After all the problems it had in the past, due to the competition from Microsoft's Windows that actually drove it off the market, now the OS/2 operating system from IBM has been declared officially dead.

Thus, according to the eWeek.com, on Tuesday IBM formally announced that OS/2 Warp V4 and OS/2 Warp Server, the last two members of IBM's OS/2 family, will be withdrawn from the marketplace as of Dec. 23, 2005, and the standard customer support will end for both operating systems on Dec. 31, 2006

For OS/2 users and fans, this news didn't come as a surprise. IBM said in 2000 at the WarpTech conference that the end of life for OS/2 would be in 2006.

OS/2 began its life as an advanced 16-bit operating system for 80286 PCs. It was the creation of both IBM and Microsoft. The first version, with its character-based interface, O/S 2 1.0, appeared in late 1987.

Through the late 80s, both companies supported the system through Version 1.1, which introduced a GUI (graphical user interface), Presentation Manager, and Version 1.2, which included the HPFS (High Performance File System). Beginning in 1990, though, the two companies' courses began to split apart as Microsoft spent more time working on Windows 3.0 while IBM focused on OS/2 1.3.

In the subsequent battle between Windows and OS/2 for the hearts and minds of users, Windows pulled ahead. X86 developers also began making Windows their first priority, leaving OS/2 with fewer native applications.

So, seeing that its market is now restricted to some niche areas, it's no wonder IBM has decided to let the already dying OS finally find its peace.