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| Software Review | 
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| Title: | OS/2 Warp |
| Version: | 4.0 |
| Manufacturer: | IBM |
| Computer Tested On: | Generic Pentium 100 |
| Reviewed By: | Frank Fogg |
| Review Date: | October-97 |
| Rating: | 
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OVERVIEW
IBM Warp version 4.0 is the latest revision of IBM’s alternative operating system. This version has many unique features not found in previous versions and has a completely redesigned graphic user interface.
In version 4.0 IBM has revised the system tray which is now displayed as a toolbar. Multiple layers of trays can be entered, giving immediate access to almost any program on the system with a minimum of searching.
IBM has also included voice control and dictation with version 4. In addition to being able to control all of the major features of the operating system, certain voice enabled applications such as Lotus 1-2-3 can receive input directly by voice, totally eliminating the need for keyboard strokes or the mouse. The voice control system, once properly trained, appears to be over 95% accurate in its recognition of spoken words.
IBM completely redesigned the graphic user interface to improve the desktop appearance. The interface is now more pleasant and modern and the operating system includes features to customize the workplace including backgrounds and font changes.
Two recurring major problems with this operating platform have always been the availability of device drivers and installation problems. This latest version shows major improvement in these areas. A number of resident device drivers have been added, making installation less painless. IBM also provides a wizard to allow the user to search for and download additional drivers via an internet connection.
Java support is included in this latest version. Additional support for OpenDoc is available, although for most users this is a trivial issue. Also included are several application programs such as IBM Works that demonstrate the power of this particular platform. A separate demonstration and beta program CD ROM is also included that has about 50 programs or demonstrations including a fully operational beta version of Lotus Word Pro for OS/2.
While the manual suggests that this operating system can be installed on the same partition as Windows 95, I recommend installation in a stand-alone configuration or in a separate partition to avoid problems when using disk defragmentation utilities.
STRONG POINTS
Much more stable than earlier versions - I have personally runs this version for months at a time 24 hours a day with no system crashes. In addition, IBM has added crashproofing technology for windows based programs.
Integrated voice recognition technology - This feature alone is worth over $500 when compared to peer products.
Installation is much easier than older versions - For most common hardware platforms, users will encounter few difficulties.
Network support is reliable and robust - The platform works well and easily connects in a mixed network environment.
Technical support for installation problems and questions is available for an introductory period at no charge - Yes, it’s true, some of the manufacturers charge for this feature.
WEAK POINTS
Will run Windows 3.1 and DOS programs, but not Windows 95 based programs - Limits your choices when selecting new programs and games.
Not as fast as other operating systems - My experience was that program load times and operation seemed about 20% slower than other platforms, including OS/2 Warp version 3.0. I believe this is due to the operating system using a demand paging scheme for operation, and the increased demand on the system by the improvements made to the graphic user interface. This was true for operations across a network as well.
Use of the voice recognition capabilities requires much horsepower - I found that system response was sluggish when using voice dictation on a Pentium 100 with 16 megabyte of RAM.
Complexity - Using some windows and DOS based programs require the user to modify a rather large list of settings for them to operate properly. In a way, the ability to control the way the programs function is also one of the system's strong points. However, non-technical users may have difficulty grasping what many of these settings actually do.
