11/30/2018
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`Why OS/2?
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`181 views | Jul 19, 1997, 12:00am
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`Why OS/2?
`
`By Michael Noer
`
`International Business Machines' long and expensive history with OS/2, its
`operating system for Intel-based computers, reads like a business school case
`study on a project gone horribly astray.
`
`After years of bickering betweenMicrosoft and IBM which jointly developed the
`early releases of OS/2, the two corporate giants went their separate ways in 1989
`and began competing vigorously for the multi-billion dollar operating system
`market. Microsoft furiously changed its code, particularly the all-important
`application programming interfaces (APIs) guaranteeing that later versions of
`OS/2 would not be 100% Windows compatible. IBM, in a fit of wounded pride,
`dubbed its 1992 version of OS/2 "A better DOS than DOS, a better Windows than
`Windows."
`
`The market felt differently. By the end of 1993 IBM had secured a scant 3.6% of
`the desktop market.
`
`
`In late 1994 IBM introduced OS/2 Warp 3, intended to compete head-to-head
`against Windows 3 in the consumer and small business markets. IBM followed up
`by spending undisclosed millions on marketing and advertising for the OS.
`
`Bad timing. Later in 1995 Microsoft introduced Windows 95 with the curious
`spectacle of Bill Gates gyrating to the strains of the Rolling Stones, "Start me up."
`It probably sounded like a funeral dirge to the OS/2 team in Austin, Texas.
`
`The numbers tell a grim story:
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`
`
`Why OS/2?
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`According to preliminary estimates from International Data Corp., OS/2
`commanded only 3.3% of the desktop computer market in 1996, down from 6.2%
`in 1995. Windows products accounted for 80.3% of the market. OS/2 was more
`popular in the server market, with a 12.8% share in 1996, compared with
`Window's NT's 27.3% share. But even this modest success could be short-lived.
`Windows NT enjoyed 84.5% growth over its 1995 numbers, while OS/2's share
`grew at a modest 13.7%--slower than the market as a whole.
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`11/30/2018
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`Why OS/2?
`
`So why does IBM continue to support this white elephant, which cost Big Blue
`$150 million in research & development costs alone in 1996?
`
`Because OS/2 makes money for IBM.
`
`Data courtesy: International Data Corp.
`
`Big Blue's big customers
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`Why OS/2?
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`
`
`Too important to die
`
`Image courtesy IBM. In 1996 IBM sold 340,000 server licenses at $350 a pop and
`2.5 million desktop versions at about $175. That pegs 1996 OS/2 revenue at
`roughly $550 million.
`
`The magic of IBM is that OS/2 doesn't have to make a single penny to be a
`moneymaker.
`
`IBM's costs are sky-high, too. IBM is more secretive about the financial details of
`OS/2 than the Air Force is about Area 51, but it's clear the project is a close call in
`terms profitability. After deducting the $150 million in R&D spending, and
`factoring in payroll, marketing and overhead expenses IBM's bottom line on OS/2
`looks like a close shave.
`
`But the magic of IBM is that OS/2 doesn't have to make a single penny to be a
`moneymaker.
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`Why OS/2?
`"Within the matrix of IBM any one product doesn't have to stand alone for IBM to
`make money," says IDC analyst Dan Kusnetzky, "The idea of OS/2 may be to nail
`down the desktop for those organizations that want a top-to-bottom IBM
`solution."
`
`Even more important, some of IBM's biggest customers, particularly in the
`banking and insurance industries, have made massive investments, some totaling
`over $500 million, developing custom OS/2 applications. LaCaixa, a large
`Barcelona-based bank, is just now rolling out a custom OS/2 application running
`on 3,300 servers and 15,000 desktops. OS/2 is particularly important to IBM's very
`large accounts, which generate over $25 billion in sales for IBM.
`
`IBM isn't about to turn its blue back on these accounts.
`
`"A very large aspect of IBM brand is our commitment to our customers," says
`John Soyring, IBM's Director of Worldwide Technical Projects, "One of the
`attributes of that brand is that we don't abandon our products."
`
`Adds Mike Lawrie, the general manager the IBM division that oversees OS/2,
`"The customers are going to vote on this. If they continue to use OS/2, we will
`continue to support it."
`
`The little OS that couldn't Worldwide market share for OS/2, 1993-1996.
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`Why OS/2?
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`After a brief burst above 5% in the desktop market, coinciding with the 1994-1995
`introduction of the heavily hyped OS/2 Warp 3, OS/2's desktop market share has
`settled down to 3.3%. Servers are doing better, but Windows NT is in the lead and
`pulling away fast. Next stop: Java.
