Moderator: Welcome to #OS/2!
Tonight we are hosting a Soundoff With... Netscape event! Our
guests tonight are Dan Libby and Michael Kaply of the Netscape
Communicator for OS/2 Project team. For the event tonight the
channel will be moderated.
Moderator: We would like to
thank our Guests tonight for agreeing to come to this forum.
Would either or both of our guests like to make an opening
statement, after which we will ask for questions from those in
attandence.
Moderator: Michael?
Dan: Hi all.
Michael: I'll start
Michael: I just wanted to say
thanks to everyone for coming out...
Michael: rest assured, despite
anything you have heard, we are actively working on Netscape
Communicator for OS/2.
Moderator: Dan, care to make a
comment?
* danda is actively working, U2play just goes to
concerts.... <g>
Michael: I will try to answer
all of your questions, but for obvious reasons I might have to
occasionally throw in a NO COMMENT :):)
Michael: Any comments dan?
Dan: Comments? Not really. I
think we are making good progress.
Moderator: Our Moderators
tonight are tandie, drumpig, egon and kzin. If you have a
question for our guests tonight, /msg one of these people and
they will ask our guests your question. The event, in this
"interview-like" fashion assures for a smooth dialog.
Michael: All right, then lets
take questions
Question: *Ice63* Will you meet
the IBM proposed goal of one web year (90 days) after the Windows
version?
Michael: We have publicly
stated that we are working toward a third quarter ship date.
Michael: Based on the math,
that would be within a web year :)
Michael: You will certainly
see a beta in that time frame
Dan: ..and a screen shot very
soon. a REAL one. :)
Question: *Moldavia* Will there
be any improvements, or new features in the OS/2 version over the
Windows version?
Michael: We are trying to at
least have the OS/2 specific features that were in 2.02 ....
Michael: such as speech, and
additional drag and drop.
Michael: We have some other
ideas on some OS/2 specific improvements,...
Michael: but I can commit
development people to those, I can't identify them.
Michael: We are certainly
trying to make the OS/2 version better
Question: *Stryder* Is it true
that IBM has exerted considerable pressure to debundle the
communicator portion from the OS/2 release ?
Michael: That's a very
sensitive topic, and I will dance around it as best I can.....
* danda dances also.
Question: danda :)
Michael: There certainly has
been discussion of unbundling the browser, but as it stands, my
plan of record is to produce Netscape Communicator for OS/2....
Michael: If I am told to just
do the broewser, I will just do the browser...
Michael: That's all I can say
right now
Question: *Stryder* How badly
did the departure of Warnett affect the timetable/feature set of
the release ?
Dan: Martin was a valuable
member of the team, but his departure did not affect the
timetable to my knowledge.
Michael: Dan is correct
Question: *Desp* Will there be
integration with the OS/2 desktop in version 4?
Michael: We will have at least
the same level of integration as 2.02 and Windows...
Dan: Integration like IE
integrates with Win*? No.
Question: *os2hq* Okay, how much
will Com/2 cost? Upgrade discount for current Nav/2 users?
Michael: I can't comment on
any pricing issues
Question: *BamaFan* How much of
the development effort is being done by IBM...
Dan: the team is made up of a
majority of IBM members and a few of us Netscaper's (4 at
present)
Dan: Mike, how many IBM'ers?
Michael: i think 6, plus some
contractors
Dan: Everyone works together
though in one area. Company distinctions are mostly irrelevant.
Michael: Either way, it is
definitely a joint effort
Question: *Le_Barman* Does the
fact that there's no MSIE/2 allow you to take more time, to do a
better job?
Michael: Our timetables are
based on windows timetables combined with quality
Michael: Out goal is to put
out a comparable windows product with as high as quality as
possible. Not having competition doesn't affect that
Question: *Matinee* Could
netscape release an API kit like webex which allows you to
implement a browser view within a client window?
Michael: What WebEx does is
pretty cool, but unless a browser were desidnged from the ground
up to do that, it wouldn't be practical....
Michael: we understand the
requirement, and it is on our list
Dan: I doubt a "browser
in a window" API is technically feasible at this point but
may be in the future. There are no plans that I am aware of.
