OS/2 - It's better than Windows

Are you:

Frustrated with Windows?
Curious about OS/2?
Thinking about getting it?
New to OS/2 and don't know where to start?
Looking for OS/2 information and having a hard time?

Timur Tabi's Guide for all OS/2 users - beginners, experts, and especially those who are just curious about OS/2

OS/2 Warp is one of the world's most popular 32-bit operating system for IBM and IBM-compatible PC's. It's more reliable than Windows 95, and it runs more applications and supports more hardware than Windows NT. If you want to get more out of your computer and are unsatisfied with Microsoft's offerings, consider OS/2 Warp. Thirteen million users can't be wrong!

Last Change: October 3, 1997

Some of the advantages of Windows 95 and Windows NT over OS/2 Warp 4:

Runs bloated Win32 applications that eat up your hard drive space and crash all the time.
Keeps you on the cutting (or bleeding) edge of technology by forcing you to upgrade your hardware and software every six months.

Some of the advantages of OS/2 Warp 4 over Windows 95 and Windows NT:

You don't have to worry about internet security. There are no loopholes like there are in Windows 95/NT.
Better compatibility with DOS and 16-bit Windows apps, including games.
An object-oriented user interface (called the Work Place Shell, or WPS) which is easier to use and more powerful.
Better built-in Internet and networking support
Built-in Java support allows you to directly run Java applications, without a web browser
Voice navigation/dictation, so you can speak instead of type
Better support for cross-platform industry standards instead of Microsoft's Windows-only proprietary and inferior technologies
BonusPak gives you free productivity applications,
The Device Driver Pak CD-ROM includes hundreds of device drivers gathered from hardware vendors, BBS's, and Internet sites worldwide
Application Sampler gives you demos of dozens of OS/2 Warp applications
REXX - a powerful yet easy-to-learn batch/macro language that's fully integrated in OS/2 and many OS/2 applications. You won't find anything like it on Windows.

And there's lots more ... if you're willing to spend some time checking it out. You might be glad you did.

Hot links:

Major OS/2 starting points and web link collections:

IBM's OS/2 Warp Family web page - a great way to learn what OS/2 Warp 4 is all about
OS/2 Warp 4 vs. Windows NT white paper - detailed comparison of the two, with a feature chart
Yahoo's OS/2 listing - A bit dated
OS/2 Warp on the 'Net - lots of links, well organized and up-to-date
The OS/2 Supersite - A growing collection of OS/2 information, pointers to good web sites, and software you can purchase
OS/2 Warp Server - Infoworld found that Warp Server on one CPU is faster than NT on four!!!
The Warp Server Resource - another information repository
PSP Requirements Submission Form - tell IBM what features you want to see in OS/2
OS/2 User Group List - Find an OS/2 user group near you!
IBM's Software Choice - The easiest way to get OS/2-related software from IBM NEW!
WarpCast - OS/2 news delivered right to your mailbox NEW!

Installing and configuring OS/2 Warp:

OS/2 Warp 4: Up and Running - online installing/configuration guide
The OS/2 Workbench - A bit dated, but great for finding Warp-compatible hardware
Just Add OS/2 Warp - Running Windows 3.1 or Windows 95? Click here to add OS/2 (Warp 3 only - don't use for Warp 4)
Warp Installation Kit for Aptiva - If you're unfortunate enough to own an Aptiva, you may be able to rescue it by adding OS/2 Warp. It also has tools to convert Win95 long file names (LFN's) to OS/2.
Warp 4 ThinkPad Installation - IBM's page on installing Warp 4 on a ThinkPad
OS/2 Warp Migration Assistant - Want to switch to OS/2 Warp from OS/2 2.x? This page will give you all the info you need.
Master OS/2 Warp Update List - pointers to patches and fixes for OS/2 software
Applying Service to OS/2 Warp - detailed information on how to apply updates and fixes to OS/2 - read this before you add a FixPack!
IBM Software Choice - Get updates and enhancements to OS/2 off the web
OS/2 Shareware BBS's Tips & Tricks Index - listing of hundres of text files from IBM helping you with installation problems
IBM Technical Connection CD-ROM - Loads of information on all version of OS/2
The Warp DataBook - very comprehensive online book on installing, configuring, and using Warp and Warp Server
comp.os.os2.setup.video - Help with video-related setup problems
comp.os.os2.setup.storage - Help with storage (disk, harddrive, tape, etc) setup problems
comp.os.os2.setup.misc - general help with installing/configuring OS/2

