| <BobStJohn> | eOrion Well, howdy, pardner! Hey, everybody .. last time we had Joachim Benjamins from Mensys .. now from the other part of the world Mark Rogers, of Orion Solutions, our distributor in Oz!!! |
| <BobStJohn> | eOrion Proceed with your surprise ... just don't embarass me ... like Sector did ... ;-( |
| <eOrion> | We are very quickly setting up an 'eComStation' here to participate - just getting IRC going :-) |
| <eOrion> | Give me 5 min :-) |
| <MADodel> | A silk lace teddie? |
| <BobStJohn> | OK .. this is deterioriating ... so I'll speed it up and start. |
| <DCasey> | BobStJohn Sure ... go ahead and start |
| <BobStJohn> | I think most folks I see here have been here .. and I don't want to repeat things. |
| <BobStJohn> | I will treat this as an announcment event, though. And I have a press release that we'll put on tomorrow for Wednesday release. |
| <BobStJohn> | eComStation is now officially announced. One of the best sources of information is actually the Mensys site |
| <BobStJohn> | http://ecomstation.mensys.nl |
| <BobStJohn> | Joachim went on vacation so he put the information up on Friday |
| <BobStJohn> | There will be additional information on www.Serenity-Systems.com and www.ecomstation.com by Wednesday |
| <BobStJohn> | The product will be sold by Jacaranda Systems in Canada, Indelible Blue in the US, Mensys in Europe, Mati in Mexico and Latin America, and Orion Solutions in Australia and the Pacific Rim. |
| <BobStJohn> | Products include eComStation, eCS SMP, eCS Pro (SMP and JFS) |
| <eOrion> | Our web site will be updated with the next 36 hours as well. |
| <BobStJohn> | One of the best sources of information is the discussion group on eGroups (www.egroups.com .. group is ecomstation) |
| <paul_wtw> | good to hear the ink is on the paper finally Bob |
| <BobStJohn> | All ecs products include a special pricing for OS/2 V4 upgrades until Feb 1. 2001. Pricing ranges from $129 US (SRP) for eCS upgrade from Merlin to $499 for the eCS Professional, new user. |
| <RLD> | BobStJohn: will the upgrades to eCS after 2001 be the same $129 SRP? |
| <BobStJohn> | RLD I anticipate there will be no upgrade product after 2.1.2001. |
| <BobStJohn> | Essentially, we're saying OS/2 V4 users have until the end of January to upgrade. However, there will always be the ability to request special bid pricing. |
| <BobStJohn> | Keeping mind that support for Merlin goes away on 1/31/2001 .. all Software Choice features become fee, even OS/2 fixpacks. |
| <BobStJohn> | We will deliver Software Choice as part of the Serenity Systems Software Subscription Service .. which we expect the distributors to bundle with their support agreements .. but that's up to them. |
| <BobStJohn> | I wonder if there are any Ss left? |
| <BobStJohn> | eOrion Yooo ... mark .. your five minutes up, yet? |
| <MADodel> | Is the eCS software Choice an add on? Or is it included in the initial cost of eCS product? |
| <BobStJohn> | Geeez .. it's quiet .. this could be the fastest that I ever offended everyone in ear shot .. oh, thanks Mark |
| <eOrion> | Not quite - trust me not to have the SDD drivers setup - Java dont like a small amount of colors! |
| <BobStJohn> | The software subscription service is an add on .. it is not in the purchase price of the product. |
| <RLD> | hmmm |
| <MADodel> | Any idea what that will cost? |
| <BobStJohn> | madodel That's difficult for me to answer right now .. because it won't be Software Choice as IBM sells it. It will include enhancements to the Serenity Systems components .. and I want it to include service and support options. |
| <BobStJohn> | However .. I expect the overall pricing and value to be below IBM's pricing .. and there will be a service for eCS and Warp Server for e-b. |
| <BobStJohn> | If all you want is SWC .. you can still buy it. The "OS/2" features on Software Choice will be the same "OS/2" features that appear as part of the software subscription service. Just that our service will include some other things. |
| <BobStJohn> | And .. as I said, I would expect the distributors to package some suppport with the service. |
| <MADodel> | OK. Those who purchase the preview version, will get a fully updated final release even if they don't purchase the Subscription Service? |
