Microsoft tipping

[Joel Hammer]

Well, the article was a bit short on facts.

Predicting the future is a risky business. How many billions has this
tech writer made through his insights into the computer business?

For example, a booming economy might make businesses less tight fisted
with their IS dollars. That could change the business situation of MS
quite favorably.

I guess we all judge things by our local environment. Here, in our large
hospital system, biggest employer in Maryland they tell me,  we not only
use only MS software for the desktop but we use only compaq computers.
If you buy a Dell our IS department tries to kill you. Opensource is
not going to take this place by storm anytime soon.

So, maybe some are looking at linux. We are not.

And, I wonder how long those teams of volunteers are going to keep working
to improve software when business people are making serious bucks off
their efforts and they are getting nada. If linux goes commercial big
time, that might put serious stresses on the linux community.

And, as anybody who uses both opensource and commercial software can tell
you, ease of use is much better on commercial software. For example,
Adobe printshop is just much easier to use than the Gimp. I have never
had to read a manual for Adobe, but I have studied books on gimp, and
I can do more in adobe than the gimp, and faster.

I love vim, which is one of the greatest things opensoftware has produced,
but I would never expect anybody I know to learn it.

So, I wouldn't count MS out.

To be honest, I invest heavily in microsoft. And it's not because I love
the company or its software. It appeals to the lowest common denominator.

Joel


Sun, Dec 28, 2003 at 01:04:31PM -0600, Alma J Wetzker wrote:
> http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=13350
> 
> This article on /. makes the case that Microsoft is losing market share and 
> is poised to lose lots more.  It makes an intriguing premise that might be 
> fun to watch for.