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Version 3 Mantra is Urban Myth
There is a popular notion that Microsoft takes 3 goes to get something right. This is frequently put in the context that MS will get it right at version 3 - this is what I call the "Version 3" mantra. Apart from showing an error in logic, it also shows an ignorance of history.

I like the IE example: Microsoft completely missed the takeoff of the WWW so they rushed out and bought Mosaic, a browser that was being soundly beaten by Netscape - MS were at version 1 before they started. When IE emerged from the ashes of Mosaic, MS were at version 2. They have now progressed to IE 6; those who chant the "version 3" mantra would have us believe that MS must have it right by now. Yet IE is probably the least functional of all the current crop of browsers and certainly less standards-compliant than, say, Opera or OminWeb. In addition, there have been a slew if IE-related security scares over the last 3 or 4 years.

To top it off, MS are getting rid of IE as a product. So not only didn't they get it right at IE3, they are now killing it as a product before they ever actually do "get it right".

But the best example ever is that here we are in 2004, some 20 years after the world first saw a windows-based GUI and MS still hasn't "got it right". Microsoft has delivered DOS versions 1 to 6, Windows 1 to 3, Windows NT 3 and 4 (plus 6 service packs), Windows 95-98-ME, Windows 2000 and now XP. And what are MS doing right now? Apparently rewriting Windows from scratch because even with XP, they still haven't "got it right"! sad

Please, enough with the Version 3 mantra, it just ain't so.
Posted by: Fred Fredrickson   Posted on: 01/15/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Just give us ten more years! Only ten more years!  SloooeShflu | 01/15/04
Software isn't a car and it won't take 10 years  marksashton | 01/15/04
why shoudl it be that complex?  ryusen | 01/15/04
Windows is increasingly modular  marksashton | 01/15/04
Clustering ... problems of Linux...  michael-t | 01/15/04
Better cluster example  Robert Crocker | 01/16/04
Try eComStation  Update victim | 01/16/04
um...  ryusen | 01/16/04
The Fix is IN with Longhorn  Aphelion | 01/15/04
Good post Aph!  SloooeShflu | 01/15/04
NOOOO!!!!! The Fix is AFTER Longhorn!  Hard Cider | 01/18/04
Moon landings and airliners  michael-t | 01/15/04
The Principle remains  Update victim | 01/16/04
I agree with you 158%  Hard Cider | 01/18/04
An airliner is an even tougher case...  mds_z | 01/21/04
It's hard to say....  Heatlesssun | 01/15/04
problems  ryusen | 01/16/04
Pretty pathetic effort  Chad_z | 01/15/04
Customers are better off today than they were a year ago  toomuchgreeatea@... | 01/15/04
Smoke and Mirrors  issthatso | 01/16/04
Well, some of them are.  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 01/17/04
customers were better off 5yrs ago than they are today  stephen732@... | 01/18/04
Love 'em or hate 'em but MS EVENTUALLY get sit right  marksashton | 01/15/04
Umm, what have they EVER gotten right?!  SloooeShflu | 01/15/04
You are not particuarly well informed  marksashton | 01/15/04
you're the expert  stephen732@... | 01/15/04
Of course he is, he's a shill  SloooeShflu | 01/16/04
Marky Mark? That's intelligent....  marksashton | 01/16/04
A few patent infringgement cases?!  SloooeShflu | 01/16/04
OK  SloooeShflu | 01/16/04
Just a matter of time  ITGuy04 | 01/16/04
apples and microsfots  ryusen | 01/16/04
Version 3 Mantra is Urban Myth  Fred Fredrickson | 01/15/04
You're not being accurate or fair  marksashton | 01/15/04
That's your opinion  Fred Fredrickson | 01/16/04
One successful product?  marksashton | 01/16/04
please stop smoking crack! ...i can't stop laughing  stephen732@... | 01/17/04
NT Was NOT BEST.  ITGuy04 | 01/16/04
Have you ever used anything else?  Update victim | 01/16/04
Warp? Really?  wgrobinson@... | 01/18/04
my opinions...  ryusen | 01/16/04
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA  MarcB_z | 01/16/04
what are they talking about?  JWatson77 | 01/15/04
Ever get the feeling...  matt@... | 01/15/04
If I'm not mistaken...  rapson | 01/15/04
In any event Microsoft IS a monopolist  SloooeShflu | 01/16/04
Let's say you're not ...  Still Lynn | 01/18/04
Microsoft is a joke...  gtdworak | 01/15/04
Your post is a joke if you actually believe what you wrote  marksashton | 01/15/04
Unilateral knowledge  michael-t | 01/15/04
Actually yes  marksashton | 01/16/04
Unix is a different creature  michael-t | 01/16/04
I'm No Kernel Programmer ... But I'll Bite.  jjworleyeoe | 01/16/04
Clash of perspectives yields conflicts, not dialogue  Still Lynn | 01/18/04
long-winded  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 01/18/04
Macintosh compared to Windows  chrismac | 01/17/04
It's not that simple.  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 01/18/04
lies and lies..  M_c | 01/16/04
There's a lot more to trust than security holes!!!  xunil skcor | 01/16/04
The Payoff (in a related story...)  MarcB_z | 01/16/04
Payoff  bit_rot | 01/16/04
Non-MS users passing judgement???  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/16/04
You seem very up to date on linux Bitty  SloooeShflu | 01/16/04
I use Linux.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/16/04
So what's the fuss then???  SloooeShflu | 01/16/04
Most people use both platforms...  BitTwiddler | 01/16/04
We don't say we don't use it, we just don't LIKE using it  MarcB_z | 01/16/04
Then get a new job.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/16/04
Easy...  Patrick Jones | 01/16/04
Are you still trying to milk that bull?  B.O.F.H. | 01/16/04
Wake the f up.  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 01/17/04
Non-MS users are affected by MS security  tic swayback | 01/16/04
So, you are a Mac shop yet Windows gets hit...  Confused by religion | 01/16/04
You misunderstood  tic swayback | 01/17/04
Her problem...  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 01/17/04
that leaves me out...  ryusen | 01/16/04
Trustworthy Computing = Low Quality MS Product Lock-in  brenthawkinsmd | 01/16/04
Microsoft admits....  mal_adjusted | 01/16/04
ACTIVEX biggest hole for consumers  Nullifidian | 01/16/04
Patching pain  jasonp@... | 01/16/04
Heck yes!  bhanes@... | 01/16/04
Of Course It Has ... Unless You're a ABM'r  jjworleyeoe | 01/16/04
Comparing apples to apples  Still Lynn | 01/18/04
Being an MCSE  MuffinMan_z | 01/17/04
Brain dead or lunar?  dark_stream | 01/26/04
you are joking  lotta_anger | 01/17/04
What else is new  dark_stream | 01/26/04

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