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:
[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