We are just over one month into the era of OS/2 Warp 4.0. The newsgroups, with few exceptions, sing the praises of IBM's vastly improved installation program. Now, all can benefit from the power of OS/2 and the word of John Ominor. In addition, despite what the foolish naysayers continue to spout, OS/2 continues to thrive. IBM has announced future plans concerning OS/2 Warp including the integration of the Netscape Navigator into the Workplace Shell of OS/2 as well as the release of future OS/2 enhancement packages. OS/2 is truly alive and well.

I am John Ominor, The Inhuman. It never ceases to amaze Ominor how no matter how many Windows advocates Ominor vanquishes, like the many headed hydra, another rises in his place. Most, including the late, unlamented Infidel lie in wait like some jungle beast, waiting for OS/2 or IBM to display but a single vulnerability before leaping to attack the exposed jugular.

However, ultimately, the cat has no fangs. Like the common housecat, the Windows advocate's attack has been declawed and neutered. Mere months ago, many advocates of Microsoft stated that the integrated VoiceType Dictation and Navigation as well as the integrated Java support of OS/2 was unnecessary. Yet, after the announcement of WHISPER, or the Windows Highly Intelligent Speech Recognition engine, as well as the Windows Java development kit that will supposedly integrate Java into Windows, they were predictably silent. Once again, OS/2 leads the pack, while Windows brings up the rear.

Why is it so easy to anticipate the whims of the users of Windows? Their attempts to undermine OS/2, promote their rather lackluster systems and most foolish of all, attempts to duplicate that which cannot be duplicated, the wit of The Inhuman?

Ominor knows why. They are rapidly losing ground. Any first year cadet knows that a ground war cannot be easily fought on several fronts. Microsoft is currently engaged in such a battle. Currently, Microsoft is attempting to match the Internet Explorer versus the Netscape Navigator, ActiveX versus Java, their NetPC versus the NC (Network Computer), DCOM versus OpenDoc, Exchange versus Lotus Notes, Windows NT IIS web servers versus everyone else's web server, and of course, Windows versus OS/2 Warp. It seems that dozens of companies are vying for a piece of the spoils from the successful vivisection of Microsoft. Truly, the pot is coming to a boil...

So, where does this leave our Windows friends? Why, with a deep sense of insecurity. After all, why else would these... unique individuals devote so much of their time to attacking a product they do not use. They repeat the same tales of woe about OS/2 time and time again, each time expecting a different response from the OS/2 pundits, truly the surest sign of insanity. Ominor believes that were it possible to reduce himself to the rather pitiful state of human, that he could empathize with these misguided souls.

Alas, Ominor cannot. Instead, The Inhuman will quietly observe while the Windows advocates wallow in their own crapulence.

On a final note, let us give a moment of silence for QuarterDeck, the makers of the QEMM memory manager. It seems that yet another company enticed by the lure of Windows 95's large market sales has fallen on truly difficult times, much like their partner in Windows, Symantec. They labored and sweated, purchased many other companies, spend well over one hundred twenty million dollars, all for the Windows market. Their efforts have been for naught. Indeed, The Inhuman regrets to inform all that they plan on relieving forty percent of their workforce of their jobs.

Pity.

OS/2 users and Windows users may debate the merits of both operating systems until time itself comes to an end, yet the abysmal sales of Windows 95 and even smaller impact of Windows NT continue to wreak havoc on real lives. When will this madness stop?

Only Ominor knows...

--

[Our Sponsor: Mt. Baker Software - Developers of an OS/2 financial package.]