Free software you should download right away! (After you install OS/2, of course)

Netscape Navigator - The world's most popular web browser - only the OS/2 version is free, and only the OS/2 version allows you to surf the web with your voice! And after you install it, check out the Unofficial Navigator For OS/2 page for lots of extra goodies.
Adobe Acrobat Reader - View and print PDF (Portable Document Format) files. PDF is the standard for electronic documents
NPSWPS - Very cool WPS enhancer. Click here to search for it on hobbes
InfoZip's Zip and Unzip - better than PK-Zip
BootOS/2 - makes recovery boot disks and partitions. Click here to find the latest version on hobbes
Linfield's Recommended Free OS/2 software - A list just like this one

Installing and Running DOS and Windows apps under OS/2 Warp:

MKWINOS/2 - transfers your Windows Program Manager groups to folders on your OS/2 desktop
Rod Smith's OS/2 Soundcard Summary Page - learn how to configure your soundcard UPDATED!
The Ultimate OS/2 Gaming Page - learn how to run DOS and Windows games under OS/2

Recommended third-party enhancements to OS/2 Warp

Stardock's Object Desktop Professional - Makes the Windows 95 desktop look like an RPN calculator
Stardock's Process Commander - Improve stability and gain more control over your OS/2 Warp computer
AnPoCodec - Add support for Windows AVI files to OS/2 Warp
QuickMotion - Add support for QuickTime movies to OS/2 Warp
FaxWorks Pro for OS/2 - Supports everything in your voice-enabled fax/modem
SIO - shareware serial port device driver that's much better than IBM's

Finding/Purchasing/Downloading OS/2 Warp software

~~OS/2 Must-Have list - Complete and update list of the best OS/2 software~~
Best of OS/2 - The premier site for finding software and OS/2 news on the Web
Tucows - a very comprehensive list of TCP/IP (Internet) applications for OS/2 and other platforms FIXED!
hobbes.nmsu.edu web site - The complete collection of OS/2 shareware/freeware
LEO's (Link Everything Online) OS/2 Listing - another huge collection, comparable to hobbes NEW!
Pete Norloff's OS/2 Shareware BBS - Another huge collection and a great BBS if you live near Virginia NEW!
WarpSpeed Computer's Reseller List - A good list of stores that sell OS/2 software/hardware. Also check out IBM's list
- Indelible Blue - The most popular OS/2-only mail-order store
- Simply Intelligent - right here in Austin!
- Kiyo Designs - in Annapolis, MD
- J3 Computer Technologies
- BMT Micro - OS/2 shareware registration online
- IBM/Lotus software download library - download IBM software (including demos) for all platforms
WarpSpeed Computer's Update List - Small but growing collection of pointers to software updates
Software Net's OS/2 Catalog - Purchase OS/2 software over the Internet
PSP Beta Programs - Get a sneak peak at upcoming stuff
IBM's OS/2 Warp software guide - compatibility and native software listing, a bit dated in some places
The Ultimate OS/2 Gaming Page - learn about some excellent OS/2 games
32bit.com's OS/2 Listing - a small list - obviously they don't keep up with hobbes and leo NEW!

Finding/Purchasing/Installing OS/2-compatible hardware

Solution Technology - makers of OS/2 scanner drivers NEW!
Epson's OS/2 Printer Drivers - Custom drivers from Epson Germany NEW!
My very own Crystal Semiconductor and OS/2 web page - What do you get when you combine the best audio hardware with the best OS/2 audio drivers?
But if you have to use a SoundBlaster, you should at least check out Colin's AWE32 and OS/2 page
Rod Smith's OS/2 Soundcard Summary Page - comprehensive information on getting any sound card to work under OS/2 UPDATED!
OS/2 preload list - Believe it or not, there are over 60 companies worldwide which will sell preloaded OS/2 machines, quite a few here in Austin.
My Ultimate OS/2 computer - See what a real OS/2 PC looks like
IBM's OS/2 Warp hardware compatibility list
WarpTV FAQ - everything you wanted to know about watching TV on your OS/2 desktop, including which hardware to buy
Removable Media FAQ - everything you need to know to get your removable drive working under OS/2
HP CD Writers and OS/2 FAQ - the scoop on getting HP (and other) CD-ROM writers to work under OS/2.
Voice of OS/2 - Information on using your voice-enabled modem under OS/2. It's a bit dated and no longer maintained
CD-ROM Digital Audio (CD-DA) FAQ - Not OS/2-specific, but still a great source of info NEW!

