Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : MSFT Internet Explorer vs. NSCP Navigator -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Larry Sullivan who wrote (14273)	11/19/1997 3:12:00 PM
From: cheryl williamson	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 24154

Larry, RE: innovation vs. MSFT Mozart was an original inventor of music, Salieri was a derivative composer of largely forgettable music. Mozart was influenced by Italian music in his early years, then added the influence of Bach later on. So why call Mozart an original? Well, listen to some Mozart sometime. Does it sound like Vivaldi? No. Does it sound like Bach? No. It sounds like Mozart. Salieri sounds vaguely like everyone else. Hmmm... let's see here, what has MSFT published that it has actually invented? PC operating systems? No. PC spreadsheets? No. PC word processors? No. PC accounting software? No. PC windowing software? No. PC browsers? No. PC networking software? No. PC programming langs? No. I don't think anyone would argue with the above list. MSFT isn't known for originating software. They merely copy ideas or buy software outright, then they market it. This may not be an exhaustive list of what MSFT publishes, but I don't know of any type of software they have originated. So what are original inventions in the software business? And who invented them? Here is a (very) short list: Virtual Memory Wang ISAM IBM tcp/ip DOD/NSF C Bell Labs Ethernet Xerox PC networking Novell PC spreadsheets Visicalc (I think) NFS Sun Streams Bell Labs Windowing software MIT PC Windowing Apple Java Sun RIP Xerox Larry, there is such a thing as original innovation, even though it may be based on ideas or processes that already exist. It is differentiated from the copying or deriving of works already in existence. It is true that MSFT's published works are original enough to be copyrighted, but that shouldn't be the yardstick for measuring innovation. I think that is what Ralph Nader is driving at. It is supremely duplicitous for MSFT to claim that they are developing "innovative" solutions for the internet on PC's when they didn't even have a browser until after a number of them were already on the market and then play "catchup" by violating the anti-trust laws and claim that they have the "standard" in the browser market. Let's face it: MSFT doesn't innovate, they replicate. There's nothing wrong with that, as long as they don't violate the law. cheers, cherylw