[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: Don't Be Soft On Microsoft



Shay Rojansky writes:
 > I think it's naive to say that a person would stay with an OS because
 > it is good. The entire world (except us computer-savvy people) doesn't
 > care about how good an OS is. Most of the world can't even distinguish
 > between the OS and the application. Most of the world wants 
 > FUNCTIONALITY, i.e. the availability of quality software that fulfills
 > their needs. And another thing - the fact that Linux is better than
 > Win95 in many aspects is old news, and we ARE aiming at the humble
 > secretary. Linus mentioned in a recent conference that his goal (and
 > ours too, I believe) is world domination. That is, to replace OSs
 > in whatever function they perform. Now I know that's a bit futuristic,
 > but the idea IS to push for office-quality apps and convert people to them.

Since the world doesn't care about OS, your only chance is to produce
applications that will be *much* better than those of MS, provide an
interface to the applications and the file system that the mortals of
the world will love more than Windows (an OS issue, btw), succeed at
marketing the whole thing, and preferably convince computer vendors to
sell hardware with  Linux and the office suite preinstalled. I think
we agree on that, so good luck. I concede that the goal I have in mind
is in a sense more modest, but it is also more feasible and more
important, IMHO.  Actually, I think that dominating the realm of
servers and development is a much worthier goal for Linux than
exterminating Microsoft. [You might argue that UNIX is already the
system of choice in that realm, which is good enough - ok with me.]
Thus, view NT as your main rival, rather than Word. Convince a company
to base their development and intranet Linux-based rather than NT-based,
and throw in office applications saying, "And your secretary will have
all the tools she needs on the same platform, too." Keep in mind that
MS satisfies the needs of a standalone secretary quite well, will
probably become better  in the future, and its position in this market
is exceptionally strong.  The weak points of Windows and the strong
points of Linux that we like to emphasize most are irrelevant in this
context.

 > Well, in the practical sense of the question, you're right. However,
 > try looking at it globally. The US market is SO big and SO important
 > that foreign language support (and specifically Hebrew) seems so small
 > and tiny. And anyway, if we WERE to gain America domination, foreign
 > language support would also pop up ;-)

Doesn't sound too global to me. If anything must be available in
languages other than English, it is office applications. Viewing the
issue as "small and tiny" is hardly compatible with the goal you set for
yourself. [Yes, specifically Hebrew is a tiny issue, I used the forum
to pose a question].

Keep dreaming, it's fun, 

Oleg.


References: