Key Takeaways:
* OS/2 was the culmination of a partnership between IBM and Microsoft.
* IBM’s intentions for OS/2 clashed with Microsoft’s goals.
* Windows 3.0 emerged as a hit, resulting in a split between the companies.
* Microsoft had been working concurrently on version 2.0 of OS/2, public release never materialized.
IBM’s OS2: A Piece of Forgotten PC History
When discussing PC history, IBM’s OS/2 operating system is often forgotten. This artifact traces back to the final days of IBM’s collaboration with tech titan Microsoft. The partnership had previously spawned years of MS-DOS integrations, with the OS/2 project debuting to address DOS’s limitations on modern systems. The main upgrades planned for the OS/2 included more effective memory management, a practical Graphical User Interface (GUI), and multitasking capabilities.
Microsoft-IBM Alliance Frays Over OS/2
However, IBM’s goals for OS/2 clashed with Microsoft’s vision, leading to tensions. Microsoft was simultaneously orchestrating the construction of a different operating system, Windows. The tech giant designed Windows with an eye on the burgeoning market for PC-compatible clones, diverging from IBM’s goal of using OS/2 primarily to boost IBM-made PCs.
The Impact of Windows 3.0
Although Windows 1.x and 2.x did not make significant impacts, Microsoft made its mark with the release of Windows 3.0 in 1990. This version came pre-installed on several consumer PCs, and its success was one of the catalysts that led to the Microsoft-IBM partnership’s dissolution. This breakup resulted in OS/2 1.2 being the last version publicly released and sold with Microsoft’s involvement.
The Unrevealed OS/2 2.0: Microsoft’s Lost Project
Simultaneously, Microsoft had made considerable progress on OS/2 2.0 while also developing Windows. Preliminary screenshots had appeared in PC Magazine and advanced versions were circulated among developers willing to pay for them. Despite its progression, OS/2 2.0 was never officially made available to the public.
In summary, IBM’s OS/2 is a notable stepping-stone in PC history, being one of the last pieces of MS-DOS and PC-DOS created during the IBM-Microsoft union. Despite being eclipsed by the rise of Windows, its innovation in memory management and a user-friendly GUI marked a significant shift in operating system development. The partnership fallout resulting from the conflicting aims of IBM and Microsoft symbolizes an interesting what-if scenario in technology development.