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To: biffpincus who wrote (5712)	1/9/1999 10:15:00 PM
From: StockMiser	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 18998

Hmm...I got a question. If apple's QT 4 offers a free viewer and free server, how does Apple benefit from this? I'm generally very wary of "free and superior" technology, cause it seldom is either free or superior in the long term. If it requires me to have to buy an Apple hardware product, then they're spitting in the wind. Realnetworks is being used on major commerce sites to stream realtime and pre-recorded multimedia. The cost of the server software is insignificant, especially since it includes technical support and updates. Free software seldom includes support, and updates are infrequent. Since QT4 is also much newer technology, we would expect some glitches -- I'd rather pay for a server and be able to demand fixes. We're talking big money here...not some hack serving up pirated CD's. And the assumption of superior technology remains to be seen - is it faster and more reliable? Compared to the current RN server...or the next generation already being worked on? RNWK has about an 80% market share, with MSFT taking up the slack in streaming multimedia arena. The fact that the technology comes from Apple doesn't help in the credibility department - apple technology is generally discounted as cultish, fadish, or at best, specialized. At worst its seen as an annoyance and hinderance to MSFT's plans on world domination. RNWK's response, as I understand it, will be to fully embrace QT standards both on PC and MAC. I'm not long or short in either company...but I've spent a long time running IS departments :-)