> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stephen Pair [mailto:spair at advantive.com]
>
> <snip!>
> RIP Windows


Perhaps I'm more paranoid, or realistic.  Your option...  :-)

Assumption 1 - most users don't care whose operating system is on their
computer, as long as it runs the kids games, can read/write stuff that can
be read/written at the office, and works like the old OS did.

Assumption 2 - system assemblers (e.g. Dell, Gateway) will continue to
supply MS operating systems because a) they have to in order to have access
to other MS products, and b) that's what their customers want (see
assumption 1).

1.  Microsoft withdraws support for open standards and non-MS interfaces
from their OS and apps, and acts to reduce interoperability of their
software with other software.  This could include subtle or unsubtle changes
to accepted standards (e.g. FTP, HTTP, and anything else) or complete lack
of support for these standards which make it impossible for an MS system to
interoperate with any other system.

2.  Other software vendors (including open source groups) try to play
catch-up with MS and fail, because MS can spend more money/time changing
things faster than others can adapt.

3.  Other vendors and groups refuse to play by Microsoft's rules and are
marginalized.

4.  MS wins.

Short of government intervention can anyone think of a way to alter this
scenario?  I fervently hope so.  (And before anyone suggests it,
murder/assassination is absolutely out of the question).

Bob Jarvis
Compuware @ Timken