing of data, and handling of the
two way communications between the system and the
user. Client/Server computing allows us to combine
the responsiveness and user-friendliness of the
PC with the high speed data processing power,
multiuser access and good security of the mainframe.
|
The objective of client/server computing is to
provide transparent access to any computing or
data resources in the organization including:
o Any-to-any communication
o Multivendor support (imagine this from IBM!!)
o Interoperability between systems
IBM wants to provide end-to-end management of
multivendor systems and comprehensive service and
support.
INFORMATION SYSTEM CHALLENGES
o Information Viewed as a Corporate Asset
o Extending the reach of computing resources
o Expanding role of intelligent workstations
o Emergence of workgroup LAN systems
o Multivendor environment
o Increasing role of standards
I will not report the details of this session here
as it is a topic above the level of a PC operating
system. However, it is clear that IBM sees OS/2 as
a strategic component of enterprise-wide systems.
Indeed, IBM stated that OS/2 is now viewed within
IBM as being as important as their mainframe
computer operating systems such as MVS!! That is
a dramatic statement for IBM, in my opinion and
represents a fundamental shift in their corporate
view of the world.
|
One interesting (to me) piece of information was the
existence of IBM software to support the automatic
update of software on PC workstations from a central
site in client/server networks. That may solve a
potential problem we had identified in C/S -- that
of keeping the client software up to date and in
synchronization.
-----------------------------------------------------
This last week, I attended the IBM OS/2 Forum
at the Washington Convention Center. Probably
the most impressive product I saw was the
Describe Word Publisher from Describe, Inc.
This is a word processor designed especially for
OS/2. It uses the advanced features of OS/2
to provide WP with unparalleled performance.
It is really fast, has true WYSWIG using the
built-in Adobe Type Manager Features of OS/2
to manage fonts, and, most impressively, uses
multiple threads for its processes. Using
multiple threads, it is almost always able to
return control to the user immediately after
starting any process. The started process
itself continues in the background, but in
the meantime, the user can continue to perform
other functions in the foreground.
|
To me, it appears to be the most dramatic
improvement in the state of word processing
since the introduction of Word for Windows
moved us into the WYSWYIG arena. Compared to
Describe, Word for OS/2 is a sloth -- as Word
is just a slightly adapted Windows application
rather than a native OS/2 application.
|
An example of the threads is that Describe
has a very advanced spell checker/thesaurus
capability. Specifically, it does not suffer
the delays normal to spell checking (at least
in Word). It almost instantly displays the
first candidate for correction and continues
to check the rest of the document in the
background while you are considering the first
suggestion. Furthermore, it displays the
thesaurus entry right away and fetches the
definition of the word as well by using
another thread.
|
I intend to invite the Describe folks to demonstrate
to the Windows and OS/2 SIG in the next couple of
months. Would any of you be interested in attending
this demonstration? We meet on the fourth Wednesday
of the month at 7:30 PM in Rockville at the Monroe
Street offices of CPCUG.
|
Meanwhile, I've posted several messages summarizing
some of the presentations at the forum. You are
welcome to join us in the OS2 Conference. The
assertions being made by IBM are that the
new OS/2 2.0 will be:
- A BETTER DOS THAN DOS
- A BETTER WINDOWS THAN WINDOWS
- A BETTER OS/2 THAN OS/2
