1126 The Death of OS2 in 1995
Perhaps it was the death of OS2 that moved IBM in the direction of Linux. Maybe OS2 would have prevailed over Microsoft’s Windows, had IBM taken this letter’s advice in 1995. Who can know for certain.
August 9, 1995
206 S. 5th. St.
Stillwater, MN 55082Lou Gerstner, Chairman
IBM Corporation
Old Orchard Rd.
Armonk, NY 10504Dear Mr. Gerstner:
I would like to present the strategy that IBM should follow to attain the best chance at prevailing over Microsoft. Microsoft is planning to release Windows 95 on August 24. IBM needs to make announcements on or before August 23rd and on August 24th to coincide with Microsoft’s release of Windows 95. IBM’s objective is to announce something so revolutionary that the average consumer will halt or slow down any plans to upgrade to Windows 95.
Please review the enclosed announcement suggestion. I have much that I could have explained and I have many supporting ideas. However, I chose to keep this letter short. Thank you for any attention you might give to this idea. If you ask, I would be honored to share my thinking on any matter. With my signature at the bottom of this page, I hereby give this idea freely to IBM Corp. and claim no rights thereto.
Yours truly,
Lyno Sullivan
[ATTACHMENT]
Make the following announcements to coincide with Microsoft’s release of Windows 95.
Announce on or before August 23 that:
IBM plans a major product announcement on August 24th, 1995 concerning new plans for our OS/2 Warp product family. IBM will announce a revolutionary packaging, pricing, and support strategy that will change the market. IBM’s announcement will create immediate consternation and confusion among our competitors. We advise you to sit back and watch the show for the next few months. As a consumer, you will love what IBM announces. You will find no reason to choose any other provider of your computer software. I ask only that you remember, when the dust finally settles, that it was IBM that brought you this market innovation.
Announce on August 24th that:
IBM will soon deliver a new $100 product license called “Warp Desktop.” This license will give you the right to use everything in IBM’s current and future desktop product line. The license fee of $100 is payable yearly. For the initial fee you will receive the current release of the common desktop core which will include the basic operating system plus full multi-media capability and connectivity features for LAN, tele-commuting, and Internet. Provided that you keep the license in force, this $100 yearly fee is guaranteed for 10 years with only adjustments for inflation. Because CD-ROM capacity is too small to contain everything, IBM has created Warp Desktop Personality CD-ROM discs. For example, there is a CD-ROM for the home user, another for the business user, another for the student, and other similar discs. Most people will find one Warp Desktop Personality disc to be sufficient for all their needs. These additional Profile CD-ROMS are priced at $10 each. At any time that your license is active you will be able to order a current core disc or any disc in the Warp Desktop Collection for a $10 cost. These Personality discs contain the fully featured applications that you would expect. There are no hidden charges and there are no more powerful products that will cost extra. These discs contain the best that IBM has to offer.
In addition, IBM will deliver a new $1,000 product license called “Warp Server.” This license will give you the right to use everything in IBM’s current and future server product line on a single server. This $1,000 license fee is payable one time. An additional $200 fee is payable yearly. The same $10 per disc fee applies to the Warp Server Collection. This offering includes all products necessary to connect to any desktop running any of the popular desktop systems, to any micro-computer or mini-computer server running any of the popular network operating systems, and to any IBM mainframe.
Finally, IBM will deliver a new $500 product license called “Warp Developer.” This license will give you the right to use everything in IBM’s current and future developer support product line. This $500 license fee is payable one time. An additional $100 fee is payable yearly. The same $10 per disc fee applies to the Warp Server Collection. These tools will provide a developer with everything necessary to develop applications and multi-media documentation and training for Warp Desktop, Warp Server, and Warp Developer.
You might have noticed that I didn’t mention printed documentation manuals. That is because IBM is committed to providing documentation on the CD-ROM. The Warp Desktop will contain a context sensitive, multi-media help facility. You will be able to purchase printed manuals but most will find them unnecessary.
These three product licenses cover every product now existing and yet to be developed for the Warp series. There are many more things that I would like to tell you about now but I want to keep this announcement focused. Specific product features and supporting services will be announced in the coming weeks.
. . . Commentary . . .
http://digg.com/linux_unix/The_Death_of_OS2_in_1995
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