Hi Dan,
This all assumes Microsoft is pretty stupid and puts more stock in random comments from cocky executives that in what's happening in the real world. You think Bill & Co. didn't notice that MSN wasn't particularly going anywhere and the internet was booming?
First of all, the Netscape vs. Microsoft feud started before Windows 95 shipped (meaning that MSN's woes didn't exist). Surely, Microsoft was not oblivious to what Netscape's intentions were--I didn't mean to imply that. But what I'm saying is that Netscape's postering pissed-off Microsoft and got them fired up. For example, which would be a more effective motivator:
1) Mike Holmgren gives the usual speech to the Packers--"Win one for the gipper!"
2) San Fran is talking trash about the Packers--"You guys suck, we're gonna kick your ass, you can't play with us, etc."
So, despite what Microsoft colleagues were saying to each other, the juices didn't flow--the sense of urgency didn't manifest--until Netscape started talking trash. BTW, another one that really set off the Windows 95 team (most of whom then morphed into the IE team) was Marc Andreessen's quip in PC Week (which was before Win95 shipped): "Windows 95 is nothing more than a collection of not-fully-debugged-device-drivers."
Also of note (and again, before Windows 95 shipped) is the fact that Microsoft tried to create a cooperative relationship with Netscape--be it a buyout or partnership. Netscape scoffed at them.
Like I said, the war was inevitable. But I just think that Netscape's premature talking accelerated the proceedings; biting off more than they could chew.
Netscape, as far as I remember, never had much of a marketing presence, yet it became the #1 selling PC software
I think they did. Back then, every web page you visted had the "Netscape Now" button. Seems like great marketing to me.
It's sort of odd for a big fan of the masters of megahype marketing to be accusing others of overhyping their products, but we all have our perspective.
No no. I mean that Sun overhyped Java as the "Microsoft Windows platform killer." As in, they made a bad tactical move by striking fear in the heart of Microsoft so early. Had Sun kept their plans more low-key, Microsoft would have been slower to peg Java as a major threat, which would have worked to Sun's advantage.
About the 3D article....Of course it sucks and it's too bad. What else do you want me to say? It's not the first time I've heard this kind of story, however--unfortunately, the same thing happened, among many others, to Nick Z, though in a different venture.
I do think it's natural for the OS vendor to have the 3D standard. I mean, if every other part of the game is written for Windows 95, why not the 3D aspects too?
Anyway, it turns out that the free market is beating Microsoft in 3D as it is. OpenGL has become dominant, much to the chagrin of Microsoft's Direct3D. No, it wasn't the original companies from Europe that did it--they didn't have the all-important market power. But the most prominant PC game developer, id Software (Quake, Doom, etc.), had the power to do it--and they [John Carmack] did! So there!
Sal
PS. Microsoft recently struck a deal with SGI about OpenGL. Perhaps Justin would like to say more?
PPS. Dan, why do you call it, "the good gray Times?" |
