The latest in memoware

[netfreak]

EVERY few years Bill Gates, the chairman of Microsoft, issues a memo signalling an important shift for his company, and hence for the software industry as a whole. In 1995, one of his memos heralded the rise of the internet. In 2002, another memo drew attention to the growing importance of computer security. Now a barrage of memos signals the emergence of a new generation of web-based software, often called “Web 2.0”. As in previous cases, what is new is not the idea itself, but the fact that Microsoft is taking it seriously.

http://www.economist.com/business/displayS...tory_id=5178963

 

[max]

Uh...before Web 2.0 M$ should make their browser more standards compatible...

 

[Sushubh]

actually MS supports most of the web 2.0 technologies since the time when firefox did not even exit.

 

[max]

whatever...but they are a long way from being standards compatible!

 

[Sushubh]

the problem with IE is that it supports too many non-standard technologies.

 

[max]

That can't be a hurdle to be standards compliant.

 

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[Sushubh]

the biggest problem with microsoft. they waste time and resources on stuff which are irrelevant to the end user. vista and internet explorer are two prime examples.

 

[netfreak]

Originally posted by [email protected] 20 2005, 06:44 PM
vista and internet explorer are two prime examples.
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IE had a big role in making Web affordable. Netscape used to charge for every installation of Browser.

And not all M$ products are waste. M$ Office is still the best office suite.

 

[Sushubh]

many people would disagree. internet explorer being free did not make the web affordable. it became part of the operating system. it was free in version 1, 2, 3. no one used it. people started using it when MS forced it on the users with version 4.MS Office is the best suite. Agreed. but 80% of the users dont use 2% of the features. its worth the price, if you can actually make use of the remaining 98% of the functionalities. you are somewhat contradicting urself, openoffice is free. why are people not using that over ms office? microsoft charges for every installation of ms office!

 

[netfreak]

Originally posted by [email protected] 20 2005, 08:49 PM
You are somewhat contradicting urself, openoffice is free. why are people not using that over ms office? microsoft charges for every installation of ms office!
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Difference between IE and OpenOffice is, IE 3.0 had all essential features of Netscape. so nothing was lost by using IE.

And with OpenOffice, it does not provide all essential features for corporate users.

Ask any financial analyst or financial controller. MS Excel is THE only application that they can not do their work without.

Ask any Marketing person to evaluate M$ and OO for making presentations, M$ wins straight away.

Ask any PHD student to write his/her thesis with Writer, even mundane things like applying default formats (try generating a default thesis with Office 2003, it makes the task so easy) to nested table of contents are difficult with OO.

If all you want do do is write occasional letters and docs then OO is sufficient (typical home use). But it still lacks features for power users.

And if OO provides features AND templates for power users, then yes M$ office will be in trouble.

 

[netfreak]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Netscap...usage_share.png

Nestscape started loosing market share with launch of IE 3.0. IE 3.0 was launched in 1996.

And NS market share graph started a downward trend at the same time.

 

[max]

Netfreak, its inertia People dont want to install something on their systems if an alternative is available! IE was made a part of the OS in M$ strategy to kill competition. People cared less which browser they used until they would get their work done . Besides, IE, like most M$ products, has many of its components integrated right into the kernel of Windoze, so it loaded up way faster than Netscape which led to people mistaking it to be a "superior" product. M$ has used this strategy with Ms.Office, Windoze Media Player AND Java. Remember, M$ removed Java from IE for a short period of time until SUN went to court? Remember the M$'s EU Anti-trust case? Remember Windoze XP N ??

 

[Sushubh]

Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level then beat you with experience.

 

[netfreak]

Originally posted by [email protected] 21 2005, 07:21 PM
Netfreak, its inertia People dont want to install something on their systems if an alternative is available!
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I completetly agree. And this was the case IE 4.0 onwards.

IE 3.0 was a saperate download, just like Netscape.

And if you look at the chart, Netscape lost market share as soon as IE 3.0 came into the picture.

 

[netfreak]

An article from that timeframe.

http://www.windowsitpro.com/Windows/Articl.../2801/2801.html

Installing the full version of IE3, a 9.8MB download, is straightforward.
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