Os2

4 definitions found

From Virtual Entity of Relevant Acronyms (Version 1.9, June 2002) [vera]:

  OS2
       Operating System /2 (IBM, OS), "OS/2"
       
       

From Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001) [jargon]:



  OS/2 /O S too/ n. The anointed successor to MS-DOS for Intel 286- and
     386-based micros; proof that IBM/Microsoft couldn't get it right the
     second time, either. Often called `Half-an-OS'. Mentioning it is usually
     good for a cheap laugh among hackers -- the design was so {baroque}, and
     the implementation of 1.x so bad, that 3 years after introduction you
     could still count the major {app}s shipping for it on the fingers of two
     hands -- in unary. The 2.x versions were said to have improved somewhat,
     and informed hackers rated them superior to Microsoft Windows (an
     endorsement which, however, could easily be construed as damning with
     faint praise). In the mid-1990s IBM put OS/2 on life support, refraining
     from killing it outright purely for internal political reasons; by 1999
     the success of {Linux} had effectively ended any possibility of a
     renaissance. See {monstrosity}, {cretinous}, {second-system effect}.
  
  

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  OS2
       
           Normally written "{OS/2}".
       
          [{Jargon File}]
       
          (1997-05-02)
       
       

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  OS/2
       
          /O S too/ {IBM} and {Microsoft}'s successor to the {MS-DOS}
          {operating system} for {Intel 80286} and {Intel 80386}-based
          {microprocessors}.  It is proof that they couldn't get it
          right the second time either.  Often called "Half-an-OS".  The
          design was so {baroque}, and the implementation of 1.x so bad,
          that 3 years after introduction you could still count the
          major {application programs} shipping for it on the fingers of
          two hands, in {unary}.  Later versions improved somewhat, and
          informed hackers now rate them superior to {Microsoft
          Windows}, which isn't saying much.  See {second-system
          effect}.
       
          On an {Intel 80386} or better, OS/2 can {multitask} between
          existing {MS-DOS} {applications}.  OS/2 is strong on
          connectivity and the provision of robust {virtual machines}.
          It can support {Microsoft Windows} programs in addition to its
          own {native} applications.  It also supports the {Presentation
          Manager} {graphical user interface}.
       
          {OS/2} supports {hybrid multiprocessing} (HMP), which provides
          some elements of {symmetric multiprocessing} (SMP), using
          add-on IBM software called {MP/2}.  OS/2 SMP was planned for
          release in late 1993.
       
          After OS/2 1.x the {IBM} and {Microsoft} partnership split.
          IBM continued to develop OS/2 2.0, while Microsoft developed
          what was originally intended to be OS/2 3.0 into {Windows NT}.
          In October 1994, IBM released version OS/2 3.0 (known as
          "Warp") but it is only distantly related to {Windows NT}.
          This version raised the limit on RAM from 16MB to 1GB (like
          Windows NT).
       
          IBM introduced networking with "OS/2 Warp Connect", the first
          multi-user version.  OS/2 Warp 4.0 ("Merlin") is a {network
          operating system}.
       
          {(http://www.mit.edu:8001/activities/os2/os2world.html)}.
       
          [Dates?]
       
          [{Jargon File}]
       
          (1995-07-20)