This article examines the reasons behind the failure of OS/2, a competitor operating system to Microsoft Windows, through the lens of a former Microsoft employee. It highlights the technological advancements of the 1980s and 1990s that paved the way for Windows' dominance and suggests that the lack of native applications was a symptom rather than the root cause of OS/2's downfall.
and this was a public post. In case you don't recognize Letwin's name, he was one of the founding staff members of Microsoft – he's in the famousOriginally I'd planned on posting this on Aug 24, but real life events are foreshadowing things so I'll post a bit early. Microsoft launched Windows 95.
What's interesting about the post is that it seems to show that even by 1995 – just before what would prove to be Microsoft's most successful OS launch ever – Microsoft's OS/2 head honcho still hadn't put his finger on precisely why it flopped. Arguably the most important changes in software and hardware that shaped the modern computing gathered force in the 1980s. Industry-standard desktop computers went from eight-bit machines to 16-bit, and then to 32-bit, all over the space of just ten years. This set the stage for the developments of the 1990s that put us where we are today, in a world of multicore 64-bit machines runningjust two extended families of operating systems – Windows NT and Unix – which take tens of gigabytes and are still growing.had been circulating for over a year. It's fair to say that by 1995, OS/2 was dead software walking. That's not a big revelation; it is the central theme of Letwin's post. Almost exactly a year later, on September 25, 1996, the last ever major version of OS/2, Warp 4, For context, by 1995 everyone knew that Windows 95 was going to be a big deal, and that it was all over for OS/2 bar the shouting. A keen user of OS/2 2.0, this vulture moved his home PC to Windows 95 while it was still in beta. The UI was far superior, more hardware worked, and Doom ran much better.That, we submit, is wrong on multiple levels (not just the grocer's apostrophe). Only 32-bit OS/2 – that's OS/2 2.0 and its successors – could run Windows apps. That isn't why it was doomed. It's a red herring. It's true, but it was a symptom of the decline, not a cause of it. The lack of native apps was a sure sign that OS/2 had already flopped. (As an aside, OS/2
OS/2 Microsoft Windows Operating Systems Software History
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
OS/2's Demise: A Look Back at Microsoft's Failed OSThis article examines the reasons behind OS/2's failure, highlighting a post by former Microsoft employee, Letwin, who reflected on the OS's downfall. Despite its early promise, OS/2 ultimately lost the battle to Windows 95, facing challenges like a lack of native applications and evolving industry standards.
Read more »
Windows 10 Rebounds as Windows 11 Adoption LagsDespite improvements, Windows 11 struggles to gain traction, while Windows 10 sees a resurgence in market share.
Read more »
Windows 10 Regains Ground as Windows 11 Adoption SlowsMicrosoft is facing an uphill battle with Windows 11 adoption as Windows 10 continues to hold a commanding lead in the desktop operating system market. Statcounter data reveals a decline in Windows 11's share and a corresponding rise in Windows 10's popularity, raising concerns for Microsoft executives.
Read more »
Microsoft flags Outlook issue in Windows 11 24H2Meanwhile, new Outlook rollout looms for 365 Enterprise users
Read more »
Microsoft coughs up yet more Windows 11 24H2 headachesUsers report the sound of silence from operating system update
Read more »
Microsoft warns Windows 10 devices 'might malfunction' and face security risksStarting from October 14, 2025, Windows 10 will no longer receive security updates from Microsoft, meaning users will have no choice but to upgrade to Windows 11 or pay an annual fee
Read more »