Dan: Although I can certainly
see that it would be nice for OS/2 developers. There are probably
some legal issues...
Question: *young* has dumping
OpenClass netted the program any speed gains? Will C/2 use it's
own Java runtime?
Michael: dumping openclass has
defnitely helped speed....
Michael: Although openclass is
a very powerful set of tools.
Michael: As far as java goes,
I can't discuss that right now. I can say we will have java :)
Question: <Ice63> Do you
know if there will be later versions of Netscape/2 (4.01, etc.)
* danda was lagged for a bit.
Michael: Well, since Netscape
is already at 4.02.... :)
Michael: We will probably ship
at the 4.02 level
Question: *Le_Barman* Will
Communicator be same priced as other platforms version? Or will
we have the browser free, since IBM seems to have given up on
WebEx for Navigator? Why didn't you made a Navigator/2 before?
Does Netscape think than OS/2 donn't worth it?
Michael: I can't comment on
any price issues. Sorry.
Question: *Egon* is the issue of
NS/2 not being able to be closed (either with a process killer
such as Process Commander or Watchcat) being addressed?
Michael: Egon, we were not
aware of that problem, so no
Question: *Desp* Are there plans
to have NS/2 available from the mail NS download page? (Thus
allowing better visibility for the platform)
Michael: desp - we are working
to make it available from the netscape pages
Question: *Sentience* Where
should we be watching for news on the upcoming betas and
screenshots?
Michael: Sentience - the best
place to watch is the netscape unofficial home page - http://home.netscape.com/people/danda
Dan: I will also post anything
significant on my page: http://people.netscape.com/danda
Question: *Korig* Are there any
plans to add a WebMap like in WE to netscape/2?
Michael: Korig - no plans for
a web map currently. History is much improved though
Dan: The History list in
Communicator should provide most of the functionality of WE's
Webmap.
Question: *fonz_* Question: Are
you guys leaning away from using OCL? If so, how hard is it to
sync development with the other platforms?
Michael: fonz - we are not
using OCL. We have invented ways to keep us synced with the other
platforms and currently it is working very well
Dan: for u 2: U should clarify
that we are not using it in 4.0. OCL WAS used in 2.02.
Michael: Thanks dan
Question: *Scanner2* why does
Netscape/2 see transparent graphics as black backgrounds? when I
turn off the color pallette option the transparent graphics are
transparent but the colors are all funky.
Michael: scanner2 - I don't
have enough info on that problem. We had some transparency
problems with two color bitmaps
Question: *BlizArd* I read in
Info Week in May that MCI is using about 2000 OS/2 clients on
their intranet running WebEx...do you know if they have switched
to NS/2?
Michael: blizard - I have no
info like that. But I am jotting it down :)
Question: *fonz_* Question: Are
you guys leaning away from using OCL? If so, how hard is it to
sync development with the other platforms?
Michael: already answered
Question: *Ice63* Sorry for
being so stubborn, but do you mean Q3 for the beta or the final?
Question: (in followup to the
1st question of the soundoff)
Michael: ice63 - I am not
going to be that specific :)
Question: *KoolAde* my question
is if it based on windows timetable why do we not have a beta
already
Michael: KoolAde - the windows
product was/is a moving target. We had to pick points in time to
sync with it.
Michael: Because of this, we
are off from their timetable
Question: *fonz_* What's the job
market like at Netscape? Do they have a stock option plan, just
in case they become like another Microsoft? :)
Dan: yes, there is a plan.
Don't think we are THAT optimistic yet though.
Dan: ...well maybe some of us.
Question: *Awake* Will
Communicator/2 retain the ability to use windows 3.1 plugins?
will the seamless.dll problem be fixed?
Dan: C/2 should use Win
plugins. seamless fix? Mike?
Michael: Yes, Comm will
support windows 3.1 plugins....
Michael: Seamless fix might be
in the new plugin pak released a couple weeks ago
Question: *Pendragn* question:
Will the type ahead from the windows version be included?
Michael: I will check on that
Question: *Hotdan* Will Com/2
include a modem dialing app similar to the one included with 3.0
gold for Windows?