| <BobStJohn> | I also expect the pricing of the subscription service to go up by the end of the year to cover the cost of some of the new enhancements. |
| <Arkay> | Some people have said that they think IBM will gauge the profitability of OS/2 based on the sales of Software Choice. I don't think this is true, however, will IBM be considering in any way the volumn of sales that you make with eCS when deciding on |
| <BobStJohn> | madodel The answer is yes .. but not the way you phrased it. No one is purchasing the preview version. They are actually purchasing the Generally Available (GA) version. Howerver, they will receive a preview to use until the GA ships. |
| <Arkay> | future plans for OS/2? |
| <DCasey> | BobStJohn If I were to buy the Preview Release, the eGroups discounted version, direct from Serenity ...would I also be able to purchase the Subscription service direct through Serenity? |
| <BobStJohn> | I cannot speak for IBM. However, we certainly will. |
| <BobStJohn> | DCasey Again, you are not purchasing the preview. I hand not considered selling the subscription ourselves because that would put us in competition with our distributors. I would expect you would get it from Indelible Blue. |
| <BobStJohn> | Arkay The future of OS/2 is a challenging topic. We are going into this with a long range product plan. |
| <DCasey> | BobStJohn That's what I thought ... just wanted to be sure I could buy the subscription service through IB, if I bought eCS through Serenity |
| <BobStJohn> | Arkay However, what the role of IBM would be in that product plan is less clear. |
| <BobStJohn> | DCasey Sure .. they are separate products. |
| <BobStJohn> | DCasey If anyone had such a problem, we would step in and resolve it quickly. |
| <BobStJohn> | Kim has spoken about some enhancements .. including an ultra fast boot, DHCP, and pre-execution boot services .. all directed at eCS being able to run as an Inet appliance .. booting over the Inet. |
| <BobStJohn> | One thing we should keep in mind .. we are about Managed Clients. OS/2 happens to be the world's best platform for Managed Clients. |
| <Arkay> | Do you know if the resellers will be offering upgrades from the Base version to the SMP and Pro, if the base version was purchased from Serenity? |
| <BobStJohn> | Therefore, OS/2 is our start point. But, as a Managed Client, it is our intent to make our client OS agnostic. |
| <BobStJohn> | Arkay Yes .. you can upgarde from eCS to eCS SMP .. or eCS Pro. As a rule of them, think of each additional feature as approximately $110 SRP. |
| <BobStJohn> | What I was saying is, I expect our eCS to be able to run an integrated Linux with OS/2. Windows is more of a challenge. |
| <eOrion> | Dont forget you can recompile Linux Apps to run on OS/2 |
| <BobStJohn> | But we are looking at several ways to support Windows. One is a Win32 WiseClient. The other is the Freedom Card, which would support Windows and eCS in the same chassis .. two computers. The third is Odin. |
| <MADodel> | Bob: Did you catch the multi-page article in ComputerWorld titled "Thin is in". They of course only mention windows terminal server and Citrix. |
| <BobStJohn> | eOrion Yes, another option. eComServer will eventually support Linux |
| <BobStJohn> | madodel Nope .. but OS/2 eZine ran a much better Thin Is In last June .. best piece I've ever read on this topic. |
| <MADodel> | Did you write it? :-) |
| <Arkay> | Too bad that author doesn't write more. What was his name again? :-) |
| <BobStJohn> | But there is a key message for everyone here. We go with OS/2 because of functionality, reliability, cost and price performance, and ability to manage. WiseManager remains an OS/2 application. |
| <MADodel> | Bob: will Serenity be promoting this product beyond the scope of current OS/2 users. |
| <BobStJohn> | Arkay madodel You know .. either I just don't have anything more to say ... or I have less time .. but if anyone can suggest a topic which I feel strongly enough to put forward a piece .. fine. I'm happy to participate in eZine. |
| <BobStJohn> | madodel Absolutely. Part of the message I'm trying to get out is eCS is viable for today's environment. But it is focused on the next 18 months to five years. We regard everything that is in use today as legacy in three to five years. |
| <Arkay> | Let's talk about the Programmers Workbench. Do you have any further idea what that will involve? |
