Post #152,341
4/23/04 10:36:40 AM
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Windows sucks, we know it, and you're locked in
"The Windows API is so broad, so deep, and so functional that most ISVs would be crazy not to use it. And it is so deeply embedded in the source code of many Windows apps that there is a huge switching cost to using a different operating system instead..." the email reads.
[...]
"It is this switching cost that has given the customers the patience to stick with Windows through all our mistakes, our buggy drivers, our high TCO [total cost of ownership], our lack of a sexy vision at times, and many other difficulties [\ufffd] Customers constantly evaluate other desktop platforms, [but] it would be so much work to move over that they hope we just improve Windows rather than force them to move. In short, without this exclusive franchise called the Windows API, we would have been dead a long time ago."
[link|http://news.zdnet.co.uk/business/0,39020645,39152686,00.htm|source] lincoln
"Windows XP has so many holes in its security that any reasonable user will conclude it was designed by the same German officer who created the prison compound in "Hogan's Heroes." - Andy Ihnatko, Chicago Sun-Times
[link|mailto:bconnors@ev1.net|contact me]
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Post #152,803
4/27/04 8:58:43 PM
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I believe that, "Well, DUH!", is the proper response.
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Post #152,807
4/27/04 9:14:19 PM
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WOW.
HE DOES LIVE!
Nice to see you again.
--
[link|mailto:greg@gregfolkert.net|greg],
[link|http://www.iwethey.org/ed_curry|REMEMBER ED CURRY!] @ iwethey
Give a man a match, he'll be warm for a minute.
Set him on fire, he'll be warm for the rest of his life!
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Post #153,777
5/4/04 8:18:16 PM
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Oh, always around.
Just don't get here very often anymore.
Since I'm no longer in the industry, I find myself not caring to visit most of my old haunts these days.
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Post #153,779
5/4/04 8:22:19 PM
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What are you doing now?
To deny the indirect purchaser, who in this case is the ultimate purchaser, the right to seek relief from unlawful conduct, would essentially remove the word consumer from the Consumer Protection Act
- [link|http://www.techworld.com/opsys/news/index.cfm?NewsID=1246&Page=1&pagePos=20|Nebraska Supreme Court]
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Post #153,781
5/4/04 8:32:44 PM
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Let me put it this way.
I work 6 days a week and made less than $22K last year.
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Post #153,782
5/4/04 8:40:38 PM
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Teacher?
Imric's Tips for Living
- Paranoia Is a Survival Trait
- Pessimists are never disappointed - but sometimes, if they are very lucky, they can be pleasantly surprised...
- Even though everyone is out to get you, it doesn't matter unless you let them win.
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Nothing is as simple as it seems in the beginning,
As hopeless as it seems in the middle,
Or as finished as it seems in the end.
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Post #153,783
5/4/04 8:45:27 PM
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I'd laugh, but....
... teachers make more than that.
Besides, I don't have kids of my own because I can't really stand them. Why would I put up with some else's brats?
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Post #153,791
5/4/04 9:10:46 PM
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*chuckle* Yeah 3 years'd give you tenure
You'd be making about 35.
Do wish you'd poke your nose around here more often, though. Gonna see you at the 4th?
Imric's Tips for Living
- Paranoia Is a Survival Trait
- Pessimists are never disappointed - but sometimes, if they are very lucky, they can be pleasantly surprised...
- Even though everyone is out to get you, it doesn't matter unless you let them win.
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Nothing is as simple as it seems in the beginning,
As hopeless as it seems in the middle,
Or as finished as it seems in the end.
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Post #153,794
5/4/04 9:48:02 PM
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Should be there.
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Post #153,795
5/4/04 10:26:19 PM
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Cool.
Imric's Tips for Living
- Paranoia Is a Survival Trait
- Pessimists are never disappointed - but sometimes, if they are very lucky, they can be pleasantly surprised...
- Even though everyone is out to get you, it doesn't matter unless you let them win.
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Nothing is as simple as it seems in the beginning,
As hopeless as it seems in the middle,
Or as finished as it seems in the end.
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Post #153,785
5/4/04 9:04:17 PM
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You want fries with that?
Sorry to hear that...
But at least $22,000 is better than $0.
Ben
To deny the indirect purchaser, who in this case is the ultimate purchaser, the right to seek relief from unlawful conduct, would essentially remove the word consumer from the Consumer Protection Act
- [link|http://www.techworld.com/opsys/news/index.cfm?NewsID=1246&Page=1&pagePos=20|Nebraska Supreme Court]
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Post #153,793
5/4/04 9:46:52 PM
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I'd probably make more money there.
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Post #152,838
4/28/04 2:16:30 AM
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Oi. (new thread)
Created as new thread #152837 titled [link|/forums/render/content/show?contentid=152837|Oi.]
Peter
[link|http://www.debian.org|Shill For Hire]
[link|http://www.kuro5hin.org|There is no K5 Cabal]
[link|http://guildenstern.dyndns.org|Blog]
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Post #152,812
4/27/04 9:33:36 PM
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Just remember that if Microsoft follows economic theory...
for how to price their goods, they have no reason to improve and you will eventually pay them the full switching cost. In addition to having to pay to switch. In addition to putting up with the fact that the software sucks.
Enjoy,
Ben
To deny the indirect purchaser, who in this case is the ultimate purchaser, the right to seek relief from unlawful conduct, would essentially remove the word consumer from the Consumer Protection Act
- [link|http://www.techworld.com/opsys/news/index.cfm?NewsID=1246&Page=1&pagePos=20|Nebraska Supreme Court]
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Post #152,848
4/28/04 9:29:48 AM
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In that case...
