[4144] in comp.os.os2.announce archive
MISC: Porter and Moskowitz Respond to Ralph Nader and James Love
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Dan Porter)
Mon Jun 22 01:57:35 1998
To: os2ann.DISCUSS@bloom-picayune.mit.edu
Date: 14 Jun 1998 14:01:00 -0400
From: innoval@ibm.net (Dan Porter)
Reply-To: innoval@ibm.net (Dan Porter)
Reply-to: innoval@ibm.net (Dan Porter)
[Followups directed to comp.os.os2.advocacy]
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Daniel R. Porter, President
InnoVal Systems Solutions, Inc.
http://www.innoval.com
David Moskowitz, President
Productivity Solutions, Inc,
(Co-author of OS/2 Warp Unleashed)
June 9, 1998
Mr. Ralph Nader
P.O. Box 19312
Washington, DC 20036
Mr. James Love
Consumer Project on Technology
P.O. Box 19367
Washington, DC 20036
Dear Mr. Nader and Mr. Love,
We, and many OS/2 users, thank you for your position in support of OS/2. It
is disappointing that IBM has ceased to pro-actively market OS/2 except to
large enterprises. In many ways IBM has also diminished support for the
individual consumer and the "small office and home office" (SOHO) community.
There is a misconception among many in the OS/2 community that IBM is acting
irresponsibly towards OS/2 users. We don't believe that is the case. IBM
continues to provide corrective services and some enhancements in the form
of "fixpaks." These are readily available and free. There is also a
misconception that IBM has ceased to support OS/2 independent software
vendors (ISV's). One vendor stated openly in the press that, "IBM never
calls anymore." That is not the case at all. Our experience, and the
experience of other ISV's, is that IBM continues to play a responsibly
active role in supporting software development for OS/2 when it coincides
with its business directions.
IBM's efforts to develop and promote standard conforming Java =13 a very
significant strategic objective =13 for the OS/2 platform is outstanding.
Though these efforts by IBM are directed primarily towards large enterprise
customers, IBM's Java tools and software are freely available to individuals
and SOHO customers who do benefit.
IBM is clearly in the best position to continue to enhance OS/2 and Java for
OS/2. In our view, to place OS/2 into the public domain at the source code
level, as you suggested, would fragment the economic model to the detriment
of the user community. Rather, we think IBM should license OS/2 to
individuals and very small enterprises for free or for a nominal handling
fee. They could and should also authorize resellers to distribute
reproductions on CD-ROM media. The license would need to be clear about the
fact that IBM does not warrant the operating system beyond good faith
efforts and does not provide free technical support. IBM should also enable
PC manufactures to provide OS/2, installed or on CD-ROM, as a free option.
It is unlikely that such a move on IBM's part would be costly. Indeed IBM
already discourages the sale of OS/2 to the small user. IBM can, by free
distribution, gain positive exposure for OS/2 by sending a strong signal
that OS/2 is viable. ISV's would derive marketplace incentives to develop
OS/2 software including vertical and enterprise applications. This is
something which IBM wants. Most significantly, Java, the best technology
hope for opening up the PC platform marketplace, would be strengthened.
IBM's OS/2 Java is one of the best, if not the best, Java environment
available to consumers. This combination of factors would ultimately and
mutually benefit IBM's corporate customers and IBM. Consumers, too, would
be better served.
Again, we want to express our appreciation on behalf of OS/2 users, OS/2
software developers, and consumers.
Sincerely,
Daniel R. Porter, President
InnoVal Systems Solutions, Inc.
David Moskowitz, President
Productivity Solutions, Inc.
cc: Mr. Louis V. Gerstner, IBM Corporation, Armonk, New York
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