I haven't had time to read through the posts, but just seeing yours and the ref to Reg's, let me just say that the argument that Microsoft is not innovative or makes inferior products is beside the point.
The point is, that Microsoft makes the most money and has dominant marketshare. And no, they didn't ALWAYS have that all-important monopolistic position.
For example, Justin has bragged about how SGI makes the bestest/fastest/scalablest web servers. They also have the best workstations and that illustrious supercomputing subsidiary. Does that mean that SGI is rolling in the money? Hell no it doesn't! Rarely in computing history has superior/innovative technology won out.
That's something that "eggheads" (no offense to anyone--"egghead" is the only term I could think of) just don't 'get'. You can't build a successful company merely by having superior/innovative products. It's all about business strategy and marketing. Oh wait, eggheads do, in fact, understand this. However, they think there's something noble about rejecting it, and then they deride companies that aren't stuck on their [foolish] ideals (i.e., Microsoft).
Oh well, you guys keep your ideals. Keep your pride. And let Microsoft keep the money that could have been yours. Eggheads don't belong in the real world. So give up on the futile dream building your own companies and go back to world of academia. Or the better option would be to stop writing programs long enough so that you can get with the program!
Sal
PS. I also think it's significant to point out that Marc Andreessen, an "egghead," was smart enough to reliquish control of his company to professional business-people (Clark, then Barksdale). Had he not done this, Netscape would have been just another failed startup--and this thread wouldn't even exist.
PPS. And once again, I will remind all the detractors that Microsoft didn't copy the GUI from Apple. Microsoft copied the GUI from Apple who first copied (stole?) the GUI from PARC. Every great idea originated somewhere--most were born in academia, and very few in companies. Regardless, I'd rather be known as the guy who made money from the idea, not the guy who invented it. |
