Why Microsoft's rally may backfire zdii.com
In which another erstwhile friend of Bill, sometimes professional Java basher Dave Coursey, scratches his head a bit.
Forgive me if the idea of 60 computer execs gathering to say nice things about Microsoft reminds me of gangland Chicago. Or, perhaps, the scene in the movie "The Untouchables" in which Al Capone is walking around the dinner table with a baseball bat.
The moral of that story, I think, is never turn your back on anyone -- even while paying tribute to them. . . .
This trick might even work. But it could also backfire. If all these companies catch a cold when Microsoft sneezes, maybe there's something to this monopoly claim, after all. . . .
The hardware companies don't have to fear this [what happened to lotus and wordperfect], but it's hard to hear them complain about things such as Microsoft having control of the opening screen, or Microsoft demanding onerous licensing terms, when they are so ready to jump to Bill's defense rather than risk a few sales.
I think Coursey is being a little unfair here. Compaq went to the wall against notoriously vindictive co-conspirator Intel, when everybody around here said any major computer company would be nuts to cross them, and the result was sub-$1k PCs. They also went against Microsoft in the sacred icon war, and the result was they were told their Windows license would be pulled. Needless to say, I think Coursey's a little late catching on to the monopoly game.
Cheers, Dan. |
