[day month year] Pete Grubbs makes his return as an OS/2 eZine contributor. He's been writing for eZine for a number of years, and and using OS/2 for much longer than that. If you have a comment about the content of this article, please feel free to vent in the OS/2 eZine -- discussion forums. |  |
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## Interviews from Warpstock 2000 I first met Able McClendon, aka 'Warp Hoss,' in Chicago at Warpstock'98. While we had several conversations during Saturday afternoon and evening, the most memorable moment for me occurred around a table in the hotel's cafe area late Sunday afternoon. A Chicago-area friend of mine had brought me a six-pack of RC Cola (warm). After Abel returned with some ice, Christopher Wright and Trevor Smith joined us for a spirited conversation concerning all things Warped. (Trevor Smith recorded the moment for all posterity in the photo below.) Abel took some time to talk with me again at this year's Warpstock and, as usual, his comments were a mixture of wry humor and serious reflection. OS/2 eZine -- Who are you? AM-- Abel McClendon. OS/2 eZine -- Occupation? AM -- Telecommunications specialist. OS/2 eZine -- Why did you come to Warpstock? AM -- This year I came because I wanted to hear directly from known sources what I'm facing in the next 6 months to 2 years as far as OS support is concerned, IBM, Serenity Systems and other developers. OS/2 eZine -- Is this your first year? AM -- This is number 3. OS/2 eZine -- What are your impressions? How is this similar to previous Warpstocks? How different? What were your expectations? Were they met? Exceeded? AM -- Attitude this year seems a little more purposeful. Not quite as joyful . . . people this year are a little more focused on the business aspect of it rather than the camaraderie. I really did not know what to expect this year. There wasn't quite as much information out there as there usually is . . . either that or my contacts are rusty. OS/2 eZine -- Where is OS/2 heading? Is it going in a direction that you can follow? AM -- From my perspective, OS/2 is heading in a direction that's going to force me to work smarter, harder and more cooperatively with other OS/2 users. If I want to continue to use OS/2 as a client OS, I'm going to have to make a significant investment in dollars and time to make it work; without almost total community cooperation, it will probably not be worth the investment required. [I can probably follow it] for another 2 years. From a total cost point of view, OS/2 is cheaper. In 2 years it won't be if a problem arises that you can't resolve through the free channels (web pages, Usenet, etc.). OS/2 eZine -- Where do you want OS/2 to go? If you could realize your wildest fantasy (about OS/2), what would it be? AM -- An affordable, complete SOHO package, remote-booted off of a DSL to a service provided for either a fixed annual or monthly fee. OS/2 eZine -- If you could send one message to IBM, if you could send the people directly involved with continued OS/2 development one short e-mail and know that that message would get read, what would you say? AM -- In the spirit of Philadelphia and to mangle a quote from Patrick Henry, "Give me O/S 2 or give me death." OS/2 eZine -- What do you use your OS/2 machine for? What do want to do with OS/2 that you can't? AM -- I use OS/2 for development & SOHO apps & Internet service. I want to serve up live media. OS/2 eZine -- What does the OS/2 community mean to you? AM -- They're a great bunch of people. They just need to loosen up a bit. They mean a lot to me; it's almost like a kinship; it's a neat feeling to know that there are others out there that are in the same boat I'm in. OS/2 eZine -- Why do you do what you do? AM -- I've always been particular about using the best equipment & tools. Right now, OS/2 is the best tool for the job I'm doing. [As for my work in the community] I need to do what I can to increase [OS/2's] longevity. If someone doesn't, it won't be here in 5 or 6 years. OS/2 eZine -- Are conventions like Warpstock, Warptech, etc., important to you? Why? AM -- Yes, they're important to me. It's something concrete that you can see and it's evidence that there's activity; it's the opposite of vaporware; when you make a deal with someone you get to shake hands with them and look them in the eye and you're done; it's the contact that makes a difference. OS/2 eZine -- What application(s) do you want to see in development for OS/2? AM -- [laughs] I don't want to see any in development: I want 'em done. OS/2 eZine -- Is there a killer app for OS/2? If so, what is it? AM -- No. There could be; Mesa 2 is close, Staroffice is close, but really can't give any of them a cigar yet. We need one. OS/2 eZine -- How has IBM helped you? AM -- I've been able to purchase OS/2 since '94--'95 & I can still purchase it today and it doesn't crash. OS/2 eZine -- How has Big Blue hindered you? AM -- They've allowed their 'child prodigy' to be treated like a redheaded stepchild in the market place. OS/2 eZine -- What is OS/2's relationship to the community? What is our community's relationship to OS/2? AM -- OS/2 is like a reliable friend & vice versa. You want to do everything you can to allow your friend to survive in a good state. OS/2 eZine -- What is your single biggest frustration as an OS/2 user? AM -- Having to search for answers to questions or problems for hours & hours & hours. OS/2 eZine -- Do you ever envy Windows users? Why (or why not)? AM -- Absolutely not. I've been advised by my attorney not to answer the 'why not' part of that question. [While Abel didn't exactly laugh, the sly look on his face after he answered this question leads me to believe that he was being a tad facetious.] OS/2 eZine -- Any parting comments/thoughts? AM -- There needs to be a single source/support infrastructure for the OS/2 community. Join VOICE.
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