21 May
1998
21 May
'98
4:41 p.m.
On Thu, 21 May 1998, Sam Ismail wrote:
This Microsoft vs. The World of Computers debate is
getting to be rather
partisan. If the discussion was left to the topic of the history of the
software then that would be find, but I see this turning into a big flame
fest that just doesn't need to happen.
If there were name calling or ad hominem attacks, I'd agree, but I think
it's been kept within a historical perspective so far. I'm normally not
one for government intervention or regulation, and I really doubt that the
guys in the DOJ "get it", but I've seen what Microsoft has done to my PC,
and I don't want that to happen to the internet.
I think the chances of the DOJ splitting Microsoft into MS-Apps and MS-OS
is close to zero, but I think it would revitalize an industry that has all
but dried up and given in to WinTel. The internet is such a sweet young
thing, I'd hate to see her "embraced and extended" by any corporate
powerhouse.
Of course, there's always the argument that Microsoft is a benevolent
dictator, and I have to admit that Microsoft has started to do real
research and innovation in recent years, and that every Microsoft
developer I've met after 1988 or so has been more than competent.
Unfortunately, I think that's due in part to the fact that nobody else is
left to work for :-(
-- Doug