Nuke Redmond!

From: W.B. <hofmanwb_at_worldonline.nl>
Date: Thu Apr 6 13:14:08 2000

Richard,

This must have been said a lot of times, but I say it anyway. I have been
putting computers into factories and when you took a DEC PDP-11 you did not
have to worry so much about next months software. About drivers you would
have to write all over again. About being able to service a 5, 10, 15 year
old or even older application, even in far away countries. Yes, you paid,
but what about the cost of installing a new system every 3 or 4 years
because hardware is no longer supported with the new release or the new
version, or the hardware was phased out after months and spares no longer
exist.
This new hardware is ageing so fast that the Salvation Army is collecting
it by the time you paid for it. It is marvelous for a lot of people, but
keep it out of the factories.

Wim
----------
> From: Richard Erlacher <edick_at_idcomm.com>
> To: classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org
> Subject: !Re: Nuke Redmond!
> Date: Wednesday, April 05, 2000 9:20 PM
>
> I really can't understand what all the hostility toward Microsoft is
about.
> If it weren't for the low prices resulting from the economy of scale,
scale
> which is enabled by the fact that Microsoft made computers simple enough
to
> use that the masses could and would use them.
>
> If you want to dog somebody, the go after DEC, (God be thanked that
they're
> gone!) with their antiquated technology always a generation behind
everyone
> else and with their ridiculous prices.
>
> If DEC had had their way you'd have to use a single flip=flop pair for
which
> they charged you 10^15 bucks per year and which broke twice a month so
some
> under-trained ignoramus could come around and pretend to fix the thing.
> Then, if you had the unmitigated audacity to try to use some other
vendor's
> hardware or software, they'd raise hell and point down the wire if their
> stuff didn't behave as claimed.
>
> The only point I've seen in this thread that makes any sense at all is
the
> one about Visual Basic. If your really want that 6-7 figure income,
you'll
> learn it. I know at least half a dozen fellows who have taken that up.
>
> Forget about the C++ or C or Delphi! These guys took 6 weeks to learn
the
> VB and now most of them have paid off their houses, cards, and credit
cards
> and vacation in Arruba in the winter and Alaska in the summer. at least
> twice. The oldest of the guys I know doing this is 35 and worth over
$10^7
> net. Five years ago, he was begging me for work. How many guys do you
know
> who have net savings of over a year's gross after only five years? That
> certainly indicates VB is not just a joke.
>
> Dick
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <healyzh_at_aracnet.com>
> To: <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2000 9:37 PM
> Subject: Re: Nuke Redmond!
>
>
> > Huw Davies wrote:
> > > I was at the Programming sectin of the local Computer Book store last
> > > week, only to discover that "Programming" == Visual Basic, C on
Windows
> > > and that's about it.
> >
> > Don't you know, being able to write in Visual Basic is what all
computer
> > professionals aspire to! Rumor has it Windows 2000 was written in
Visual
> > Basic.
> >
> > > I wonder what I learnt at Uni should be called? I used to program in
> Algol
> > > (60 and 68), Pascal, BCPL, Simula-67 and BLISS-10... At least one of
> them
> > > is still current!
> >
> > OK, I give up. Which one? I'm not aware of Microsoft having any
Windows
> > software by those names, therefore they don't exist, and never did!
> >
> > Zane
> >
> > PS let me just say for the benefit of anyone new here, I'm joking
folks!
>
Received on Thu Apr 06 2000 - 13:14:08 BST