Hi Cathy
As I promised to post something general to this thread, so here it is. 1998 starts to move end, so let me talk about what interesting I discovered during 1998.
Biggest newcomers in 1998 was two finnish , Nokia with communicator and Thomas Linux with Linux. At least Nokia's new generation mobilephones have already beat this Larry Ellisons concept about computer without processor (or was another important part missing in his dream NC). Larry surprised me more, telling that there are too much servers in universe. Somewhere in 1948 somebody predicted, that within 50 years, there are market for 3 computers (one in US, one in Europe and one in Asia). I strongly disagree with Larry and will expect, that every oven (micro is micro, even if it is microwave), music set and other electronic device will act like server and my mobilephone or remote control will act like client PC.
But except Larry, Oracle did otherwise somehow fine as increasing business application market share at least in Estonia and even started to take the ISP market with Oracle8i. ISP market will be interesting growth area, because starting as only network provider, they won't complete with big telecommunication companies anymore. So they need something else. With proper communication and open technology for integration, outsourcing of business application can be very attractive. ISP's have at least on of this with current customer base. As Oracle is not winner yet, Centura can have a chance also in this market.
Other looser of 1998 is probably Bill from Microsoft. Microsoft growth was based on young hackers, who loved to increase egos with knowing how to use and configure bug full software. As they did it without pay, business managers looked profitable to have all the computer related problems solved with end user young family members, instead of highly priced consultants.
Information, released in this year together with those court processes have decreased the credibility among those people. It does not mean, that Microsoft will be vanishing soon, but Linux will be definetly increasing product. Even Informix have now change with the Linux version of database and I have seen a lot of Informix-Linux banners. There can be another finnish company coming soon - Novogroup. They have a Linux database - Solid and lot of business applications.
I have read the information, that Windows2000 will be released in 2002 and will contain only bug fixes to Y2K problems in previous Windows releases.
Biggest looser in 1998 was probably Netscape. Once so famous, the value that was left to AOL, was only visitors of their website.
Internet commerce and E-commerce made better, than expected in 1998. I used most of money in internet to legal and marketing services, but I read, that biggest internet sales articles in this year christmas was cosmetics and perfumes.
Happy New Year and my best wishes to 1999.
Veiko
P.S. Best computer related joke, I saw in 1998 was a software box with big red writing "5 users included". No need for train or hire employees to use this software... |
