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When IBM was dominant
IBM has never been dominant in the PC market only in mainframes. However, when IBM dominated mainframes developing software and applications was infinitely cheaper than before when each manufacturer had to develop both the software and the hardware for its applications.

The existance of a hardware free operating sytems allowed for the beginning of canned software which almost immediately cuts software costs. Once the Windows x86 platform appeared canned software costs were cut by over 90% and users were free to migrate software that they owned to whatever hardware they wanted.

The equivalent of Quickbooks in 1973 cost over $50,000 (in 1973 dollars) had to be custom written had less functionality and more bugs than what is being produced today.

Microsoft Operating Systems have by existing made possible myriads of vertical market software which would never have been developed under the main frame model. That alone has made computer systems universally affordable for business and education applications.

Is MS perfect? Far from it. But it does not deserve the mindless mud throwing it is getting.
Posted by: jlzimm   Posted on: 05/12/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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The hurd approaches....  Scrat | 05/12/06
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Selling of Sickness  mighetto | 05/15/06
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Dinner out...  handydan918 | 05/12/06
Yarrow  samp_z | 05/12/06
DOJ needs to focus on what is important..  plumnilly | 05/12/06
9.9  s_gamgee | 05/13/06
Check Your Bottle.  aallord | 05/13/06
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Hmmm....  tslocum7 | 05/15/06
Message has been deleted.  realitycheck101 | 05/12/06
Well they can't  DemonX | 05/12/06
yes, that is not all  travelguy32 | 05/12/06
Sad but true???  jerry@... | 05/12/06
Ahh..the good ol'  Cardinal_Bill | 05/12/06
"What country can compare" ?  s_gamgee | 05/13/06
What about IBM.  aallord | 05/13/06
not sad???  Karolinger | 05/13/06
No fines in the US  Edward Meyers | 05/12/06
that's no deal  Linux Geek | 05/12/06
Loser  BFD | 05/12/06
Damage Suffered  jasprey | 05/12/06
What Damage?  aallord | 05/13/06
Is always funny to hear and see...  rocannon@... | 05/13/06
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Loser  jasprey | 06/04/06
Extension of "Settlement terms  Update victim | 05/12/06
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Probably because...  zkiwi | 05/12/06
All anti-trust laws must die [nt]  Omch'Ar | 05/12/06
Why?  zkiwi | 05/12/06
Monopolists must die! (nt)  s_gamgee | 05/13/06
Which is why anti-trust laws must die [nt]  Omch'Ar | 05/15/06
You want slavery back. Why do you believe humans are cattle? (NT)  Vily Clay | 05/15/06
DOJ is the judge???  jlzimm | 05/12/06
Really?  zkiwi | 05/12/06
When IBM was dominant  jlzimm | 05/12/06
Ok then...  zkiwi | 05/12/06
What? Are you kidding?  Ron406 | 05/12/06
spelling  Ron406 | 05/12/06
I think we'll always disagree  zkiwi | 05/14/06
History lesson  carnac | 05/12/06
Old Compaq  jasprey | 05/12/06
WHAAAAA????  orange_z | 05/12/06
...not to mention the lessons learned from IBM dominance  Langalibalene | 05/12/06
No One Lost Their Job For Selecting Microsoft - er IBM  mighetto | 05/15/06
Cruddy?  angela_6uk | 05/13/06
Gates, Attic... LOL...  aallord | 05/13/06
Ummm....  Cardinal_Bill | 05/12/06
DOJ not the judge??  jasprey | 05/12/06
Are you sure?  Karolinger | 05/13/06
Competition is bad?  John L. Ries | 05/13/06
Didn't MS claim and "demonstrated" iteroperability  michael_t | 05/12/06
It's Ridiculous, not Rediculous!!!!  I am Gorby | 05/14/06
And there's more....  Scrat | 05/15/06
And you saw these in MY posting, where?  michael_t | 05/15/06
Its Rude to correct Spelling Here  mighetto | 05/15/06
Gorby, thanks for the correction. I'll be  michael_t | 05/15/06
Sorry to cause offence.  I am Gorby | 05/15/06
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Impact on the EC decision?  Anton Philidor | 05/12/06
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No problems with extension  erniem1970@... | 05/12/06
antitrust  rsars | 05/12/06
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heh  tslocum7 | 05/15/06
Didn't years go by and technology change  Boot_Agnostic | 05/13/06
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I knew this would happen!  Oldwoman | 05/13/06
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Since when...  Omch'Ar | 05/15/06
I'm not fond of MS but all this has to end.,..  drabarno@... | 05/14/06
Gates stoll Microsoft from Allen  mighetto | 05/15/06
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Microsoft deserves....  syoungtx@... | 05/15/06
Union for MS Tech Workers  mighetto | 05/26/06

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