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Uh ... no ... not really.
The reason that Microsoft beats the pants out of everybody is a question of integration. And using that integration to shut-out competetion. Microsoft owns more of the pie than anybody else, and they tie the products together well. Nobody else will ever own that much of the pie.

In a perfect world, there would be open protocols for determining how **all** things talk to eachother. This is the last thing that MS wants because proprietary integration is how they keep their hold.

For example, the reason that Excel beat Lotus 1-2-3 can be summed up on one word: Word. MS-Word was great, and Lotus's word processor wasn't. MS bundled "Office" to leverage the strength of their superior word processor against Lotus' spreadsheet program.

Netscape's sole product was the browser. They invented JavaScript; they added multi-threaded downloads for images; etc., etc., etc. and had a far better product. When MS bundled the browser with the OS and offered it for free, Netscape couldn't compete.

OS/2 was a good product, but it was expensive and complicated. You are right, IBM killed themselves there.

I've never worked with BEOS. So I can't comment on it.

WordPerfect died because it was still only a word processor when MS and Lotus had their office bundles. If WordPerfect's word processor were bundled/inegrated with Lotus 1-2-3, you may have seen a different outcome. Unfortunately, Novell got a hold of WordPerfect -- and Novell really didn't know what to do with it.

As far as databases, you must never have heard of dBase (for small companies), or SYBASE (for mid-sized companies). Guess what? dBase and FoxPro were derived from the same product, as were SYBASE and SQL Server.

