IBM Corp is preparing an enterprise version of OS/2 with built-in system-management capabilities, Taligent Frameworks subsystem modules, and OpenDoc support. Full Function OS/2, due late this year, will include many of the features expected in the next generation of Microsoft Corp’s Windows, code-named Chicago. Full Function OS/2 will provide hooks to security features and system-management components such as Distributed Computing Environment, which lets users manage resources across multivendor networks. It will also provide support for Taligent Frameworks, a set of object-oriented modules for graphics, device drivers, memory management, and other functions that can be accessed by applications. Support for OpenDoc, the compound document architecture being developed by IBM, WordPerfect Corp, and Apple Computer Inc, will enable users to share graphics, text, data, and program features among documents. Full Function OS/2 will also implement the Plug and Play specification that automatically configures personal computers, peripherals, and software to work together. In addition, it will include requesters for LAN Server, NetWare, and peer-to-peer services as an add-on. In addition, IBM will this month start beta testing a new version of OS/2 geared towards the first-time Windows or OS/2 user. Personal OS/2, code-named Warp and previously known as OS/2 Lite, is claimed to be faster, more compact, and easier to install than OS/2 for Windows. It will run with a previously installed copy of Windows and will be able to run Windows applications with native OS/2 applications. Included in the package is an updated version of the Workplace Shell interface with three-dimensional icons. Developers have slimmed down the OS/2 kernel by removing code for performance tracing and some hooks to external systems, so that Personal OS/2 will need only 4Mb to run with two applications. Both packages may be offered initially for less than $100.
