🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <jbone.716346951@splat> jbone@splat.dell.com (Jeff Bone) writes:
  <<stuff deleted>>
>I don't think that argument is refutable --- it's merely one
>definition.  If you think product == something that's announced,
>or exists in a limited form, or exists but is unreleased, or
>is prototyped, try sending a PO for a volume order for NT to
>Microsoft, and ask for a guaranteed ship date.
>
>If anybody thinks this isn't a *very* important point, consider:
>the press made similar hoo-ha about OS/2 a couple of years back,
>and it failed spectacularly to make any significant impact in the
>market whatsoever.  Dose of reality time --- can it be that the
>PC industry is so starved for something real in the OS area, yet
>so UNIXphobic, that they're willing to believe anything at this
>point?

UNIX is hell on wheels for your average user.  Would you have your
secretary writing up printcaps?  True UNIX has a pathetic file system
(fsck? BAHAHAHA!!!), doesnt support a standard uniform model for threads,
multiprocessing, etc...  Splines in X?  24-bit color for under $5,000?
These are NOT things you find in the UNIX world.  Besides, if UNIX was
so great, why did NeXT choose MACH instead? :->  I didnt see them jumping
the X bandwagon either, which is the "open" standard for UNIX GUI.  SCO
UNIX runs over $1,000, NeXTstep in its most basic form is ~$1,000, and
Id expect Solaris to be priced likewise.  One uses the MOTIF GUI, one
the NeXTstep GUI, one the OpenLook GUI.  Each OS has a different API,
different behavior for the same calls, and a host of other incompatable
anomolies.

>Headlines:  "Microsoft *creates* market reality.  Film at 11."

Windows 3.1 and Macintosh are still the only systems selling at >1 million/yr.
NeXT may have the best engineered system out there, but with a small installled
base, low sales volume, small "aftermarket" business (ie no third party graphics
cards/accelerators, etc...) and other factors dont change the current market
reality that Microsoft is ALREADY the volume leader.  Toss in one (relatively)
low price, one standard API, and a GUI used by more users than MOTIF, OpenLook
and NeXTstep combined, and its not terribly evident to me that they will be
a minor player next year in the face of some form of UNIX.

>
>Std. disclaimers.
>
>
>jb
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>--
>-- Jeff Bone ------------------------------------------------------------
>        NT...  Just say N0T.   Skate UN*X!   Standard disclaimer. 
>------------------------------------------------------- jbone@dell.com --
>                                                                       --

-Steve, a regular user of every common UNIX (as well as a few uncommon ones),
        Macintosh, Windows, Windows NT, VMS, NOS/VE, and a few homegrown OSs.