Michael: No to the dialing app
Question: *Kryton^* How do I get
the 128 bit version?
Michael: 128 bit version of
2.02 or Communicator?
Question: *Matinee* what are the
RAM requirements like (roughly) for the new version? In netscape
2.01 for Windows even if you switch load graphics off it still
loads some background images - are pages *completely* graphics
free with v4? (sorry, various reasons cannot check here)
Michael: Ram requirements have
not been determined yet. They should be similar to windows
Michael: I believe the image
problems have been fixed. Note however that if an image is in
cache, it is loaded even though loading images is turned off
Question: *Korig* Is there
competition between those working on the OS/2 and those working
on the windows versions of the netscape products?
Michael: no competition. we
are working together
Question: *DSOMber1* How will
encryption be handled especially for international customers? Any
support for the SET protocol?
Michael: As you know netscape
has been given permission to export 128 bit encryption.
Michael: The only exception to
that is France
Michael: No info on the SET
protocol
Question: *Korig* Is
Netscape/IBM encouraging products such as RealAudio to be ported
to OS/2?
Michael: We are definitely
trying to get people to port to OS/2. RealAudio has been an
uphill battle, though, and I don't think you will see it happen
Question: *Stryder* Are you
viewed as renegades from the rest of Netscape due to the platform
you work on ? IE do you have the *FULL* support of all of the
Netscape Corp ? How long is the agreement between IBM and
Netscape for and thus likely to produce new versions ?
Michael:
We are not considered renegades. We participate actively in their
meetings and we are acknowledged as a platform just like anyone
else. Come on, they have a Linux version :) :)
Michael: I can't comment on
contractual agreements though
Question: *Eduardo_* will Com/2
has realtime extenstion so thatI couldrun my microbrewery from
it?
Michael: Not sure how you
would do web brewing :)
Question: *JoeAdmire* I want to
follow up to the question about the bug where NSN/2 won't
properly shut down. I have a direct interest in that bug, since
it bit me just tonight. It seems to be connected with Java - and
I'm astonished that nobody at netscape seems to be aware of the
problem, by the way. Do you know what the current status is of
IBM's efforts to bring Java support in OS/2 up to the current
standard - I don't know if it's 1.2? and Why not Fr
Michael: I have not heard of
this problem, it has not come in through our defects...
Michael: as far as Java, IBM
has released a beta of Java 1.1 and it is being updated
Michael: continuously
Michael: Not sure what the
question is in there...
Question: <Abraxas> Are
there any plans to incororate PGP suuport into Navigator?
Michael: 4.0 does support
SMIME and vcards and stuff, I know of no specific things
pertaining to PGP
Michael: France has laws
specifically prohibiting some encryption types. For instance
SMIME is disabled in the french version
Question: *DeBolle* We all know
it's much easier to program for different OS's from a common base
and port it, did you use much from the Windows-base for OS/2 or
is it entirely different? You just said you weren't aware of the
'not closing' problem. Are there bugreports Is there anything you
would like to tell about the project that isn't mentioned here
already?
Michael: I'll start with the
bug thing....right now, we have a few 2.02 bugs that we will
address if necessary.
Michael: I am trying to avoid
2.02 development at this point
Michael: As far as the porting
question, we are certainly trying to keep a common codebase with
the windows version, because that makes our lives easier...
Michael: we have developed
ways to leverage the windows code as well as create a very os/2
specific version
Michael: and Open32 is not one
of those ways
Question: *Rijn* Will there be a
NetCaster for OS/2? How is support for NetCaster/2 going?
Michael: I see no technical
reason why Netcaster will not be available. It is Java based. WE
are not, however, at a point where we are testing it
Question: *os2hq* Based on my
use of W95 with MSIE at work, MSIE can't download more than one
file at a time, whereas Nav/2 has done 3 simultaneous here, while
checking mail & playing a game. When will you guys do some
kind of shootout comparing these for the public???
Michael: I'll keep that in
mind for my demos :)
Question: C: *JoeAdmire* Not
really a question, but I would like to point out that if the
not-closing problem (which you say you are not aware of) has not
been addressed to date in 2.02 should turn up in Communicator/2
as well, you are going to hear a *lot* about it from users.