Tools to make OS/2 look more like Windows, and vice versa

WPS for Windows - Gives Windows some of the look and feel, and some of the power, of the WPS. Click here to download it from hobbes.
TaskBox - A Win95 Start bar for OS/2. Click here to search for it on hobbes.

Online OS/2 Magazines

OS/2 Inside - The premier OS/2 print public NEW!
OS/2 Connect - desktop repository for sources of OS/2 information
OS/2 e-Zine - the most popular
OS/2 Computing! - also good, but smaller, and includes good reviews. They used to be OS/2-only, but now they inlclude other 32-bit operating systems.
OS/2 Connect's list of OS/2 periodicals - comprehensive list of paper and electronic OS/2 magazines
Indelible Blue Ink - from the #1 OS/2 reseller NEW!
Stardock Magazine - from the #1 OS/2 ISV NEW!
la Lettre d'OS/2 Magazine - a French OS/2 magazine NEW!

Getting OS/2 to share data with and co-exist with other operating systems, and vice versa

HFS/2 - use Macintosh-formatted 1.44MB floppies
ext2fs - Allows OS/2 to see Linux partitions. Available on hobbes - click here to search for it
Kris Kwilas' NT 4.0 and HPFS - get NT 4.0 to recognize your HPFS partitions
VIEWW - Allows Windows users to view OS/2 INF
Partition Magic - Move and Resize hard drive partitions - a must-have utility, from PowerQuest!
System Commander - Let's you share your hard drive among multiple operating system, even multiple copies of the same OS.
Power Boot - A System Commander clone
AFS for OS/2 - Only for CMU students NEW!
The PC-Mac TCP/IP & NFS FAQ - Not OS/2-specific, but still a great source of info NEW!

Emulators that work under OS/2 and allow you to run apps for other operating systems

ColEm - ColecoVision emulator
Stella - Atari 2600 emulator
Master Gear - Sega Master System and Game Gear emulators
X128 - A Coleco Spectrum 128 emulator
Ardi's Executor - The DOS version of the Macintosh emulator works great under OS/2
XFree86/OS2 - Free X Windows under OS/2 (you have to pay for the Windows versions!)
Node 99 - The nexus for information on emulators

Promoting OS/2

WarpStock 1997 - The first International OS/2 Users' party! October 25/26 in Los Angeles
IOTTA - The International OS/2 Technology Trade Association
Best Of OS/2 - News, Announcements, Tips, and Links
Team OS/2 - Team OS/2 is a grass-roots organization that promotes OS/2
VOICE - Virtual OS/2 International Consumer Education, a virtual OS/2 user's group
comp.os.os2.advocacy - looking for a flame war?

OS/2 newsgroups - discussion on the internet

comp.os.os2.announce - OS/2-related announcements
comp.os.os2.apps - OS/2 applications
comp.os.os2.multimedia - OS/2 multimedia
comp.os.os2.comm - OS/2 communication programs
comp.os.os2.games - Games on and for OS/2
comp.os.os2.mail-news - Mail and News programs for OS/2
comp.os.os2.setup.video - Help with video-related setup problems
comp.os.os2.setup.storage - Help with storage (disk, harddrive, tape, etc) setup problems
comp.os.os2.setup.misc - general help with installing/configuring OS/2
comp.os.os2.misc - Everything else OS/2-related

Creating web pages with OS/2 (I use HomePage Publisher to make my web pages):

HTML Beginner's Guide - a great starting place for learning HTML
HTML Validation - verify that your HTML syntax is correct
GIF Wizard - Optimize your GIF files so your web pages load faster
Miscellaneous OS/2 Internet Tools - A list of HTML editors from the OS/2 Must-Have web site
BMT Micro's Editor Listing - A list of shareware HTML and normal text editors

Please send all updates to timur@io.com.

This WebRing site is run by Timur Tabi.