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I was going to resist replying to this thread, but it does seem here for the
weekend at least...
Like Earl and a great many others, I've plied my trade as a software
developer since before the days that Gates graduated high school. I did my
early programming on punched cards and got started in software before it was
called "software." Microsoft was instrumental in elevating my profession to
one of opportunity and forward progress, and for all that Bill and his
company have done for my profession, I am profoundly grateful.
But for all that they did TO my profession, I am extremely pissed. I have
always enjoyed using a variety of DIFFERENT software programs and tools.
Back when DOS was the name of the game, I found a "compatible" OS called
DRDOS, which was just a LOT better than MSDOS... better docs, better
stability, better in most respects... but as time went on, DRDOS just
wouldn't run the programs written to MSDOS. It was along about that time
that the mantra was legion in Microsoft, that "it ain't done 'til Lotus
won't run." Microsoft took advantage of their position in apps to bend the
market in operating systems, and it continues to this day (albeit in the
opposite direction). If there is only ONE justification for the DOJ suit
and subsequent court ruling (and there is obviously more than one), it is
what Microsoft did to Netscape in its effort to win the browser wars. I
still don't run '98 because of this stupid fete, even though I have it on my
shelf. Netscape had a superior product, and in bullying its way to "king of
the mountain," Microsoft imbedded Explorer into the OS. It hobbled win98
and was the first time that Microsoft put out a product that pushed BACK the
state of the art, just for the sake of a marketing decision. There was NO
OTHER REASON to do it but that... and da judge just said so!
I want Microsoft to go back to what they do best... marketing decent
products for affordable (albeit not cheap) prices, and making computing
available to the masses, WITHOUT standing in the way of the competition.
This industry has always thrived on that model, and will continue to do so.
It just has been helped along by someone stepping onto the playground to put
a stop to the bullying.
Dick Crotinger
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