Please do look into this problem.
Michael: I disagree with that
statement. You should NOT expect to see 2.02 problems in
Communicator
Dan: egon: what is the not
closing problem? anyway, I'm sure you will see all NEW and
IMPROVED bugs in Comm/2. ;)
Question: what occurs is that
NS/2 will hang or lockup and it will NOT close unless you
reboot...
Question: *JoeAdmire* Please
tell Danda that the not-closig problem is something that often
turns up when Java is enabled and the browser freezes and won't
shut down
Question: completely (I get a
"exit in progress"/"exit T1" message in
Watchcat) and it won't close down until you reboot, as you just
said
Question: danda: I can't
reproduce the problem at will BUT it does happen quite often
Dan: Egon: so will other PM
apps. Can you reproduce this problem? Dan: I can say that 4.0 is
not based on 2.02 code, therefore it most likely will not have
the same exact problems.
Michael: And again, since
communicator is using a totally different codepase than 2.02, the
same problems shouldn't exist in both
Question: *Ice63* Are rumours
than NS 5.0 will be written in Java true?
Michael: Netscape has stated
that they will have a pure java browser in the 5.0 timeframe
Question: *Le_Barman* Will C/2
be less memory-hungry? 12mb RAM requirement seems a bit abusive..
How about implementing a "remove currents frames"
option thingie, for when some bad html got us stuck with some
frames from a previous page?
Michael: We are actively
working with performance to reduce our memory requirements
Dan: 2.02 had a remove frames.
Just drag the desired page onto the Netscape icon. BTW, that was
an OS/2 only feature.
Question: *RudMan* Can you give
us an idea of the estimated size of C/2 ? Will C/2 run on the
largest current OS/2 platform, v2.11?
Michael: It should be about
the size of the windows version, and I don't have those numbers
Michael: We have not received
requiremtns to run on 2.11
Question: *os2hq* Gotta go, but
THANKS for making Nav/2 the Absolute Best Browser. TTYL!!
Question: *Wobbly* When
Communicator/2 gets released, will it be maintained at the same
level as the windows product at the same time, or will there be
an ongoing delay for the OS/2 product?
Michael: We believe our
release dates will get to the windows version once we ship our
first version
Question: *Korig* could you ask
whether java & frames will be more reliable in the new
version of netscape/2 ? Does netscape have any sort of idea how
many people are using their netscape/2 product?
Dan: People using it - I don't
know. Mike, does IBM have any download #'s?
Michael: Unfortunately, we
don't have numbers on users of 2.02 for OS/2
Question: *DynoMutt* how about a
feature which would append "www." and
".org/.net" to a sitename entered on the URL line if
".com" doesn't work?
Michael: dyno, sounds like a
good idea. i'll put that one down
Question: *Rijn* Will
Communicator/2 be cancelled when Communicator goes 100% pure
java?
Michael: Although netscape is
working on a 100% java client, they have not said that they are
discontinuing their windows version
Dan:
Kzin: Unknown. Regardless, Communicator will run on OS/2 either
way.
Question: *KoolAde* any idea
some of us were late when we will see C/2 as a beta
Michael: All I will say is 3rd
quarter
* ForU2Play dances
Question:
*Guardian_* will we have any juicy plugins like windows versions?
Michael: You need to encourage
plug-in developers to develop for windows.
Michael: Harass them :)
Dan: U mean develop for
OS/2, right mike?
Michael: Thanks dan :)
* ForU2Play checks his fingers and tries to figure out why they
typed windows
Question: *Astral* In the spirit
of Windows compatiblity, will left mouse drag & drop support
be added?
Michael: We are investigating
the possibility of having this configurable
Question: *Korig* Are there
plans to add a No-Cookie option to the security/preferences page?
Michael: Comm 4.0 has a no
cookies option
Dan: kzin: That option exists
in Communicator already.
Question: *JimJ* When will
Netscape include support for Java 1.1.x?
Michael: I can't common on
future netscape/java product plans
* danda can comment.... but then I'd have to kill you all!
Question: *Awake* who can we
contact at realaudio to harass for a plugin? :)
Michael: I'll get a name for
you
Question: *Dirac* Why have you
chosen not to use Open32? Speed?
