Charlie Rose

ion  07/29/2009 02:31 AM Report

Hi REMant,

I've enjoyed several of your comments in other posts, I've just never responded - thank you.

Re:

>>begin using a Linux product even if ALL the bugs were worked out, and that's because of the immense number of programs made to run only on 32-bit Windows.

On the server, most people already do use Linux, and in my humble opinion it is superior to all of the alternatives. MS lost some market share in this transition, but Sun was likely the bigger victim. But I assume you are referring mostly to the desktop market. If you are only a business user (word, excel, browser, powerpoint, etc.), I think MS's hold is tenuous - reasonable alternatives in the web world are available for most of these apps, and will only grow stronger. The OpenOffice and Star Office efforts for the linux desktop were never managed properly and thus did not progress to their full potential, otherwise the market would have already shifted more. It is the specialty apps that keep me running a MS desktop - in particular, none of the nice CAD tools run on linux (Alibre, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, ProE, etc.), and some of the PCB design software I've needed is MS only. However, when I look at the limited apps on my wife's company laptop, and considering the licensing costs and security headaches they must contend with, there is no reason many of the large companies could not transition their desktops to linux - it is mostly inertia keeping companies where they are at. Most business apps (let's say 99%) are simply forms and reports - a web application development environment easily handles these types of applications. SAP and others have already started moving toward web front ends for their applications (the server is likely linux, solaris, etc) - a web app does not care what OS you run.

>>Take a look at Apple, no matter what they've done to bring themselves into step with Windows, ppl in the know do not use the product,

I do not use an Apple but many developers and other tech savvy types I've known do. In my opinion, it has most of the qualities I like in a linux desktop without many of the headaches (e.g. graphics cards, etc.). But I stay away from it for the same reason I stay away from a Linux desktop - those few specialty apps I need (CAD, etc.). I keep hearing the Linux desktop is improving so I'm not sure I would still choose an Apple today, but three years ago the choice would have been easy.

I'm not a gamer, but I assume this crowd is firmly attached to MS for the same reasons too. Most people have very simple needs from their computer. I'm not sure how the market breaks down, but I assume the gamers and others like me are a small portion of the market relative to the aggregate, and thus a MS upset could happen any time - of course, linux advocates have been spewing this for years and yet the desktop market segmentation has not changed considerably. time will tell

REMant  07/27/2009 01:36 PM Report

M$ lost a lot of dough the last qtr not surprisingly. They may align with Yahoo, but I can tell you that it is extremely unlikely that many people will begin using a Linux product even if ALL the bugs were worked out, and that's because of the immense number of programs made to run only on 32-bit Windows. Until that changes I think there won't be much impact. Take a look at Apple, no matter what they've done to bring themselves into step with Windows, ppl in the know do not use the product, even though it looks nice. In addition, if Google wraps their system around the browser, either it will be just an Internet appliance, or it will run afoul of the Europeans. Because this is typical of Google's strategy to monopolize anything they see, like Andrew Carnegie, and, like him, with the best of intentions. They are in the service business, and that is exactly what this country does not need any more of. And it is a vey small step from being of service to being patronizing. I think BTW M$ might have called the search engine "bling" instead to avoid comparison with a fruit or a crooner. Or if that WAS the intention they might use a cherry for a logo. But I did a little test just now and Google produced several times more relevant refs than "bing" for a very particular subject, so I'd say they aren't crawling and indexing as well, or they are eliminating too many. On the other hand, the same search on Yahoo was even worse.

RWillis  07/24/2009 05:04 PM Report

Arrington lost what little credibility he had left by posting those Twitter company documents. It was a serious lapse in judgment that should end up in court one day. 80% of the responses on his blog disagreed with him for posting the documents- and for good reason; it was highly unethical.

It became obvious that Arrington's motive was to generate publicity and attempt to prove he is a big player in the tech media. But he failed miserably.