`
`Source: International Data Corp.
`
`How now, white elephant?
`
`So assuming OS/2 will survive, what does the future look like?
`
`Network computers and Java.
`
`"My mission is to help the customers that committed to OS/2 and support them
`and help provide a transition to a network computer world," says Lawrie who
`took over the Personal Software Products division in January of this year.
`
`There are persistent murmurs in the industry that IBM is actually outspending
`Sun Microsystems, Java's progenitor, in Java development. While hard numbers
`are scarce on the ground, it's easy to believe. IBM has 19 laboratories with more
`than 2,400 programmers working on Java applications and Java optimized
`hardware worldwide.
`
`The reason, of course, is that Java is OS-agnostic and that makes it a no-brainer
`strategy for IBM, which no longer has a dominant operating system. Microsoft,
`on the other hand, flush with cash and hubris, is heading the opposite way--trying
`to wrap the open standards of the Internet around its proprietary standards with
`the Internet Explorer 4.0 and its much touted "active desktop."
`
`""It's interesting to compare IBM's behavior in 1985-1986 with Microsoft's
`behavior today," says Soyring.
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`Why OS/2?
`It should be easy to convince IBM customers of the cost savings potential of
`network computers, which not only simplify the costly job of managing computer
`networks but also offer real savings through electronic commerce and software
`distribution. What will be tough, however, is convincing IBM's traditional
`customers, who embraced OS/2's legendary stability and security, that Java--a
`language IBM execs admit is "still a tad immature"--is suitable for their needs.
`
`Until that day comes, there will be an OS/2.
`
`The Jerry Lewis of operating systems 1996 sales of OS/2 by region
`
`OS/2 has always been much more popular in Western Europe than the U.S. One
`of the reasons is that large companies, IBM's best customers, continue to
`dominate Europe's economy.
`
`
`
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`Why OS/2?
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`Source: International Data Corp.
`
`40,156 views | Oct 19, 2018, 11:05am
`
`HR And The Next Wave Of Digitally
`Driven Employee Experiences
`
`Tracey Fritcher Brand Contributor
`ServiceNow BRANDVOICE
`
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`11/30/2018
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`Why OS/2?
`
`The new CHRO agenda: Employee experiences drive business value
`
`Working in HR can be amazingly rewarding—but not every day is sunshine and
`smiles. As a friend of mine likes to say, “If you work in HR, your job is to solve
`problems most people don’t know exist in ways they can’t even imagine.” This has
`always been the case, but today, amidst a backdrop of hyper-connected
`technologies, growing employee expectations, and the drive toward digital
`transformation, this quip feels more relevant than ever before.
`
`Organizations everywhere are feeling pressure to bridge the HR tech gap that
`prevents them from delivering the effortless experiences employees demand. The
`traditional means of addressing employee issues—email, phone calls,
`spreadsheets—simply can’t satisfy a workforce accustomed to easy self-service
`and instant access to answers and information. After all, advancements in
`technology have radically changed how service is delivered in our personal lives—
`why not at work?
`
`To attract, retain, and engage the best talent, the pendulum must swing away
`from what HR thinks and toward what employees actually want. By rethinking
`moments in the employee journey that may discourage positive engagement, HR
`can better connect employees to their purpose—freeing them from menial tasks
`so that they can focus on the meaningful work they love. And by connecting
`
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`11/30/2018
`
`Why OS/2?
`people to their purpose, HR can deepen the company bond and build a culture of
`high-performing, happy employees.
`
`A commitment to truly treating employees the way they want to be treated goes
`beyond automating tasks. It’s about creating a physical and digital environment
`that inspires connection and collaboration. One that is thoughtfully designed to
`make employees feel special and supported throughout their entire day.
`
`ISTOCK
`
`Give employees what they want—when and how they want it
`
`One of the keys to employee happiness is to simply give them what they need in
`the moment they’re in—and you can do that by supporting their channel of
`choice. There are times when a face-to-face conversation is exactly what a person
`needs. And sometimes they just want a consumer-like digital experience that
`features the “one-click” convenience of finding the information they’re after and
`moving on.
`
`Today, we know that the digital employee experience is more important than ever
`before. And the great news is that when you design a digital experience that truly
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`11/30/2018
`
`Why OS/2?
`shows you’re thinking about the employee, it can lead to a larger, positive shift in
`company culture. Even better—the digital channel can be quickly implemented,
`tangible evidence that your employees come first.