*** Signoff: ForU2Play (Dodo .gz.) [18:53:02]
Moderator: Intermission!
Dan: Mike OpenChat died. Mine
will in 3-4 mins.
Dan: err, Mike's
Moderator: Can we call a pause
for a few while foru2play rejoins? (openchat timer)
* Drumpig let's out the danceing bear's for intermission
entertainment.
* danda will rejoin now then too.
*** Signoff: danda (Leaving) [18:54:00]
Moderator: u will find your
washrooms to the right, to your left is the snack bar.
Moderator: our guests will
return momentarily
Moderator: in the meantime,
prepare more questions for them
*** ForU2Play (~mkaply@h-205-217-234-13.netscape.com) has
joined #OS/2 [18:54:44]
Moderator: k intermission is
almosot over get back to your seats.
*** danda (~danda@h-205-217-234-30.netscape.com) has
joined #os/2 [18:55:47]
Moderator: ok, back to the
fun...
Question: *Rijn* Will there be a
Communicator/2 Professional? we are good at Harassing! <VG>
will ISP's be able to sell Communicator/2 also? I'm interested
I'm a ISP manager.
Michael: No current plans on
pro
Michael: I need more info on
the ISP thing
Question: *foru2play* what more
info you need on isp thing?
Question: *Remei* What other
projects does Netscape have for OS/2 other then NSC/2?
Michael: Again, I can't
comment on any other OS/2 projects, just my own :)
Question: *KoolAde* why are we
having to wait untill the third quater that seems like we are
waiting almost a year behind the windows product
Michael: you are actually only
waiting three months :)
Question: *young* will c/2 have
the html editor built in.
Dan: yes, HTML editor will
work for HTML and for mail.
Question: *DSOMber1* A different
question. How can the OS/2 community help you (Netscape)? What
can we do to help in the development of Netscape/2 and
Communicator for OS/2?
Michael: There are a few
thing...
Dan: create plugins!
Michael: I have to tell you
guys that some of the trashing of us personally and our product
is a real bad thing for morale
Question: send then a
fruitbasket....
Dan: fruitbaskets are ALWAYS
appreciated. Donut baskets also!!!
Michael: We are working our
butts off here :)
Michael: Secondly, even though
it seems like the normal support channels don't work,
Michael: we do get feedback
from there, so please try to send bugs there instead of two dan
personally....
Michael: E-mal should only go
to dan when you want to spam him
Question: *RealBrad* does he
mean "third quarter" of *this* year? :)
Michael: third quarter this
year (i.e. - by the end of august)
Question: *Korig* Do you (danda
and foru2) use OS/2 on your home machines? (Do you know if others
on the netscape/2 team do/don't use it at home)?
Dan: I use OS/2 on my home
machine and have for years.
Michael: I do use OS/2 on my
home machine as do many members of the team
Michael: I also have to use
windows for a number of things
Question: *JoeAdmire* ForU2Play:
welcome to the wonderful world of OS/2 software development,
where no user is *ever* satisfied. :D
Question: *Rijn* Will there be
petition be made on the Unofficial Netscape site for Plug'n
support?
Dan: A petitiion is not a bad
idea, I will look into it.
Question: *Steve_UK* will
Communicator come with Netscape Conference, as per '95 version?
:)
Michael: Currently, we are not
doing conference. There are many technical reasons for this,
mostly because it does not use Netscape technology
Question: *Anonymous* Will C/2
alow the multi user's as in the winblows version?
Dan: I
believe so. Mike?
Michael: yes. That's what you
were fixing today, dan
Question: *MHA1* The 3rd quarter
ends Sept - your "ie - by end of August" could be
misinterpreted. <g>
Michael: oops, I meant
september
Michael: end of august for
beta
Michael: I forgot a month
Michael: I have been working
too hard :)
Question: *mandie* I have 2
questions... may I use quotes from this session in an EA column?
Michael: mandie, what is EA?
Question: *mandie* Extended
Attributes..the magazine published by POSSI
Question: *mandie* OS/2 mag
that is :)
Michael: Sure mandie, as long
as you don't mention my name...seriously though, could you run
the quotes through me first to make sure they are not taken out
of context?
