LOL....I used to use cobol in college.
I also used Fortran 77. Still, a commodore was my first computer...followed by an Apple...followed by Wintel.
Oddly, once I got a job, I started having far more limited choices in the type of computer I could use (gee, I wonder why?). Until a few years ago, that remained the case. AAPL has changed all that, as has LINUX.
HOWEVER, the average user hasn't known that until recently, and by default, most people must be in sync with the average user. The reason for that is due to MSFT's ability to lock out the competition, and market heavily. This creates the "view" that there is no alternative (which there is...but few are aware of it) and that MSFT is the only choice.
That is changing, of course. As usual, the DOJ is behind the curve as MSFT is now meeting its biggest challenges (much as they came in late on IBM and AT&T). The difference here is that MSFT has much deeper pockets than either of those companies did, and the rules of the appeals game have changed dramatically over the years to favor MSFT. In this case, MSFT stands a legitimate shot at maintaining its monopoly.
As a Libertarian, I'm appalled at my support of the DOJ. As a businessman who has attended one too many presentations in which MSFT has coerced vendors to say/do certain things....I have come to a new level of respect for Sherman Anti-Trust action. |
