RE: no Java in XP Windows -- MIDRANGE-L

Chris,

I see your point, and I think you are correct.  When a former employer moved
from MODCOMP to a Sys/38, there had to be some real compelling reasons for
such a move.  There wasn't a single application that could be used from the
old system.  I have only been compelled to move to another OS once.  It was
because I was upgrading one of my applications and I wasn't buying new
hardware.  I was using CorelDraw 3.0 and needed to upgrade to version 6.0.
The only problem, it ran on Windows 95 and I was still on DOS 5.0.
CorelDraw
was my main application, if it ran on OS/400, I would have upgraded to that
OS.

I upgraded to W95 and brought along all of my old applications.  Everything
was working fine.  It reminded me of when, way back in the fall of '88, I
was involved in moving from a Sys/38 to AS/400.  I didn't lose any
applications
there either.  As long as I don't lose any data and can access all of my
files,
I don't really care what OS I have.  Every computer I have, came with an OS
on
it, whether it was DOS, Windows or OS/400 and I did not worry about removing
it to go to another.  I don't even know what OS is in my DirecTV receiver.
I do know that I turn it on and it does everything I want it to, including
internet access.  I don't have the slightest urge to switch the OS on it.

You are right though, if you are going to buy a new system, buy the one with
the OS that will run the most if not all of your applications.  I don't see
anything that would compel a Unix, Windows or OS/400 user to switch from
their current OS to either of these if you have to dump all of your
applications to do it.  They're just operating systems.

Dan

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-midrange-l@midrange.com
[mailto:owner-midrange-l@midrange.com]On Behalf Of Chris Rehm
Sent: Friday, July 20, 2001 11:27 AM
To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
Subject: Re: no Java in XP Windows


Actually, I didn't know that Corel had a Linux suite. Maybe I blocked it
out. ;-)

But that isn't what I mean. What I mean is that since we have reached market
saturation with PCs (most of the people who are going to get a PC have one)
the majority of money spent for an OS license is by those who already have a
machine/license. That would mean they would already have some applications.
Like games and other 3rd party software.

So if I, as a user, wanted to switch to Linux (assuming there was a reason
compelling me to do so) I'd need to ditch all the applications I currently
have and buy new ones (if they existed). Now, if I was buying a new machine,
I could entertain the idea of buying a Linux machine with the Corel or
StarOffice suite if those cost me less than buying a machine with
Windows/Office. But if I didn't buy the Windows OS, I would have to toss out
all the other applications I own. Say, my HTML editors, lots of games,
programming IDEs, graphics apps, even my browsers. That doesn't mean I
couldn't find stuff to replace all of what I've got, but I might not be able
to and even if I could it might not be the quality I am used to or it might
require me to spend a lot of time relearning.

That's what I meant by the need to ditch applications. Over time a guy might
accumulate several thousand dollars worth of applications. Yanking them out
all at one time could hurt.

I know I could set up my boot manager to let me boot to Windows when I
wanted to use a Windows app, but if I need to reboot between apps, I should
be running Windows anyway because it seems to automate that process. ;-)

So what would compel me to switch?

Find a compelling reason to get a guy to switch to Linux (or another OS) and
then see if this reason can overcome the possible problem with his
applications.

Chris Rehm
javadisciple@earthlink.net
If you believe that the best technology wins the
marketplace, you haven't been paying attention.


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