Michelle,
I haven't read John's post, but your point is well-taken. It
is unacceptable for a software developer to port applications
to multiple platforms. In the early 90's that was a problem
with Unix. However, there are some differences in 1999:
o Solaris has taken over as the server o/s, so Oracle, Baan,
PeopleSoft, and SAP AG can standardize on it and a couple
others (AIX and perhaps Linux).
o Lots of commercial applications are going to be platform-
independent when Java-based internet applications begin coming
to market early next year. The SUNW alliance with AOL is part
of this venture. However, IBM has made a huge investment in
internet business & Java, as well.
o A consortium of companies, led by IBM (I believe), is trying
to find ways to standardize Unix. Intel has already published
a spec for standardizing device drivers. Since NT has challenged
Unix, it is time for the smaller vendors of Unix products to
close ranks.
The bottom line is that, if NT were a good-quality O/S, people
would buy it and use it for more than printing letters and
keeping appoinment-calendars. However, since MSFT has never
had a high-quality engineering-base, they don't know how to
write good-quality O/S software. As a result, customers have
taken a 2nd look at Unix. My guess is that application developers
will still have to port between NT & Unix for some time to come.
As a server, Unix wins, hands down. As a desktop, however, it
needs to support those apps that sell desktops. As the internet
encroaches the office, O/S's will become less important than
connectivity. Until then, Unix (Linux, IRIX, SCO, Be etal..) will
need the application support to capture some of the desktop
market back from MSFT.
cherylw |
