Re: tlug: Success of Windows

[Scott Stone <sstone@example.com>]

On 25 Jun 1998, Felix Morley Finch wrote:

> >>In article <Pine.LNX.3.96LJ1.1b7.980625163951.1656G-100000@example.com>, Jonathan Byrne - 3Web <jq@example.com> writes:
> 
> > The success of the Macintosh and of Windows in the marketplace really
> > has very little to do with the quality of the code or the stability of
> > the OS, two areas where Linux (and indeed UNIX in general) wins hands
> > down.  They succeeded because of the GUIs they have (and Microsoft
> > marketing muscle, in the case of Windows).
> 
> Windows succeeded because way back when, Unix machines were too
> expensive, and Apple kept such tight control of their platform that no
> one else could clone the hardware.  There was no other practical
> choice for desktops, and Microsoft rode IBM's coattails, then Compaq's
> coattails when IBM tried to steer the market towards MicroChannel, and
> Intel's compatibility coattails ever since.
> 
> I don't remember when Windows 3.1 became available, but up until then
> Mickeysoft success rode the DOS wagon.  I don't see the Windows GUI as
> being any kind of key to success, other than being *a* GUI.  It could
> have been customizable to a fare-thee-well and it wouldn't have made
> any difference in its success.

Actually I think it rode the DOS wagon until 95 came out... 3.1 and 3.0
are fairly similar, except 3.1 crashes less often and has some extra
wallpaper, or something like that :)

> 
> IMHO of course :-)
> 
> -- 
>             ... _._. ._ ._. . _._. ._. ___ .__ ._. . .__. ._ .. ._.
>      Felix Finch: scarecrow repairman & rocket surgeon / felix@example.com
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--------------------------------------------------
Scott M. Stone <sstone@example.com, sstone@example.com>
               <sstone@example.com>
Linux Developer/Systems Administrator for Pacific HiTech, Inc. 
http://www.pht.com		http://armadillo.pht.co.jp
http://www.pht.co.jp	        http://www.turbolinux.com


--------------------------------------------------------------
Next Nomikai: 17 July, 19:30 Tengu TokyoEkiMae 03-3275-3691
Next Meeting: 8 August, Tokyo Station Yaesu central gate 12:30
featuring Linux on multiple platforms:
i386, Sparc, PA-Risc, Amiga, SGI, Alpha, PalmPilot, ...
--------------------------------------------------------------
Sponsor: PHT, makers of TurboLinux http://www.pht.co.jp