Keeping the OS/2 Flame Alive

nanday writes "Ever wondered what happened to OS/2? With IBM officially abandoning the operating system last year, users are relying on a third party version of OS/2 -- and, increasingly, using free and open source software to keep it alive." From the article: "According to Haverblad, the main reason that users stay with OS/2 is for 'features that Windows and Linux don't have yet.' He singles out the REstructured eXtended eXecutor (REXX), an interpreted programming language known for its ease of use, a 'rock solid kernel,' 'excellent multitasking,' and low system requirements. Haverblad also claims a lack of viruses and spyware and, referencing a report on OS/2 Warp Server by Secunia, fewer security vulnerabilities." Newsforge is also an OSTG site.

Let it go man!

[gasmonso]

I suppose there are people using the abacus too.

http://religiousfreaks.com/ [religiousfreaks.com]

Re:The problem is...

[Anonymous Monkey]

Thank's! That is very cool. Now all I need is to find that stack of flopys. :)

In an alternate timeline...

[maynard]

"Ever wondered what happened to RSX? With Digital Equipment Corporation officially abandoning the operating system, users are relying on a third party version of RSX -- and, increasingly, using free and open source software to keep it alive." From the article: "According to Strobe, the main reason that users stay with RSX is for 'features that RSTS and RT-11 don't have yet.' He singles out the Massachusetts General Hospital Utility Multi-Programming System (or MUMPS), a database programming language known for its ease of use, a 'rock solid kernel,' 'excellent multitasking,' and low system requirements. Strobe also claims a lack of viruses and spyware and, referencing a report on RSX showing fewer security vulnerabilities."

A terse reply

[I Like Pudding]

Ever wondered what happened to OS/2?

No.

Keeping the OS/2 Flame Alive

[Eric Damron]

OS/2 is the crappiest OS ever!

How's that for keeping a flame alive?

Joking... just joking...

Re:Obligatory Bill Gates Quote

[Flashpot]

"OS/2 is dead."

--Bill Gates, on or near the introduction of Windows 3.0.

Re:Security Problems...

[fishbowl]

"Barring a few stupid corporations (*cough* Diebold *cough*), most ATMs accept extremely limited input, and have a very narrow range of possible actions they can take with that input, so there really isn't much to gain by hacking an ATM, and no real way to do it, because it's not really set up for that, and isn't running other, exploitable, services."

Are you only considering the keypad and the card reader?
What about physical access to the phone line? (Lots of ATM's use a POTS line, and a previous workplace had an ATM with an exposed, dangling RJ-11 wire in plain view...)

SCO ?

[dorfsmay]

I bet you there is some SCO code in there :-)

Mod parent too insightful...

[TheNoxx]

A lot of OS/2 geeks got their first woody, viewing interleaved GIF 87 files, via Compuserve Information Manager on OS/2 in 1024x768. ( GO OS2PR0N )

*sniff* You speak of things I know all too well... It's a good thing you didn't talk about hacking your parent's cserve password to get into the Adults Only forum. Then I'd cry.

I liked OS/2

[Kaenneth]

But saying that it has few viruses, is like saying Unicorns don't need rabies shots...

Re:Let it go man!

[Frenchman113]

...the 4th grade math was exclusively about abacus calculus

Calculus in the fourth grade? and on an abacus? I'm glad I didn't live there.

LOW system requirements???

[PizzaFace]

Oh, sure, IBM says OS/2 will run on 2 MB of RAM, but you won't get decent performance unless you spring for 4 MB. And if you want it to fly with graphical apps, be ready to empty your bank account for a 486 with a full 8 megs!