| Pete Dashwood 2007-01-30, 6:55 pm |
|
"Howard Brazee" <howard@brazee.net> wrote in message
news:p6pur2luc6movh3i4981fp282jk4rqt090@
4ax.com...
> On Tue, 30 Jan 2007 10:52:57 +1300, "Pete Dashwood"
> <dashwood@removethis.enternet.co.nz> wrote:
>
>
> Yep. But despite all of the advantages C# has, I have an aversion to
> languages controlled by Microsoft for its ends. I suppose it is
> better than one controlled by Apple for their ends (Apple demands that
> we do everything its way), but I want to use a tool on all platforms.
This may be a pipe dream. The closest thing I have seen to this is the
DotNET framework. At least language interoperability is a reality under it.
I don't know whether Linux can run it or not, but I wouldn't mind betting
someone is working on that, even as we speak :-)
>
> Sun wanted to do this with Java, but because it isn't the 500 pound
> gorilla in the marketplace, it found a more palatable alternative.
>
There are many people who feel very strongly negative about MicroSoft.
(Whether they SHOULD or not is highly debatable. The simple fact is that
more than 90% of the world's networked computers are running thanks to MS
software. Yesterday's multi-billion dollar launch of Vista sees MS betting
the company on the new OS. I think it is a pretty safe bet.)
The major player in any field always has its detractors. In Australia and NZ
this is referred to as "tall poppy syndrome". (It comes from the Roman
tyrant Lucinius Tarquinus Superbus who received a messenger from his son
Sextus asking what he should do next with Gabii, as he had attained complete
control of it. Lucinius did not answer but went into his garden and without
speaking, swept his sword over the poppy bed, taking the heads off the
tallest poppies. The messenger returned to Sextus who then had the most
prominent citizens (those most likely to cause "trouble") executed.
Many years ago I felt passionately anti IBM. I saw the way they misused
their power to manipulate anyone who questioned them, even getting EDP
managers who wouldn't buy their products, or even questioned their value,
removed.(It happened to a friend of mine). They acted arrogantly and
ruthlessly. At that time (late 1960s), they were the "only game in town"
with all the other vendors struggling just to stay in the marketplace.
Ironically, some decades later, I actually got to work for IBM, who by then
had had their "come uppance" and almost lost the company thanks to the
unbelievable success of a machine which they invented... I realised that
they are really just like any other company; they are trying to make a
living and provide service to their customers. Every company has SOME people
in it who are ruthless and arrogant, but that doesn't mean the corporate
culture is like that. A lot of good people work at IBM. And at MicroSoft.
Nowadays, with the benefit of decades of experience in the real world and
the mellowing of time, I hope I'm wise enough not to be biased against a
company simply because they are successful. I use MS software every day;
this message is made possible because of it. I'm not so paranoid that I
believe they are out to conquer and control the world. EVERY company on
Earth would LIKE to have market domination; it's a game...
Having said that, I wouldn't like to see the competition eliminated, either.
:-)
These days my attitude towards any company is decided by how they treat me.
MicroSoft have provided a superb platform that has enabled me to build an
application in a fraction of the tme it would normally take, and without the
pain usually associated with such an exercise. They provide this platform to
everyone, for free.
I think that's commendable, not reprehensible. Cynics would argue they are
"sucking everyone in" to ensure development in the future occurs on their
approved platforms. Provided those platforms deliver the goods (and, so far,
they certainly appear to) I have no problem with that.
The other consideration is that if I want people to use my applications,
they have to run on MS platforms. It doesn't matter whether I like it or
not, that is simple market reality.
I have no vested interest in supporting MicroSoft; I'm not a shareholder or
a Partner. But why would I villify a company that has assisted me to indulge
my passion for programming and even make some cash out of it? It actually
encourages me to spend money on their products; I plan to install Vista
around August, after it gets its first Service Pack :-)
In the meantime, I see DotNET and C# as where I'm going for the future. The
only factor that might affect this is how good C# is for Web Service
development. I'll report on that when I've done it... :-)
Pete.
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