So, what exactly am I professing here that I don't actually hold with? So, Netscape can't exactly compete with Microsoft, nor can anybody else, when it comes to Windows software. Some people like that. I find it problematic. Certain legal authorities find it problematic too.
I don't speak of you specifically, just those who target Microsoft exclusively at the browser-bundling deal. Install Solaris, SCO, BeOS, HPUX, or other Unix OS's. Suprise! All of them come with a browser (many have bundled Netscape). All these OS's come with a bunch of other things such as miniApps. Oracle 8.0 comes on a couple CD's (I just installed it for a client two weeks ago), and there is ALL SORTS of stuff in there -- reporting tools, a browser, commerce tools, CGI apps, etc. OS2 came with some voice-recognition s/w (as did MacOS). Netware comes with Netware & NT directory services.
So when I say technoweenie, I mean people who try to stick to rigid definitions. People buy software to solve problems. Most people spend most of their computing time now connected to the 'net. It doesn't make sense (to me at least) to say OS's should start integrating browser technology. Five years from now, I expect the OS I buy to have impeccable voice recognition and speech output.
If microsoft can't include a browser in Windows, whats a JavaOS going to do? The world revolves around the browser in there!
[and for Mr. Meyer, please refrain from personal insults. I don't insult anyone personally on SI, I would hope others have the same common courtesy]
-parikr |
