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Stardock and Aurora Client (from Brad Wardell) To All OS/2 users on this mailing list... It has been brought up from time to time that if Stardock was able to get IBM to license them OS/2, that it could really help OS/2. My question to you is (hypothetically)... Let's pretend that Stardock was able to do this (get IBM to license to Stardock what it would need to create a Warp 5 client). An OS/2 V5 type client which would be largely based on Auora technology plus based on technology provided by Stardock into a single client package for release in May of 1999 with the following pricing: $149 for an upgrade from a previous version of OS/2 and $179 for a new user. It would include WinOS2, the GNU C++ Compiler, XFree86, and a host of other third party programs. The base OS would be modified to reflect known performance enhancements and features that inhibit the performance of OS/2 (like OpenDoc, VoiceType, and IBMWorks) would be removed. One limitation is that it would only be available in English initially (German, French, and Spanish later). The other limitation is that it could NOT be called OS/2 (it would say powered by OS/2 but the name of the product could not be OS/2 -- only IBM released products can be called OS/2). Hypothetically speaking, if we were able to do this, would you purchase such a thing? If Stardock provided a beta program for such a thing which required pre-ordering the final version (for say $140 instead of $149 for joining the beta) would you join? So what we are asking is, if such a thing were created, hypothetically, would you join? Please be aware that we are not announcing such a product or even promising to announce such a product. We are trying to gauge interest in such a thing (real interest that is -- people who would be willing to spend real money on such a thing). Would the fact that a future OS/2 client was made not by IBM but by a third party discourage you? ** Please do not repost this survey outside this mailing list or make it publicly available anywhere. ** This is purely a Stardock Magazine survey. Please fill out the following form if you would be interested: ----------------------------------------------------------------- [ ] Yes, I would pay $149 for a Auora (Warp 5 server) based client published by Stardock [ ] Yes to the above and I would join the beta ($140 instead of $149). [ ] I would be interested in a Warp 5 client but only if it came from IBM. Please send your response to: os2@stardock.com Thanks for your time. |