Question: *mandie* foru2play:
ok, thx :)
Question: *mandie* 2. Will
Comm/2 be ready for debut by Wapstock Oct 25, 26?
Michael: I don't base my dates
on Warpstock :)
Question: *Kzin* Will you add
replacable animated icons to change that N/comet anim you have?
If not. please consider (html replacement or not) (if you want a
sample of the Webex way, I'll send it to you :)
Michael: OK, there will be no
way to replace the icon from a web page, but netscape has the
ability for a user to replace his/her own persoanl animated
icon...
Michael: I understand the
webex way, and if they had perhaps standardized that or sent it
through a commitee, that would be ok, but the syntax itself is
basically a hack
Question: *UncleGrim* I don't
know if anyone asked this, but will NC/2 be free as was NS/2 or
will we be charged for it?
Michael: I can't comment on
price
Question: *Acid_Joe* Q. Do you
see Java as becoming the language for OS/2? Will future
development of OS/2 products be contingent on the success of
Java?
Michael: I definitely see java
as playing a huge role in the future of OS/2.
Question: *Awake* I may have
missed it if it was given...what was the name of the person at
Realaudio to harass about a native realaudio plugin?
Michael: I don't have a name
for realaudio yet. Just send notes to their main address for now
Question: *ZerosKewl* are you
using the IBM Open Class for development of Communicator/2?
Dan: egon: no. that has
already been answered.
Michael: No openclass is being
used for Communicator for Os/2
Question: *Warlocke* Will Comm/2
address the socksified IP stack problem that NS/2 has?
Michael: I need more info on
the socks problem
Question: *ShadowM0* Can you
comment on the possibility of a future version of Netscape which
is itself written entirely in Java? Will this help bring the
release dates for various platforms closer together?
Dan: I believe it would bring
the release dates closer yes. Possibly concurrent.
Question: ForU2Play: how/what
URl's are selected to be stored in that history pull down , and
can u delete them from there
Michael: The history pulldown
is basically where forward and back will take you. You can't
remove items from them. Communicator does a much better job of
managing this
Question: *KoolAde* I would like
to thank the NS2 team as a home user of OS2 only I appreachate
the effort being put in for us, I guess we just get a little
antsy
Michael: Thanks koolade
Question: *Korig* Are there
plans to have FTP resume in the new versions? Has any
consideration been given to bundling InterCom with NS/2?
Michael: Not sure of the FTP
resume issue.
Michael: dan knows better than
me
Dan: kzin: yes there is in
4.0.
Dan: (FTP resume)
Michael: NO plans to bundle
intercom
Question: *Desp* Unfortunatly
sending email to Progressive Networks with a mention of OS/2 just
seems to get you a form letter on how to run it in Win-OS/2 :( I
don't run Win-OS/2 here. The finding of a real human email
address would be of great benifit
Dan: I don't know an e-mail
address for Progressive. Recommend you call Progressive directly.
Question: *Joc* What plugins
will be included, if any?
Michael: same plugins as 2.02
Question: *Warlocke* What do you
mean that you need more info on the socks problem? This problem
has been WELL documented. Will Comm/2 correct it?
Michael: I guess I don't see
what you think is a problem with the socks support.
Question: *Awake* will Comm /2
be voicetype enabled?
Michael: We are working to
have comm/2 voice support on parity with 2.02
Question: *Rijn* What parts of
Communicator will the OS/2 Communicator have? Does IBM look at
Communicator/2 as a business app or a home app?
Michael: I don't look at
communicator as either. It is simply a browser
Dan: Bill says it is a
"Home app and a PLATFORM for business apps"
Michael: As far as what
pieces, we are working to be on par with windows, although I have
said conference is not going to be there right now die to
technical limitations
Question: *Le_Barman* Who is
Bill?
Dan: Bill is Bill Law. He is a
fellow Netscape employee. He wrote a good deal of openclass...
and we give him a hard time about it. :)
Question: *DSOMber1* Can you
guys tell us anything openly about future browsers for the IBM
Network Station and the upcoming Bluebird project?