Don't get me wrong -- I like some of MS software. But the reason they are on top is as much about integration, and using that integration in a predatory way.
Posted by: coffeenite   Posted on: 12/17/03 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Proprietary software is useless! Trash it all!  GRindinAxTaRupy | 12/16/03
Once again Linux community opens their  memuser | 12/16/03
how is this article about m$?  stephen732@... | 12/16/03
Nonsense  chrichton99 | 12/16/03
your argument does nohing  ryusen | 12/16/03
a contention  ryusen | 12/16/03
Microsoft is the one that would lose here if they go Open Source  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
A question  voska | 12/16/03
A very good question.  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
OSS can also be used as a platform for proprietary software  Taz_z | 12/16/03
Huh? Check your logic  quietLee | 12/18/03
Get a sense of humor  voska | 12/16/03
Exactly Dude  GRindinAxTaRupy | 12/16/03
heard this before  voska | 12/16/03
You're right, but...  maestronn | 12/19/03
A surprising article....  mlindl | 12/16/03
Don't know if you noticed...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
I agree  voska | 12/16/03
BEOS:  ryusen | 12/16/03
Uh ... no ... not really.  coffeenite | 12/17/03
Two sides to the story...  Fred Fredrickson | 12/18/03
by ethics,  ryusen | 12/16/03
As opposed to your contrived articles? (NT)  dscherf | 12/16/03
Just what is Microsoft so good...  mlindl | 12/18/03
Coupla things...  dscherf | 12/18/03
But attacking the messenger....  mlindl | 12/19/03
John, I almost totally agree with you?!  jim_oflaherty_jr | 12/18/03
No preference, they just decided the open source will work best for them.  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
Well Said Donnie!  GRindinAxTaRupy | 12/16/03
Polar Thinking  civikminded | 12/16/03
Here is why open source is so atractive in developing countries.  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
No...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
Yes. . . . .  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
What are you talking about  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
Every business and every government has a ritght to decide.  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
Governments and costs  Update victim | 12/17/03
RE: Governments and costs  nrlz | 12/22/03
RE: Yes. . . . .  nrlz | 12/22/03
Obvious point if I may..  GRindinAxTaRupy | 12/16/03
John, Al Capone was good at making money, too  mlindl | 12/19/03
Ah, but then you'd have to include...  Mark Miller | 12/20/03
doomed?  ryusen | 12/16/03
Carroll is dead on once again  Mike Cox | 12/16/03
No both of you are wrong...  serpentmage | 12/16/03
And where is Mr. Carroll, why does he have nothing to say.  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
Well, finally, here he is, he must have heard me!  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
You seem to forget or ignore that  Taz_z | 12/16/03
IBM is a SERVICE oriented company  Robert Crocker | 12/16/03
Re-read your EULA  techboy_z | 12/16/03
Don't feel like thinking of a title  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
Profit doesn't come from thin air...  Robert Crocker | 12/16/03
More Stuff  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
insert subject here  ryusen | 12/17/03
It OS does the job...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
You must enter a title for your message  ryusen | 12/17/03
it also put billions in the bank  JWatson77 | 12/16/03
Yes, very true, John wants you to think that every penny goes into R&D  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
Yep...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
So are you arguing that Microsoft does not have good margins??  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
Margins Do Not Matter ...  coffeenite | 12/17/03
Feature, Function, Benefit  Bill Weisgerber | 12/16/03
What exactly are 'standards of comparison'?  Taz_z | 12/16/03
What the customer uses to decide  Bill Weisgerber | 12/16/03
Software and widgets are a tough comparison  Taz_z | 12/16/03
Doesn't "prove" anything  Bill Weisgerber | 12/16/03
MS Blaster  voska | 12/16/03
How many machines?  Bill Weisgerber | 12/16/03
We had 1000+ Machines  voska | 12/16/03
It proves everything  Taz_z | 12/16/03
Linux / OSS are here to stay.  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
Where is linux/OSS going next?  Bill Weisgerber | 12/16/03
That's why...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
Linux can eat Unix without killing the Unix vendors.  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
Don't bet on it...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
Yes, proprietary Unix will go away, but that is not bad for SUN, HP, or IBM  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
Don't bet on that either, DonnieBoy  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
Yes, they would have to compete on the merits, good for customers  DonnieBoy | 12/17/03
The merits of the same Intel hardware??  Mark Miller | 12/20/03
Linux can go where it needs to go.  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
Are you kidding?  Taz_z | 12/16/03
didn't ms say  JWatson77 | 12/16/03
GPL does NOT exclude patents  Robert Crocker | 12/16/03
Come on...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
Completely wrong  Robert Crocker | 12/16/03
Good Point...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
but...  ryusen | 12/16/03
Yes, but...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
you are reversing the issue  ryusen | 12/17/03
GPL and Patent Trading  Robert Crocker | 12/17/03
Stuff  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
No, it doesn't  Robert Crocker | 12/17/03
IBM sells Linux SOFTWARE TOO!  Robert Crocker | 12/17/03
You're still missing it, Rob  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