`
`So, how do you deliver the digital HR services your employees demand—and
`deserve? First, HR must first shift their mindset from managing a transaction to
`creating truly intuitive, personalized employee experiences. This calls for
`empathetically identifying the “moments that matter”—those touchpoints in the
`course of an employee’s day that can either be frustrating (think fruitlessly
`searching for benefits information) or fulfilling (like seamless onboarding).
`
`Design digital-first experiences to support moments that matter
`
`Once these moments are identified, HR can design a well-considered employee
`journey that delivers next-gen, digital-first employee experiences. And to
`facilitate these experiences, they’ll have to tap into today’s game-changing
`technologies like automation, machine learning, self-service, personalization, and
`predictive intelligence. This shift toward impeccable digital experiences can be
`achieved, but identifying and implementing those technologies is easier said than
`done.
`
`Discover how other HR leaders are making life #easyforemployees
`
`After all, HR leaders already spend a lot of time, money, and resources
`implementing the core HR systems they believe will provide a great experience
`for their employees. The challenge is that traditional HR technology serves an
`individual business purpose—learning, payroll, time and attendance—leaving HR
`without a unifying employee experience layer to engage people without relying on
`outside systems like email.
`
`Tap into technology to create a unified employee experience layer
`
`To create an employee experience layer, HR needs an underlying platform that
`can unify their service delivery. In evaluating solutions to determine which one is
`best for their organization, they’ll need to answer three important questions:
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`11/30/2018
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`Why OS/2?
`1) Can this platform deliver a highly engaging user experience?
`
`2) Can it integrate seamlessly with my existing systems?
`
`3) Does the depth and breadth of its product capabilities meet my unique and
`future business needs?
`
`Implementing the right platform is key to delivering fast and personalized HR
`services—even for processes that extend beyond HR across the enterprise.
`ServiceNow® HR Service Delivery can help you deliver the digital-first
`experiences your employees deserve. Our integrated suite of applications is
`
`designed to offer a consumer-like experience, while increasing HR productivity.
`Whether it’s a simple request for information, or a multi-departmental process
`
`like onboarding, employees finally have a single place for all their service needs—
`and experience powerful, positive moments that matter throughout their own
`employee journeys.
`
`Explore more insights for leaders and find out how ServiceNow can help you
`navigate your own digital transformation.
`
`Tracey Fritcher Brand Contributor
`
`Tracey Racette Fritcher is an HR Transformation Leader at ServiceNow with more than 20
`
`years of experience as an HR practitioner. Tracey helps clients think through their HR
`
`priorities and provides thought leadership on the improving the employee experience using
`ServiceNow’... Read More
`
`187,070 views | Nov 7, 2018, 09:00am
`
`5 Best Smart TVs Of 2018
`
`RTINGS.com Partner
`Forbes Finds Contributor Group
`Style & Design
`
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`Why OS/2?
`
`5 Best Smarts TVs of 2018 RTINGS
`
`We buy our own products and put them under the same testing methodology so
`that you can easily compare them. Unlike most websites, we do not get our
`products directly from the manufacturers, which means our units aren’t
`handpicked and actually represent what you would buy yourself. We spend a lot
`of time comparing the products side-by-side to validate our results and we keep
`them until they are discontinued so we can continually go back and make sure
`our reviews are always accurate.
`
`Almost all TVs on the market in 2018 have some level of built-in smart features. It
`is next to impossible to find a TV that doesn’t. Unlike phones or computers, each
`TV manufacturer has their own smart interface, and there can be a significant
`difference between them. Not all smart platforms are made equally, and they each
`come with their own set of challenges. While many new TVs have been released
`this year with some form of voice control like Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home,
`most of them won’t be worth the extra investment for some time.
`
`We’ve tested 77 TVs in the past year, and here are our recommendations for the
`best ones with smart features.
`
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`Why OS/2?
`
`AMAZON
`
`LG B8: Outstanding 4k OLED TV with great smart features
`
`Type: OLED
`
`Sizes: 55”, 65”
`
`YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
`
`If you want the absolute best smart TV, check out the LG B8 4k OLED TV. This
`OLED TV delivers outstanding picture quality, with outstanding dark room
`performance and wide viewing angles. Streaming videos look incredible, thanks
`to the nearly instantaneous response time. It is also a great choice for gamers,
`thanks to the incredibly low input lag.
`
`Unfortunately, OLED TVs like the B8 can experience temporary image retention,
`and even permanent burn-in, when exposed to static images. If you watch varied
`
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`Why OS/2?
`enough content, we don’t expect most people to experience this. It also can’t get
`very bright, so it isn’t a great choice if you have a really bright room.
`
`This TV has excellent smart features, running the latest version of LG’s WebOS. It
`has a great selection of default apps, and the LG content store has hundreds
`more. Overall, the LG B8 is an outstanding TV that should please most people. It
`offers nearly identical performance to the other LG OLED TVs, like the C8 and
`E8.