| <BobStJohn> | So .. part of the message is .. eCS will support your legacy environment for as long as you need to run it. You run your OS/2 apps as long as you choose to run them. But eCS will also enable you participate in TNBT .. no matter what it is .. because eCS manages all the changes associated with transition and migration. |
| <MADodel> | TNBT? |
| <DSOMber1> | The Next Best Thing? |
| <Arkay> | The Next Big Thing |
| <BobStJohn> | Arkay Sorry, I'm having some trouble pulling that together because I'm just no programmer and I'm don't understand the components. What I'm looking at is eCS+DB2 Developer Edition+VA Java Professional. Now, there is also the JDK for 1.3 which should be in there .. I think I can do that. There is the OS/2 Dev Toolkit 4.5 .. have no idea what that is or |
| <BobStJohn> | how to cobble it in there .. if it needs to be there. |
| <BobStJohn> | The Next Big Thing ... whatever the next Java, Linux .. or eCS will be. :-) |
| <BobStJohn> | I want OS/2 users to understand that we will extend and enhance OS/2. |
| <BobStJohn> | But this is not about OS/2 .. only OS/2 |
| <MADodel> | Has IBM been cooperative in that regard? Extending OS/2 |
| <BobStJohn> | madodel IBM as one entity simply doesn't exist. It's like the blind men touching the elephant. |
| <BobStJohn> | However, I think Kim and I can be successful in retaining IBM's suppport and cooperation. |
| <BobStJohn> | But I think IBM's role could change ... |
| <BobStJohn> | I'm trying to work out some business relationships that will make eCS less dependent on IBM in some regards. |
| <BobStJohn> | And I'm still talking about extending OS/2 ... but IBM will always be the keeper .. the owner of OS/2. |
| <eOrion> | We will also be looking at using as much open source as possible providing its stable and meets a business need - like ODIN and XWorkplace. |
| <BobStJohn> | I just want to be very careful talking about the future .. because I'm afraid of hearing something that I said come back to me in a much more exaggerated form. "Bob St.John said Serenity Systems is taking over OS/2" |
| <BobStJohn> | But I do think IBM will help us develop our products .. which will involve enhancing the functionality which involve OS/2 technology and components .. |
| <BobStJohn> | Going back to eZine .. the problem I've had of late is that all I have to say is shameless promotion of what I want to do with Serenity Systems. I don't think that's appropriate use of eZine. |
| <eOrion> | IBM also has projects like Moterey which could be interesting... |
| <BobStJohn> | If eCS does well ... there are a lot of opportunities available which will spring from OS/2 .. and take "OS/2" along with it. |
| <BobStJohn> | So, Chrissy, the ice cream thawed, yet? |
| <MADodel> | Bob: I'd like to see some of that shameless promotion in something like ComputerWorld |
| <Chrissy> | no ice cream here at all :( |
| <BobStJohn> | madodel I think we can get there. We have to ship product first. |
| <BobStJohn> | The Mobile Managed Client aspect of eComStation is really significant. Really, really significant. That's a discussion you can read in eGroups. But I think things will be more clear by the beginning of the fourth quarter, certainly by the end of the year. |
| <BobStJohn> | This is not the OS/2 Convenience Pack with some desktop add ons. This is a serious change to how computers can operate. Leading edge .. but based on stuff OS/2 could do for years. The Inet and high speed connections have conditioned folks better to hear the story, though. |
| <BobStJohn> | You folks may remember Micho Durdevich from WarpTech .. did the booting Alien OSs from Warp Server? |
| <BobStJohn> | He has done an heckuva a job doing a diskless rpl for Win9X |
| <DSOMber1> | I read about it. |
| <BobStJohn> | Micho as agreed to work with us to crate a Win32 WiseClient which will support W2K and NT .. and drag and drop software deployment to diskless rpl workstations .. which could be running in the same PC chassis as eCS, running OS/2 and an integrated Linux implementation. |
| <BobStJohn> | To the user .. one PC. To the adminstrator ... a delight. |
| <BobStJohn> | eOrion OK .. now what's your surprise? |
| <BobStJohn> | Hey .. anybody??? Am I alone, again .. naturally? |
| <Arkay> | I'm still here. I don't know about eOrion |
| <Sector> | It's been five minutes already
|