...everybody should switch NOW, while the cost of money is low (before inflation further devalues it).
Sound economic theory, right?
jb4
shrub\ufffdbish (Am., from shrub + rubbish, after the derisive name for America's 43 president; 2003) n. 1. a form of nonsensical political doubletalk wherein the speaker attempts to defend the indefensible by lying, obfuscation, or otherwise misstating the facts; GIBBERISH. 2. any of a collection of utterances from America's putative 43rd president. cf. BULLSHIT
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Post #152,849
4/28/04 9:33:57 AM
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Uh... You were being sarcastic, right?
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Post #152,850
4/28/04 9:35:15 AM
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YES...and NO
Actually, I was being more ironic than sarcastic.
jb4
shrub\ufffdbish (Am., from shrub + rubbish, after the derisive name for America's 43 president; 2003) n. 1. a form of nonsensical political doubletalk wherein the speaker attempts to defend the indefensible by lying, obfuscation, or otherwise misstating the facts; GIBBERISH. 2. any of a collection of utterances from America's putative 43rd president. cf. BULLSHIT
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Post #152,865
4/28/04 10:41:51 AM
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Fe-y?
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Post #152,883
4/28/04 11:28:14 AM
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Only if you believe that competitors will do better
Normally every alternative to Microsoft will offer the same (low)value proposition that Microsoft does. The result comes down to managing lock-in.
The book [link|http://www.inforules.com/|Information Rules] walks you through this in detail.
What is different now is that open source offers a viable alternative to the usual economics of lock-in. However it is only viable in some scenarios. (Namely either you are willing to take over your own maintainance issues, or you are confident that someone else will be willing to before you have to.) Figuring out whether you are in one of those is a non-trivial business decision. If you are not, then you could wind up stranded pretty badly.
(Unfortunately, of course, actual IT decisions tend to be made by people who understand none of this...)
Cheers,
Ben
To deny the indirect purchaser, who in this case is the ultimate purchaser, the right to seek relief from unlawful conduct, would essentially remove the word consumer from the Consumer Protection Act
- [link|http://www.techworld.com/opsys/news/index.cfm?NewsID=1246&Page=1&pagePos=20|Nebraska Supreme Court]
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Post #152,903
4/28/04 1:17:57 PM
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Until I read your last paragraph, I was gonna say...
..."and this differs from Standard Business Practice how?"
jb4
shrub\ufffdbish (Am., from shrub + rubbish, after the derisive name for America's 43 president; 2003) n. 1. a form of nonsensical political doubletalk wherein the speaker attempts to defend the indefensible by lying, obfuscation, or otherwise misstating the facts; GIBBERISH. 2. any of a collection of utterances from America's putative 43rd president. cf. BULLSHIT
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Post #152,908
4/28/04 2:13:46 PM
4/28/04 2:15:27 PM
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After reading that response I am forced to say...
..."and this differs from Standard Business Practice how?"
OK, OK. Being serious. Most areas of business are not all about managing lock-in effects. This focus is an unusual aspect of IT.
Cheers,
Ben
To deny the indirect purchaser, who in this case is the ultimate purchaser, the right to seek relief from unlawful conduct, would essentially remove the word consumer from the Consumer Protection Act
- [link|http://www.techworld.com/opsys/news/index.cfm?NewsID=1246&Page=1&pagePos=20|Nebraska Supreme Court]
Edited by ben_tilly
April 28, 2004, 02:15:27 PM EDT
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Post #152,930
4/28/04 4:29:28 PM
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Not just IT.
I can't think of any equipment manufacturer from Caterpillar on down that doesn't try to get lock-in for parts, services and even upgrades.
The medical testing equipment at labs I deal with - I always wondered how these rickety outfits could afford that fancy equipment, so I talked to a lady from Bechman.
She said the machine we were setting up listed at a quarter of a million, but the lab didn't actually pay for it. What they did was sign a contract that they have to buy all the reagents, supplies and services from Bechman. The way out of their previous contract was to upgrade to the latest model. Now that's lock-in in spades.
One of the clients who complains about my high charges accidentally left a Bechman service invoice exposed. A low level Bechman tech charges $250/hr including travel time.
You didn't think Microsoft actually "innovated" lock-in did you?
[link|http://www.aaxnet.com|AAx]
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Post #152,936
4/28/04 4:48:06 PM
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No, not JUST IT
But the ease of achieving lock-in is much higher with IT than in many other areas of business.
For instance a restaurant-goer isn't locked into any particular restaurant. Ford is not generally locked in to any particular parts supplier.
That other areas of business want to achieve lock-in is natural. When Coke is in a position to nail a restaurant that sold Pepsi as Coke, they force them to only sell soft-drinks from Coca-Cola. Nice profit opportunity there. Your airline is trying to do the same with a frequent-flyer program.
And when you get to other technology businesses, the same dynamics that drive it in IT are at work.
However software is special. Software lock-in tends to be harder to avoid, and other business factors (such as significant per unit manufacturing costs) are missing, making management of lock-in a more significant dynamic than otherwise.
As for your snide comment about Microsoft, I'd hope you would give me more credit than that. Or did you think that I didn't know that Microsoft learned directly from IBM?
Cheers,
Ben
To deny the indirect purchaser, who in this case is the ultimate purchaser, the right to seek relief from unlawful conduct, would essentially remove the word consumer from the Consumer Protection Act
- [link|http://www.techworld.com/opsys/news/index.cfm?NewsID=1246&Page=1&pagePos=20|Nebraska Supreme Court]
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