Hmmm...I guess I just don't have that much respect for Microsoft...all
the evidence I've seen points to bloat.  ;)

It see it playing out this way:

- very few people jump on C# because of its platform dependence, and
immaturity...but they also decide to begin hedging their bets on Java
lest they become a casualty of the MS vs. Sun war.
- the cost of ownership of Windows and Office continues its steady climb
in lock step with the increasing complexity and cost associated with its
development
- consumers (mainly businesses at first) begin to look for cheaper
alternatives, a market developes
- recognizing this market, developers begin to position themselves to
deliver on both Windows and Linux/Unix (if they haven't already)
- Developers revert to development using C/C++ (some are smart and
choose Squeak) and seek cross platform solutions
- More and more of the GNU tools get ported over to Windows, making
Windows more like GNU/Windows.
- GUI applications start to be developed that (for portability) target X
Windows, as free X Windows servers become readily available for Windows
- Microsoft decides its time to buy the alternative operating system,
but can't answer one simple question, "who owns it?"  It is difficult
for them to comprehend that, in a sense, everyone owns it, and they
don't even come close to having enough cash for that buyout.
- Microsoft becomes successful at marketing and selling services over
the internet to software developers (travel booking, universal passport,
etc) and successfully reduces its dependence on the OS revenue

RIP Windows

- Stephen

> -----Original Message-----
> From: squeak-dev-admin at lists.squeakfoundation.org 
> [mailto:squeak-dev-admin at lists.squeakfoundation.org] On 
> Behalf Of Edwin Pilobello
> Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2001 2:13 PM
> To: squeak-dev at lists.squeakfoundation.org
> Subject: RE: [OT] RE: Microsoft removes Netscape support from 
> IE; plug-in needsre-writing.
> 
> 
> IMO the the M$ business model of independent cost centers 
> needs to be examined before mistaking shear size as mere 
> "water gain".  They're pretty lean and mean, albeit with deep 
> pockets.  And they are in a very bad fighting mood for having 
> been sucker punched.  Besides, M$ owns their shop and are 
> self-financed.  Even if they do loose their shirts on XP, 
> that would simply bare their pecks, abs, etc.
> 
> The real loss is when new innovative shops "sell out" to M$ 
> offers that "cannot be refused".  We all know they hide 
> behind no henchmen.  They rough up the little guys in broad 
> daylight for all of us to see.
> 
> - edwin
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: squeak-dev-admin at lists.squeakfoundation.org
> [mailto:squeak-dev-admin at lists.squeakfoundation.org]On Behalf 
> Of Stephen Pair
> Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2001 9:37 AM
> To: squeak-dev at lists.squeakfoundation.org
> Subject: RE: [OT] RE: Microsoft removes Netscape support from 
> IE; plug-in needsre-writing.
> 
> I don't need or want the government's help against 
> Microsoft...our industry can take care of monopolies just 
> fine (and MS will probably collapse under its own weight like 
> every bloated company eventually does).  I suppose I'm more 
> optimistic than most I guess.
> 
> The real danger is the human desire to topple the guy on 
> top...at any cost.
> 
> - Stephen
> 
> 
> 
>