`
`Shop Now: $1,697
`
`AMAZON
`
`Sony X900F: A great LED LCD TV
`
`Type: LED
`
`Sizes: 49”, 55”, 65”, 75”, 85”
`
`If you want a great smart TV without the risk of burn-in, check out the Sony
`X900F. The X900F is a great LED/LCD 4k TV that delivers great picture quality.
`Motion looks incredible thanks to the outstanding response time, and it has very
`good low input lag for gaming.
`
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`11/30/2018
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`Why OS/2?
`It has great smart features. It runs Android TV OS 7.0, which is not the latest
`version but still looks great and is easy to use. The interface isn’t as fast as some
`people would like, which may bother some people. It has a great selection of
`default apps, and there are thousands more available on the Google Play Store.
`
`Unfortunately, the X900F doesn’t look as good in a dark room as the LG B8, and
`the image loses accuracy when viewed at an angle. Overall, it is a great mid-range
`TV that should please most people.
`
`Shop Now: $998
`
`AMAZON
`
`Samsung NU8000: A great TV with impressive gaming features
`
`Type: LED
`
`Sizes: 49”, 55”, 65”, 75”, 82”
`
`If you like the Sony X900F, but would prefer something with faster smart features
`as well as more advanced gaming features, check out the Samsung NU8000. The
`NU8000 delivers good picture quality, with great motion handling and extremely
`
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`
`Why OS/2?
`low input lag. It also has very good smart features, with a smart interface that is
`both faster, and easier to use, than the Sony X900F.
`
`PC and Xbox gamers will love the Samsung NU8000’s new gaming features. It
`supports AMD’s FreeSync Variable Refresh Rate technology, ensuring a
`consistently tear-free gaming experience. It also ensures you are always getting
`the best gaming experience by automatically enabling the low latency Game mode
`when it detects you are playing a game.
`
`Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a full array backlight, so the local dimming
`performance isn’t as good as the X900F, and it doesn’t look as good in a dark
`room. It also can’t get quite as bright in HDR. Overall, it is a great TV that should
`please most people.
`
`Shop Now: $648
`
`RTINGS
`
`TCL R617: An incredible budget TV with premium performance
`
`Type: LED
`
`Sizes: 55”, 65”
`
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`11/30/2018
`
`Why OS/2?
`If you want a good smart TV with great smart features on a smaller budget, get
`the TCL R617. It is the best budget TV on the market and the sequel to the
`extremely popular 2017 TCL P607. It is a versatile 4k TV with very good picture
`quality, great for a variety of room types regardless of ambient light. Its main
`downside is the poor screen uniformity.
`
`It has great smart features, running the easy to use Roku OS. The interface is one
`of the smoothest and easiest to use. There are hundreds of available apps and
`streaming channels. The remote app is one of the most powerful out there and
`has a ‘private listening’ feature that transfers audio from the native apps to your
`headphones. While the smart interface doesn’t have some of the more advanced
`features typically found on more expensive TVs, it covers the basics and most
`people won’t be missing much.
`
`Shop Now: $650
`
`AMAZON
`
`TCL S405/S425: A cheaper alternative with the same great smart
`features
`
`Type: LED
`
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`
`Why OS/2?
`
`Sizes: 43”, 49”, 55”, 65”
`
`If you like the TCL R617, but would prefer something cheaper, check out the TCL
`S-Series (S425/S423/S421). The TCL S425 has the exact same smart features as
`the 6-Series, but it is a little less advanced. It doesn’t support local dimming or
`motion interpolation, making it a little less versatile. It also doesn’t get very
`bright, and there is little advantage to using HDR.
`
`The S425 used to be known as the S405. TCL is gradually replacing the 405 with
`the 425. The only differences between them are cosmetic. The S425 is also known
`as the S423 or the S421, depending on where you get it from.
`
`It is a good budget TV. It definitely isn’t the most advanced TV on the market, but
`it is a great choice for a secondary TV on a budget, great in a guest room or
`garage.
`
`Shop Now: $280
`
`This guide may have been updated. To see all measurements and the current
`recommendations for smart TVs, please go here.
`
`We purchase our own products and put them under the same test bench so that
`you can compare the results easily. No cherry-picked units sent by brands. If
`you buy something using a link on this page, Forbes Finds and RTINGS.com
`may receive a small share of that sale.
`
`RTINGS.com, a buying guide to help people find the best product for their needs.
`When readers choose to buy RTINGS.com’s picks, it may earn commission.
`
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