Subway history: how OS/2 powered the NYC subway for decades

The role of OS/2 in the NYC subway system is more of a conduit. It helps connect the various parts that people use with the parts they don't. Waldhauer notes, "There are no user-facing applications for OS/2 anywhere in the system. OS/2 is mainly used as the interface between a sophisticated mainframe database and the simple computers used in subway and bus equipment for everyday use. As such, the OS/2 computers are just about everywhere in the system." At this point, we're talking about an OS designed in the late 80s, released in the early 90s, as part of a difficult relationship between two tech giants. The MTA had to ignore most of this because it had already made its decision and changing course would cost a lot of money. It's sad that OS/2 - in its current form available as ArcaOS 5.0 - has a relatively steep entry price, because it's an incredibly fun and unique operating system to play around with. I'd love to set up a VM just for fun and playing around, but at $129, I really can't justify that.