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Technology Stocks : Applix is back in action -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Scott Bergquist who wrote (2653)	4/7/1999 2:10:00 AM
From: Dan B.	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3014

Scott, I agree with you, but... . The best I can do is post from the article Thomas Watson posted. This is what prompted my comments. While the future is unknown, the scenario as envisioned by Michael Cowpland, CEO of Corel, certainly substantiates your argument. I agree that a comparable to Windows graphics interface is necessary for Linux to compete, and so too, as you'll realize, does Mr. Cowpland. However, the notion that the numbers of applications that run on Windows precludes successful competition is not the strongest argument IMHO. In my case for instance, the NET contains most of what I do with my computer. The windows applications I've bought are so little used that it's ridiculous. Netscape(now available for Linux) has become my word processor. I don't seem to need more and there must be more folks like me- quite possibly many among the potential buyers of the 300 dollar computers of a year or two from now, for instance. Anyway, Heres Mr. Cowpland... Answer: We think the next 10 years is going to be the Linux decade. If you look at where the mass market for Linux is, it's in the $500 PC. And when you look at that $500 price, the actual white box, the computer itself, is $300. So $60 for Windows is 20 per cent of the system. Why would you want to pay that extra 20 per cent when you can get a perfectly good Linux operating system for free? Question: And you're working even now to make Linux more palatable for the mass market? >>Answer: Linux works fine, it works actually better than Windows -- less buggy. The only missing part is the ease of use, which we can do very well. We're experts at ease of use. So we're doing that last missing part, the user interface. We want to make it a zero learning curve to switch from Windows to Linux. It should be invisible to the user. You don't need to know what the operating system does any more than you need to know how your gearbox works, as long as it shifts your gears.<< So you see, the notion that Linux might soon have a comparable graphics interface to windows is a very real possibility. If it crashes lot's less and saves things I want keep to folders and files like Windows, you can be sure I'll use it. Also, I'd note that new applications are still being created for Apple machines...and Corel/Linux may quite possibly be addressing a much larger market than Apple.