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Technology Stocks : How high will Microsoft fly? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: Dwight E. Karlsen who wrote (7671)5/19/1998 7:43:00 PM
From: Hal Rubel  Read Replies (3) | Respond to of 74651
 
Perspective on Integration

RE"There is a point where I can see the argument about integration."

I Agree:
If there were several operating system firms out there stimulating development by gobbling up software companies to integrate acquired products into their systems, we would have a very beneficial technical and economic environment.

So, I guess that I would have to say that I could like the Idea of program functional integration into the operating system. It could have been a win/win/win situation for developers, system-houses, and for consumers alike.

However, the idea just does not sit quite right for me when there is only one system house on a platform. Especially when that system-house seems to integrate only in-house products to the exclusion of outside developers.

With the Intel platform monopoly revenues that we have rewarded them with, Microsoft has exhibited little need for outsiders. They seem to duplicate innovation in due course, rather than innovate spontaneously, thus slowing down the pace of progress.

I think that this factor may be one of the costs to society of cultivating a monopoly situation in the name of operating system uniformity. What price, uniformity?

Did we take a wrong turn somewhere on the path to the future?

HR

PS: An example - Why has it taken so long for the Windows product to come the labored distance it has in the last 10 years?! What I think I see is an energetic but desperate holding action with a reluctance to innovate, except in self-defense. (I'm thinking W98 here.) Where is that spark and sense of dynamic urgency every one else in the computer industry seems to be endowed with?



To: Dwight E. Karlsen who wrote (7671)5/20/1998 12:33:00 PM
From: trouthead  Respond to of 74651
 
I think you are right it would be cumbersome to build all of that functionallity into one explorer like front end, but that could be overcome with some thought and programming. I already feel that IE4 is becoming less useable because of the integration with the file management system. When you click on the Search button, it opens a little side window/frame, like exlporer/file mgr. I prefered it the old way when it would take you to the search page of your choice. It adds extra mouse moves to open the search, perform your search, clear the search from, etc. The same is true of the Favorites button. Maybe I'll get used to it and find it a better way to work, maybe I'll switch to netscape.

As soon as they think they are a threat or that they can get way with it Corel and lotus are outa here.