Regarding IBM's Linux Software (to Rob)  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
Still missing the crucial points (to John)  Robert Crocker | 12/18/03
Why so?  dscherf | 12/16/03
Dont you think....  memuser | 12/16/03
Who's bashing who ?  NT Admin | 12/16/03
I wouldn't want to see that world either  voska | 12/16/03
the best?  ryusen | 12/16/03
memuser, your abject DENIAL of M$ MONOPOLY renders your whole argument moot  dicktaurus@... | 12/16/03
Antitrust violations led to monopoly  Update victim | 12/17/03
Actually, the reverse  rapson | 12/18/03
Interesting Argument, but misguided...  serpentmage | 12/16/03
Misapplie logic  Bill Weisgerber | 12/16/03
It's the old 60s logic  rapson | 12/16/03
You're right, to a certain extent  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
Yes, but you seem to think that Governments don't have a right to decide.  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
My argument is utilitarian  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
it's still their choice  ryusen | 12/16/03
But John, this is not preference, you are telling them how to run IT  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
Utilitarian?  Jose Jimenez | 12/17/03
(to ZZ) John is a citizen too. He has a right...  Mark Miller | 12/21/03
Good luck (really!)  rapson | 12/16/03
that's logic?  voska | 12/16/03
People buy things to benefit from them  Bill Weisgerber | 12/16/03
I disagree here.  voska | 12/16/03
Not always true...  Patrick Jones | 12/16/03
Flawed logic  techboy_z | 12/16/03
OS COSTS  Joe Blow_z | 12/16/03
Just Priced out PC  voska | 12/16/03
Burlington Industries are wrong ???  Update victim | 12/16/03
Great...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
Gov Over Reacting again  voska | 12/16/03
But if Burlington has a right to roll it out company wide, why not govs  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
That's true  voska | 12/16/03
Burlington isn't 30% of the economy  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
Well, yes, government contracts can be huge.  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
I'm not emperor of the world  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
Again John, you are arguing that are making the wrong IT decision.  DonnieBoy | 12/17/03
30%  Update victim | 12/17/03
It's about policy, DonnieBoy  Mark Miller | 12/21/03
Why not...  Patrick Jones | 12/16/03
See my Not 30% post to DonnieBoy  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
Saw the post and you are wrong....  Patrick Jones | 12/17/03
So...  azurensis | 12/17/03
Yes, I would  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
B.S. John  Rick_K | 12/16/03
Who makes the policy?  John L. Ries | 01/01/04
JC's Paradox:Everybody is wrong but JC and MS  David Mohring | 12/16/03
John CArrolll and Microsoft propaganda have become synonymous  jellyclock | 12/16/03
Selfishness, egoism and greed....  Mikael_z | 12/17/03
Free software, MORE JOBS, no monopolies, no piracy ?  Vily Clay | 12/16/03
Funny thing is...  ryusen | 12/16/03
ok, real reply:  ryusen | 12/16/03
I agree with...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
but...  ryusen | 12/16/03
No, I don't...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
And there's your conclusion. Good.  Anton Philidor | 12/17/03
Regarding government policy  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
Adequate for the purpose (Replying - stupid tbk)  Anton Philidor | 12/17/03
No, we're not disagreeing  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
Now there's a loaded question.  Anton Philidor | 12/17/03
stupid reply  ryusen | 12/17/03
in addtion  ryusen | 12/16/03
I disagree  John L. Ries | 01/01/04
Numerous flaws  mrroach | 12/16/03
John continues to show a complete lack of understanding of os  Richard Flude | 12/16/03
A response  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
This isn't just about free versus bought  NemesisNL | 12/17/03
The future, Conan?  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
A response to your response  Richard Flude | 12/17/03
Who is going to make money????  stmueller | 12/18/03
John, you left your argument unfinished...  Anton Philidor | 12/16/03
you are missing a point  ryusen | 12/16/03
You're agreeing with me (and John)  Anton Philidor | 12/16/03
not really.  ryusen | 12/17/03
Is the arguement you're talking about the one with all the holes in it?  Richard Flude | 12/16/03
No, the flawed argument's an invention  Anton Philidor | 12/16/03
Specious assertions  Robert Crocker | 12/17/03
If they're specious, don't use them; use mine instead  Anton Philidor | 12/17/03
They WERE your assertions  Robert Crocker | 12/17/03
I think I see the tangle  Anton Philidor | 12/17/03
Bizarre definition of proprietary  Robert Crocker | 12/17/03
On 'proprietary'  Anton Philidor | 12/18/03
I simply dont agree  ParadigmOdyssey | 12/16/03
Apple  Harry Bardal | 12/16/03
I like the hybrid model  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
Apple excluded from open source?  mlindl | 12/18/03
Linux this, Linux that  mikeeemike | 12/17/03
John, I almost totally agree with you?!  jim_oflaherty_jr | 12/18/03
John, I almost totally agree with you?!  jim_oflaherty_jr | 12/18/03
For once I'd like to agree, but...  Doug K | 12/18/03
Long Winded, even for John  Fred Fredrickson | 12/19/03
I think ZDNet should hire Fred...  mlindl | 12/19/03
The reality is......  maestronn | 12/19/03
proprietary software doesn't even need a business reason  JWatson77 | 12/21/03
The beginning of the end of .NET?  JWatson77 | 12/26/03
only a issue to john because pref is not ms  JWatson77 | 12/31/03
Re: In defense of proprietory software  John L. Ries | 01/01/04
in defense of no red cross  JWatson77 | 01/07/04
"Judicious use of patents"  meadi8r@... | 11/05/04

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