Date: Fri, 17 Dec 1999 21:23:56 -0600 (CST) From: Jay Nelson <noslenj@swbell.net> To: Jonathon McKitrick <jcm@dogma.freebsd-uk.eu.org> Cc: freebsd-chat <chat@freebsd.org>, somers@adm.njit.edu Subject: Re: windows debate Message-ID: <Pine.BSF.4.05.9912171956340.1209-100000@acp.swbell.net> In-Reply-To: <Pine.BSF.4.21.9912180115250.13403-100000@dogma.freebsd-uk.eu.org>
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Only a couple;) On Sat, 18 Dec 1999, Jonathon McKitrick wrote: > >I'm having a debate with my brother-in-law over microsoft's business >tactics and bill gates. He argues that gates is a genius for getting PCs >in the hands of average people, not just computer geeks. He argues that Gate's "genius" is only the stupidity and arrogance of IBM (along with the arrogance of Digital Research.) As near as I can recall, the only thing M$ created was a version of Basic. Everything else, he bought. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong.) >gates was brilliant for his marketing tactics that locked people into >windows, and that he gave people what they wanted: easy-to-use Gates was brutal in his tactics -- not brilliant. He bought the brilliance, as well. Everything that constitutes windows was "borrowed" from someone else and butchered into the twisted mess that is "Windows." >computers. He argues that there may be better OSes out there, but that >gates just had the wherewithall to market it correctly and make it cheap That much, I think is true. Thanks to the sweetheart deal with IBM. Although I would hardly call it "cheap" anymore;) I would, though, ask why he's more interested in marketing skill than reality. >enough and easy enough for the average person to use. He agrees that That isn't true. He rode in on IBM's coattails. If IBM hadn't been what they were -- and still are, Gates would have had no credibilty at all. It's a testimony, which Gates correctly read, to the gullibility of the average consumer. Gates has shown all the street skills of the average pimp. He just applied it to a different whore. >crashes are no fun, and agrees that M$ may be a monopoly, but thinks that >gates did good for consumers, not bad, and that M$ singlehandedly brought Sure, Gates did a good job. He brought poor, misapplied technology to millions who never knew they needed or wanted such a misapplication of good ideas and still can't figure out how to apply it. He sold the "emporor's new clothes." It never ceases to amaze me that, normally rational people who wouldn't accept such a shoddy product in real life, are willing to accept such shoddy performance simply because they've been convinced that a) it's normal in "high tech", b) it's the only way the average individual can be modern and c) the only way they can be compatible. Ask your brother-in-law why he didn't buy a Ford (or Chevy or Dodge -- what ever he didn't buy.) Why should there be a different standard for software? How would he feel if the only car he could drive was a <whatever>? >the computer industry to the cutting edge of the eceonomy and brought the >US to its economic growth it enjoys right now. Any thoughts? Gates didn't bring us anywhere. The consumer and their choices brought us where we are. That will change, as it has in the past. Gates was the first individual who understood how to punch the consumer's hot button with "high tech." As more vendors learn how to punch the same button and more consumers get tired of the M$ crap, more will look for alternatives. Of course, more will also look for less complicated means of convenience -- which is the future of the current trend. Right now, _every_ vendor out there seems to be in mortal combat trying to get their idea of the "best" way into the minds of the consumer. Better ideas than M$ existed in the past, and the still do today. The redeeming grace is that M$ is suffering the same hubris as IBM and as did Digital Research. Mr. Gates hasn't been humble enough to learn that lesson. I suspect M$ will suffer the same fate in the near future. I predict that M$ is only a temporary annoyance;) If your brother-in-law wants to cast his lot with a company that is practicing what, in the past, has proven a losing proposition, the best he can hope for is relearning another new world and an endless chase of "compatibility." And, no, I don't think any form of Unix will be the answer, though, I think Unix, of some form will last the longest of any. This is only my opinion. Take it for whatever it may be worth. -- Jay To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-chat" in the body of the message
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