Murray Lesser wrote to Jack Stein on 09-19-1999

ML>     I, for one, expect to continue to use OS/2 for my home
ML> systems, even if it is never updated!  If new applications I may
ML> decide that I need are not generally available for OS/2, I will
ML> write my own.  It isn't any problem for me to avoid using hardware
ML> that is not supported by OS/2 since I learned long ago never to be
ML> the first kid on the block with the latest computer gadgets or
ML> software.  I may never update my present hardware unless it dies
ML> :-).  If I last long enough, I may well be the last noncommercial
ML> OS/2 user around!  (Will Honea may outlast me!) 

Hey, a little repect if you will!  As it happens, I took this current
contract 18 months ago to maintain an OS/2 desktop app for a big
telecom outfit.  Supposed to last 6 months, they are now talking about
upgrading several thousand desktops to Warp 4 (they still use Warp 3 )
and the app has nearly doubled in size and function with over $2
million budgeted for software updates and extensions next year.  I
thought I was stepping into an easy job but I've been working my fanny
off because all the young twerps want nothing to do with a 'dead OS'. 
I really appreciate that attitude every week when I go to the bank:
supply and demand at work .

As long as it's the best tool for the job I'll keep using it and I
haven't found a better one yet.  And if I ever do get to retire
(anybody know a good way to prod the last young one thru college in a
reasonable time?) I still have enough goodies from IBM to keep me
entertained for a long tiem - I might even re-install PL/I.

As for OS/2 being abandoned, that's a matter of perspective.  This job
is for a company that is big enough to get IBM's attention so I can
pick up a phone and get (reasonably) competent help any time I want
it.
 Support looks a lot different when you are one of IBM's targets!

As an aside, Murray, if you will think back you will discover that
Microsoft did not sell a retail copy of DOS until the 5.0 upgrade came
out.  They were all bundled with a computer and only IBM sold DOS as a
separate product.  DOS is probably the most pirated single program ever
distributed.

Will Honea 
--- Maximus/2 2.02