Michael: I can't comment on
unannounced IBM products
Question: *nRij* How would a
100% Java Communictor fair in performance to a OS/2 native
Communicator.
Michael: IBM is actively
working on java performance. The better java performs on OS/2,
the better a java based browser should perform
Question: *Asteroid* My
question: what do you see as the biggest challenge for the OS/2
version of Communicator?
Michael: biggest challenge for
communicator...hmmm
Michael: Trying to maintain a
development schedule consistent with the windows platform while
the windows product was still being developed
Question: *JoeAdmire* In spite
of my "antsiness", as Koolade would put it, about the
no-shutdown bug, I would also like to add my thanks for your hard
work on NSN/2 and NC/2. It's no exaggeration to say that I use
NS/2 every night and as long as I remember to keep Java turned
off everything is copacetic - 99% of the time, anyway. :D
Question: *UncleGrim* Concerning
the question asked by ShadowM0, I would like to express my
distaste for Java and hope that future OS/2 development does not
come only as a result of Java development.
Question: <Lord_Zirk> what
is the target memory requirement for NS Communicator/2
Michael: Same as windows
currently
Question: *Warlocke* The fact
that if I have a sockified IP stack I must STILL specify a socks
server in the NS->network options inorder to have anything
like acceptable performance. I KNOW that this issue has brought
to NS attention by IBM. Will Comm/2 address this?
Michael: Warlocke, we can take
this offline
Question: *Rijn* Will Netscape
Conference ever make it to OS/2? Will Communicator have a auto
dial feature to call up while I'm at work and get my email and
stuff?
Michael:
No comment on future of conference right now, and as far as the
auto dial goes, if windows has it we will, unless you mean the
actual internet dialer which we won't have. Communicator supports
offline browsing
Dan: There is an Offline and
Online mode. Not sure about unattended dialing....
Moderator: Ok, to keep within
the proposed 1 and a half hours of the scheduled event, we will
take a few more questions and bring the official event to a
close... if our guests wish to stick around after that and answer
more questions, that is up to them, but the event will draw to a
close in 10 minutes :)
Question: *MHA1* Please clarify
- will Netscape/2 version 4.0 be Communicator/2 or is version 4
separate?
Michael: The product is
Netscape Communicator for OS/2
Question: *Twkd-iD* I have
noticed a significant increase in Java performace with NS4.0 in
NT and Linux over NS/2 2.02. Is this related to the OS, Java
runtime or NS?
Michael: I am guessing OS
Michael: But I don't know
Question: *Asteroid* What can
the "ordinary" OS/2 user do most effectively (without
seeming like a pest) to encourage plug-in providers to write
native OS/2 versions?
Dan: Not sure what the
ordinary user can do beyond politely asking the vendor to provide
a plugin. The LAST thing you want to do is to be rude to them as
this will just give OS/2 users a bad image and make them LESS
likely to want to provide any type of support.
Question: *Le_Barman* Well,
before it closes, I'd wish to thanks danda and foru2play for
their answers and congrats the moderators for their good job. :)
Question: *ShadowM0* Thank you
for coming to visit us, and thank you for the great product I
know we all are anticipating.
Michael: Thank you guys
Question: *mandie* oh no..it's
not over yet :(
Michael: I will try to get a
screen shot up this weekend(no promises)...and keep an eye out on
browerwatch :)
Question: At this time, the
official event is over... we would like to thank our guests for
coming and sharing so much with us. We would alos like to thank
all who made this event possible, SofTouch Systems, our official
sponmsor, Calinet Solutions, VOICE and The Undernet PR Committee
Question: if our guests would
like to make a closing statement?
Michael: I just want to say
thank to everyone
Michael: Keep on supporting us
and we will try to deliver great products for you
Dan: Be sure to check out my
page every so often for the latest updates. And please send me
any news you receive about new plugins, etc. Thanks!
Moderator: Thank you, once again
Dan Libby and Michael Kaply from the Netscape Communicator for
OS/2 Project team. It was an honor having you at the Soundoff
With... Netscape event, keep up the Great work, it's really
appreciated. For any interested, logs will be available in 2
hours at http://www.gt-online.com/~tandie/soundoff.html