Re: non ms operating system users

[Ken Hamlett <khamlett@deepwell.com>]

Hi Doug,
        You are just the sort of person with which I like to discuss my OS and
application choices. As a programmer/analyst you can appreciate the flexibility
of my systems (and possibly overlook my bad spelling ;-).
        On the Linux side, I am just getting serious with it due to the
influence of a friend. I have used Linux and other *nix implementations
for years but always preferred OS/2. However Linux with an X-windows 
interface is fitting right in with my otherwise all OS/2 mindset.
        For applications I have been using either the free IBM Works
for most letters or Word Perfect 6.1for Windows for more detailed work.
There is also an old copy of Describe around here somewhere. However
after trying out the beta for new Lotus Wordpro,. I like it and am planning
a complete changeover to it very soon.
        For spreadsheets I have quite a few around here for Dos, Windows,
and OS/2. The native programs work a bit better but for my limited use
the closest object is the one I use. BTW I may be one of the few people
that actually has a copy of MS Excel for OS/2. Except for the printing
bugs it works well. (If BG is reading, I'm still waiting for my bug fix!)
        For internet and serial communications I use a mix of apps. I
choose what I like the best regardless of platform. The com program is
text mode dos or a similar one for OS/2, browser for OS/2 or Win3.1,
ftp for win32... well you get the idea. I just pick the one I prefer.
OS/2 does not care, it just lets them all work togeather.
        With my Linux interest on the rise, the X-windows work well with
the OS/2 X-windows so no problem there, OS/2 can use an NFS driver and many
others) to read the linux drive if needed, and most source can be ported
between the two for my own little apps and utilities.
         If I need raw speed, I can drop the GUI for either and they
are real screamers from the command line. 
        With the GUI for OS/2 I have a true object oriented desktop. It
mayt appear slower than Win95 on the surface but in real computing power
(ignoring windows eye candy) it consistently beats 95 and NT and is
more stable than either(I had one installation, on a new drive, up contenuously
until the drive died). If I need super power I go from Clark Kent mode
to Superman mode by using HPFS386 (comes with WARPserver Advanced). That
setup can handle anything I could possibly throw at it.
        For programming I have Borland 4.5 (WIN), Borland 2.0 (OS2), Watcom
(everything), Visual Age C++ OS/2, VA Java Enterprise OS/2, VA Cobol OS2,and
of course my dear old EMX.  I even have a IBM 370 emulator (not that I actually
use it much). Thus I can build at will if the urge strikes. Except for
the VAJava (ram hog) I can run any of the others on a 486 with 16 megs
(maybe less.)
        Of course there is Lotus notes, DB2, Oracle et al if the need arises.
        For scalability I have a direct path to AS400's or RS6000's and from
there all the way up to IBM 390's (among others). No big effort either.
OS/2 was designed as a pathway to the big iron.
        That's about it except that the OS/2 JVM is right on tap and
integrated into the desktop, as Java matures.
        Not everything I do requires this much flexibility but it's
there if I feel like flexing my virtual muscles. Bottom line...
Nothing MS puts out can match what I've got now and only the best apps
survive in an OS/2 world so I am assured of quality.

>>>Ken<<<


At 06:26 PM 4/16/98 -0400, you wrote:
>Sorry if this topic has already been covered but I'm new the the list.
>
>Several of you have mentioned that you use linux or os/2 rather than win95
or any other ms operating system. I'd really like to know how you function.
What apps do you run or do you simply play with the opsys? If you use
standard apps (corel or ms office or any component of them, programming
languages, databases, web development, etc.), how recent are the versions?
Are they developed specifically for your opsys? Do you have a 2nd machine or
dual boot machine that you secretly run win95 on and use to browse,
>develop, word process, etc.? I have always been curious about running
alternative operating systems but didn't ever believe I could function well
on them. This is a sincere inquiry. I mean no insult to anyone. Thanks for
any feedback.
>
>Doug Jenkins
>doug@royal.net
>programmer/analyst
>provo, ut
>