As I sit here in the glow of my modern computer screen, reflecting on decades of technological evolution, I can't help but feel a profound sense of regret for the paths not taken. The world, in its haste for convenience and shiny promises, has repeatedly chosen operating systems of inferior engineering—systems designed not just to serve users, but to ensnare them in a web of perpetual problems. These issues, from endless crashes to invasive updates, would have been relics of a forgotten era if OS/2 Warp had claimed its rightful place as the market leader. Instead, we find ourselves in a landscape dominated by choices that prioritize profit over stability, duping users into accepting mediocrity as the norm.

My journey with OS/2 Warp began in the mid-1990s, a time when personal computing was exploding into homes and offices alike. I was drawn to its robust architecture, born from a collaboration between IBM and Microsoft that promised the best of both worlds: the reliability of IBM's engineering prowess and the user-friendly interfaces that were becoming essential. What made OS/2 shine was its true multitasking capabilities, superior memory management, and an object-oriented Workplace Shell that treated files and applications as intuitive objects rather than cryptic commands. It supported DOS and Windows applications seamlessly through its Virtual DOS Machines and Win-OS/2 subsystem, offering a bridge to the past while forging ahead into a more stable future. OS/2 was engineered for the enterprise and the enthusiast alike, with crash protection that isolated faulty applications without bringing down the entire system—a feature that Windows users could only dream of at the time.

Yet, despite these technical superiorities, the market veered toward Windows. Microsoft's early marketing tactics were masterful in their manipulation, framing Windows as the inevitable choice through aggressive bundling with hardware manufacturers and exclusive deals that cornered consumers. The narrative was one of convenience: "Why complicate things with OS/2 when Windows is already here, pre-installed, and 'good enough'?" This created a marketplace operating under duress, where alternatives like OS/2 were sidelined not by merit, but by monopolistic pressures. Antitrust investigations would later reveal the extent of these tactics, but by then, the damage was done. Users found themselves locked into an ecosystem where upgrades were not optional enhancements but forced necessities, perpetuating a cycle of dependency.

Fast-forward to today, and the echoes of those decisions reverberate louder than ever. Mandatory updates in modern Windows iterations disrupt workflows, forcing reboots at inopportune moments and introducing new bugs under the guise of security. These practices further the duress against genuine work and progress, turning computing into a battle against the very tools meant to empower us. Privacy invasions, bloatware, and subscription models have become the status quo, all stemming from that initial wrong turn away from OS/2's principled design.

My personal frustrations have only deepened over the years. Watching the world embrace the wrong path—opting for flash over substance—has been a source of ongoing dismay. If only people had the opportunity to truly try OS/2 Warp, to experience its smoothness and reliability firsthand, they would have known the difference. It wasn't until the mid-2010s that I stumbled upon the HAL-NT Shootout, a retrospective conference that laid bare the technical showdowns of the 1990s. I watched those sessions in dread, as the realities of how OS/2 was sabotaged through corporate intrigue and marketing warfare surmounted my already established angst. The path toward degradation was clear: a deliberate shift from engineering excellence to consumer entrapment.

In this era of modern computing, Linux has emerged as my only refuge—a beacon of open-source freedom that echoes some of OS/2's ideals. But even Linux, with its fragmentation and steep learning curve for the masses, can't fully reclaim what was lost. This book is my attempt to warp back to OS/2, to chronicle its history not as a footnote, but as a testament to what should've been. Join me in exploring the roads not taken, and perhaps, in imagining a better digital world.

I started this book project as both a indignation of what could have been in angst of how things evolved and for shedding a continuous light on a superior commercial operating system; an Operating System/2 that is still available today for modern hardware, sold as ArcaOS.

I hope readers enjoy the rich and invigorating aspects of what could have been-- as if the time stream of the most potential had been stolen by greed alone. And here we are, today conflicted with the normalization of operating system issues plagued by malnourished forced updates and a dystopian reality of everything being watched and sent back to five eyes.

Perhaps this book can stir change in the market place appetite for quality over sheen. Not all that shines is gold; shit is also shinny.

Sincerely,

Jason Page
An OS/2 Hobbyist