# EDITORIAL PAGE

WARP 5: ENGAGE!
Logo courtesy of 21Warp

As this column goes to press, MBA is in the process of moving our corporate offices (see below). As part of this move, I had to investigate the installation of an ISDN line into our new building and check on compatibility issues with our vendor. When I talked with their technicians, I mentioned we make active use of OS/2. They reacted sarcastically that they didn't support "old technology." I found this somewhat comical but indicative of the times we live in. We must remember that OS/2 Warp 4, the last major release of OS/2, occurred in the Autumn of 1996 and corresponded with our "Connect the World with Merlin" project. Well, here we are almost three full years later; OS/2 is still vastly superior to anything Microsoft can dream up, yet it is considered "old technology." Go figure.

Rumors are rampant that a major release of OS/2 is in the offing: Warp 5. Such rumors have been around for quite a while, but there appears to be some validity to the latest crop circulating on the Internet. First, the timing is right for Warp 5. IBM has been trumpeting Year 2000 compatibility for all its products, particularly OS/2. If you look at the shrink-wrapped version of OS/2 in the retail stores today, you'll see a sticker on the outside highlighting the fact that OS/2 is Y2K compliant. However, if you read the fine print on the label, it mentions that you have to download a FixPak in order to attain Y2K compliance. Although Y2K is a major selling point, customers are put off by having to download software. Consequently, 1999 is an excellent opportunity to re-package OS/2 to capitalize on the Y2K frenzy.

When Warp 4 was released in 1996, several major enhancements were introduced, most notably Java support, the WarpCenter, support for OpenGL, and speech enablement/VoiceType dictation. At the time, these were considered significant enhancements. However, don't look for anything as ambitious in Warp 5 (although Win32 support would be a surprising and welcomed addition), just look for an incredibly stable and reliable product to withstand the transition through the millennium. If any significant enhancements occur, they will most likely be the result of features introduced with "Aurora," the new OS/2 Warp Server for e-business. This means users will probably be treated to Aurora's new journaled file system and support for symmetrical multi-processing (something that was planned for Warp 4 but never delivered).

Perhaps the most provocative rumor circulating on the Internet involves OS/2 software vendor Stardock Systems, Inc. (Object Desktop, Galactic Civilizations, etc.) who has been supposedly selected by IBM to test and market Warp 5. Although I've personally never been a big fan of Stardock's, the idea of marketing OS/2 through an independent company is very appealing since IBM itself never had a clue as to how to peddle the product. Whether this particular rumor is true or not, both IBM and Stardock are mum on the subject (which is typical for any prospective business relationship IBM cultivates).

The timing for Warp 5 is right, and so is the demand. In December, Mensys B.V., a prominent OS/2 retailer in Belgium and the Netherlands, tried to rattle IBM's cage by publishing an open letter to IBM which included a pre-order of 7,000 copies of Warp 5. Further, JMA Software Technologies in Sweden set up a web page to place advance orders (see 21Warp). Nonetheless, IBM remains silent about such commitments.

IBM has historically tried to tie major product announcements to Comdex. If this is true, look for Warp 5 to be released no later than April 19-22 in Chicago. Anything later than the Spring Comdex would put the release in jeopardy due to IBM's need to capitalize on the Y2K scare. It will be interesting to see if IBM has more than rumors for us in the Spring. Stay tuned.

MBA'S NEW ADDRESS: MBA, TBJUG & OS/2 CONNECT MOVES!

As mentioned at the beginning of this column, M. Bryce & Associates, Inc. (MBA) is in the process of moving our corporate address. Effective immediately, the company's offices is now located at:

M. Bryce & Associates (MBA)
3310 U.S. Alt. 19
P.O. Box 1637
Palm Harbor, FL 34682-1637

This change will also effect OS/2 CONNECT and the Tampa Bay Java Users' Group (TBJUG) - of which I am the current Secretary.

>>> PLEASE UPDATE YOUR RECORDS ACCORDINGLY! <<<

Because our new office is located only three miles from our old location, our telephone, fax, e-mail, and web sites will remain unchanged.

If you have any questions about this move, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Keep the Faith!

- Tim Bryce
Editor, OS/2 CONNECT

Copyright © M&JB 1999