21 Mar
2004
21 Mar
'04
4:02 a.m.
It was thus said that the Great J.C. Wren once stated:
What the need to do is provide a common programming API, and let
third parties develop the UI software. That way, they'd get support
across more OS's, you could use the same UI on different models, and
they still can keep their programming algorithms proprietary. I once
wrote an open letter to BP, Needhams, DataIO and Tribal about this.
They could have focussed their efforts on devices and algorithms and
hardware, where their expertice is, not in Windows requirements, or DOS
weirdness, etc.
Won't happen unless there is a *lot* of pressure from customers. A *lot*.
If such a thing did happen, then why should I stick with DataIO? Or Tribal?
That means these companies will actually have to *gasp* "compete!" The way
it is now, they have a lock (supposedly) on their existing user base [1]. A
common API could potentially commoditize their product and while that's good
from a consumer's point of view, it's not
necessarily something a company
wants [2].
-spc (A former business partner/boss was always going on about forming
"proprietary" products and services ... )
[1] If any of these companies are public, their customers are *not* the
people that use their products, but instead are shareholders. And
in shareholder logic, a "proprietary product or service" is a Good
Thing (TM).
[2] There's a reason Microsoft repeatedly attempts to "extend" such free
standards as Kerberos, HTTP, HTML, etc. "Competition is a sin."
--John D. Rockefeller.