From: RobL <robl@on-ramp.ior.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Dec 95 08:52:59 PST
To: roy@cybrspc.mn.org
Subject: Re: Microsoft Flame[tm] [NOISE]
Message-ID: <m0tSoES-000RuKC@on-ramp.ior.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


At 06:32 AM 12/21/95 CST, Roy M. Silvernail wrote:
>-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>
>There's a lot of finger waving going on over Microsoft's alleged
>predatory practices.  I just want to remind the pro-MS folks of
>something.  Microsoft has a documented track record of using
>undocumented entry points in their OS and Windows products.  These entry
>points allow MS apps to do some things more efficiently than a
[snip]
>
>While this isn't the grand-scale conspiracy some people seem to see,
>IMHO it's still predatory.  Perhaps the call to separate the OS and apps
>divisions is a good idea.  It would be interesting to see if Microsoft
>could maintain its edge in applications when it had no sub rosa
>advantage in OS access.

IMHO, I see nothing wrong with predatory behavior.. then again, I hunt in
the fall, so it must be a redneck thing..

MS and any of the other software companies are competing for domination in a
narrow field.. MS just happens to be the only real choice for OS anymore..
well, for a standard, out of the box OS anyways. The fact that they have to
leave in undisclosed hooks to get their own software to excell over others
just points to the poor software they produce overall. 

I have to admit that I like, possibly admire, the way the Bill and crew have
captured the market.. from a marketing standpoint, they did a first rate job
of running with the ball until there was no pursuit.. Sure, from time to
time, someone tries to throw a blocker in thier path, but they just overrun
it and keep going.. Forget about the monopoly aspects for a second and look
at MS as an American success story. It has all the classic elements: started
small, with a crew of social misfits and eventually grew up.

Just a few cents worth..
RobL
------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------
Rob Lowry         |                   
PO Box 288        | 
Rockford Wa 99030 | ral@otc.mhs.compuserve.com           robl@on-ramp.ior.com