OS/2

OS/2 (Operating System/2) was a special kind of computer software made to run on personal computers. It was created by two big companies, IBM and Microsoft, and first came out in 1987. The idea was to replace an older system called DOS and make computers work better.

The name "OS/2" came from being released together with IBM's new line of computers called the Personal System/2. This new system could do more things than older computers and was aimed at people who used computers at work.

In 1990, a disagreement between IBM and Microsoft caused Microsoft to stop working with IBM. IBM kept working on OS/2 by itself. Over the years, IBM made several new versions, with the last big update in 1996. Even though IBM tried to make OS/2 popular for everyday users, it had trouble competing with Microsoft's Windows 3.1. After IBM stopped supporting OS/2 in 2006, other companies took over to keep making and updating it for people who still wanted to use it.

Development

The development of OS/2 began in 1985 when IBM and Microsoft signed an agreement to work together on it. They called it "CP/DOS" and it took two years to finish the first version. OS/2 1.0 came out in 1987 and only worked in text mode, with a graphical user interface added later in version 1.1.

In 1990, the partnership between IBM and Microsoft fell apart. Microsoft focused on Windows, while IBM continued with OS/2 alone. OS/2 2.0, released in 1992, introduced a new interface and better support for running multiple programs. Later versions, like OS/2 Warp in 1994, added more features such as better networking and multimedia support.

IBM continued to update OS/2 until 2001, with the last major version being Warp 4 in 1996. Though OS/2 had some technical advantages, it couldn't compete with Windows and was eventually discontinued. Some companies and communities kept using OS/2, and third-party developers continued to support it after IBM stopped.

Summary of releases

Release dates refer to the US English editions unless otherwise noted.

Features and technology

User interface

OS/2 had a special part called Presentation Manager that handled windows, fonts, and icons, much like some other computer systems. On top of this was the Workplace Shell, introduced in version 2.0. This shell let users do usual tasks like looking at files or using printers, and also allowed more advanced tasks with special tools that added to the shell.

The shell showed objects such as disks, folders, and files using a system called the System Object Model. This let different programs share code, even if they were written in different ways. There was also a version that let objects on different computers talk to each other.

Commands

Networking

OS/2 used a system for connecting to other computers that was based on open rules, and it included tools for moving files and talking to other computers.

Drivers

Because not many companies made tools for OS/2, users had few choices for things like video cards. To help with this, IBM allowed users to pick from many cards using a special tool they got from another company.

Virtualization

Running OS/2 inside another computer system was harder than with most older systems because it needed many special features of the computer’s brain. Some newer tools can run OS/2, but it can still be tricky.

Security niche

OS/2 did not get many harmful programs that can break computers, probably because not many people used it. There were tools made for OS/2 to protect against harmful programs from other systems.

Problems

Some issues stood out when comparing OS/2 to other systems. For example, if a program stopped responding, it could sometimes make the whole system stop working until a restart. Later versions fixed this some by taking control after a program did not respond for a while. Another issue was that early versions did not handle waiting for different actions at once very well, making some programs react slowly or jerkily. A new way to handle this was added in version 3.0.

Historical uses

OS/2 was used in many different places. Banks like Suncorp in Australia used it for their ATMs until 2002. In Brazil, Banco do Brasil had thousands of machines running OS/2 in the 1990s. It was also used in Iran Export Bank for their teller machines and servers.

OS/2 was used in transportation too. It controlled the SkyTrain in Vancouver until the late 2000s. It also ran ticket machines for Trenitalia in Italy and for Tramlink in London. In New York City, OS/2 helped manage the subway’s MetroCards.

Retail places like Stop & Shop and Safeway used OS/2 in their checkout systems. It was also used by accounting firms and for systems like NPR’s satellite programming. Even famous radio host Howard Stern used OS/2 on his laptop.

Awards

In 1989, the magazine BYTE gave OS/2 an award, saying it was very important and could become even bigger in the future.

In March 1995, OS/2 won seven big awards. It was named Product of the Year by InfoWorld and won several other prizes from different magazines and groups.

IBM products using OS/2

IBM used OS/2 in many of its hardware products. It worked like a special operating system built right into the devices.