Text 673, 57 rader
Skriven 2007-04-29 11:30:00 av Mike Luther (1:117/3001.0)
    Kommentar till text 672 av Bjarte Boe (2:211/42)
Ärende: OS2 install
===================
No .. it is not possible to just subscribe to Passport Advantage with IBM to
support OS/2 with fixpacks and the drivers which were associated with that. 
Which is one of the main reasons to work with the eComStation venue.  I've not
done this personally, but from what VERY little is showing up from IBM to the
outside world now, you can pay a price to IBM to get access to SPECIFIC items
from their 'archives' at this point.  When you do this the fee or whatever goes
down between you and IBM to gain this access results in a 'personal' and
specific transmission between IBM and the entity to receive such 'support',
from what looks like password encrypted traffic on the IBM 'from IBM' section
of the IBM FTP server.  Or, as I know from specific such transfers to me for
specific files, IBM has uploaded that to my private server access here. 

This is exactly what IBM did even before they withdrew global piad for support
for their version of the SNAP video driver tools.  The IBM version of that
product is was different as to the install and so on for the SNAP video
support.  At one point when you were a member of the official Passport
Advantage support format, you could just download the latest version of their
driver package from the PA download site.  However at the last, you had to give
them a request for the latest support, based on a specific video card
explaining why this was needed.  At that point they would verify that their
version dod cover that needed variation of what they paid Scitech to furnish. 
They either encrypted the package for you for your download for IBM or they
uploaded it to you FTP support interface in a secured fashion that way. 

I'm being very specific about what I'm saying here as I have received support
in this manner from them for specific things relative to OS/2.  I have no proof
that working with Mensys an eComStation will get ou through the support path
for OS/2 on a personal basis.  However I have specific offers here for autright
additional licenses for current MCP2 product as well as complete such licensing
for WSEB for OS/2 which are still actually available from Mensys, as well as
the eComStation  tools.  In other words, Mensys is still saying in writing that
OS/2 is actually still available from IBM, provided you are willing to pay for
the fees.  And that conforms exactly with what the IBM releases on information
for OS/2 have publically stated last year.  IBM says that they have withdrawn
from marketing OS/2.  But there are still IBM clients who have not, it appears,
either been able to move off this system, or find it still profitable to pay
whatever fees are required for help with it from IBM on a very private
relationship.  

The liklihood thaqt very many of us here particpating in this echo are in that
state of affluence is sorta small I'd guess.  Thus the realistic gamble that a
fairly small amount of money to pair with eComStation to gain sme help toward
the future, which really is based upon the MCP2 format, is a pretty good step I
assume.  

I think if you look at the past, you'll find that one of the key reasons that
IBM is bitter about OS/2 is that they never really could recover the fees from
folks who were able to use it and gained huge stability in their lives from it
without paying what IBM wanted for service support. 

That's just my view, and I wasn't in that no-pay but play group.  But then..


Mike @ 1:117/3001 remote off site..

--- Maximus/2 3.01
 * Origin: Ziplog Public Port (1:117/3001)