An important Brazilian newspaper (O Globo) is giving its readers a book with computer-related information ("Help! Informatica"). Among lots of data ranging from the best printer to choose to the ideal motherboard to upgrade, it addresses operating systems.
It is interesting to see how the various PC operating systems are rated. For instance, OS/2 is quoted as (freely translated):
"This operating system from IBM is known by its stability."
Among other things, it says that there is a natural tendency for Windows users to migrate to Windows 95, but that OS/2 should also be considered, mainly because it is on the market for several years. It follows saying the advantages and disadvantages of OS/2:
"Advantages:
Better stability with 16-bit applications
Advanced capabilities, as voice recognition
Disadvantages:
Not so popular, so there are less professionals used to it.
Few products use its exclusive features (although it can also
run Windows applications)"
The book also says that OS/2 has a good history of success among big corporations, but its culture is not so popular among "common" users.
As you can imagine, the purpose of this discussion is not to criticize any of the opinions attested on this publication (which I particularly think is very good), but to show the image that is being passed about OS/2. More and more OS/2 is being connected to the idea of a good OS, but maybe too good to an average user, or so sophisticated that it is adequate only to corporate use.
Each time something like this is said, the SOHO OS/2 users get more and more isolated, feeling a lack of support. I can say that now, at least here in Brazil, many OS/2 users (some since version 1 or 2) are migrating to Windows platforms, mostly because of this sense of loneliness. Even IBM does not seem to care much about this fact.
Consequently, we are facing a "domino effect": more people leave the OS/2 community, non-OS/2 users avoid getting near OS/2, because even old OS/2 users are leaving it and so more people leaves OS/2 community.
If this chain of events cannot be broken, the future of OS/2 is most uncertain.
As an aside, this publication is being distributed together with the newspapers to some MILLION people here in Brazil. You can imagine what effect it can have as this word spreads...
Please do not hesitate to send me any Brazilian specific news and information you would like mentioned in this column.
Rafael Donnici de Azevedo is graduating in Systems and Electronics Engineering at PUC-RJ and does research in the field of Parallel Proccessing. Rafael has worked with OS/2 since 1993, and has made many presentations of OS/2 versions 2.1 and 2.11 in a project between PUC and IBM. Currently, he is the Web Page Editor for the Rio de Janeiro OS/2 Users' Group.
