Re: Win95 vs Lose95 -- MIDRANGE-L

** Reply to note from mcrump@ballfoster.com Mon, 9 Feb 1998 08:15:21 -0500


> Unfortunately it's like crying over spilt milk.  The market 
> has chosen and now we can suffer from it.  Remember

I think the point of it is, The Market didn't choose. 

The whole point of the DOJ case is that the market is manipulated by a
monopoly which controls the distribution channels. As a result, there is no
way the market can choose. 

People love Windows '95. I imagine that is because it is so much better
than Windows 3.1. However, off the top of my head I can name three desktop
OS's that would be prefereable. 

The reason I point this out is because similar influences are affecting the
AS/400. Two and a half years ago there were no applicacations which
supported the NT 32 bit interface. As a result, the Win32 spec changed
several times over a few months time. Application vendors that did not wish
to invest in a rewrite for Win95 were informed as to what guidelines they
must follow if they wished to use the "Microsoft Compatible" logo. As a
result there are a host of NT applications today. This isn't a matter of
"the market choosing". If Microsoft had to rely on free choice or competing
on technical merit, we would be recalling them on the same list as CPM,
Visicalc, and DR DOS.

A few years ago, while Word was obviously second rate and WordPerfect was
number one, Microsoft bundled their suite. Just like VHS vs. Beta, the
second rate contender became the market leader. Market pressures
controlling the outcome. 

Currently, Microsoft is using a similar tactic to push their browser on the
market. Why is this important to AS/400 users? Because the browser is the
delivery agent for Java applets. IBM and Microsoft both know that the
future of computing is the use of applets to front end network
applications. If Microsoft is successful at eliminating the only major 100%
pure Java browser, then they will make sure that future applications
delivered by their browser will have advantages IF they use the Win32 spec.
After all, if Microsoft is the only deliverer of Java applets then what
would be their incentive to make Java perform better than ActiveX?

Then if Microsoft controls the primary delivery vehicle for applications,
do you suppose the AS/400 will compete on an even footing with NT? 

Add to that the large number of buyers who are actually PROUD to say, "I
bought from the best salesman!" instead of "I bought the best product." and
you will see what quality platforms are up against in the future. 




Chris Rehm
Mr.AS400@ibm.net

How often can you afford to be unexpectedly out of business?
Get an AS/400.
root
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