A former co-worker from the mid 80s ended up working on Bill Gates personal staff for a while, told me that considering Bill Gates is one of the world's most famous businessmen, and spectacularly wealthy, he's paranoid about competition. He said that Gates was always conscious of the fact that when Microsoft started in making spreadsheets, Visicalc was the market dominator. When Microsoft started making word processors, Word Perfect pretty well owned the market. When Microsoft started making network software, Novell was totally dominant. In Gates view of the world, one wrong move on Microsoft's part and they could end up like Netscape, Word Perfect, and Novell - almost out of the game. Or Visicalc- vanished entirely.
If you recall it nearly happened. When Windows95 came out, Microsoft had this idea that they could get rid of the internet and have everyone using MSN instead. If they hadn't done such a major turnaround the IT landscape might be totally different today. So .. in that environment, Microsoft are very conscious of any major organisation anywhere challenging whether they should be using Microsoft products. They are acutely aware that the IT world could turn and bite them if they play the wrong cards against Linux or any other competitor. And they are also well aware that the competitor that ends up killing them could easily be a startup today and working out of someone's garage. Just like they were a startup that pushed the gigantic IBM off the pedestal. You shouldn't read anything into what looks like Microsoft in panic mode. That's situation normal for them. They're not going to let $160million worth of software go to Linux or anyone else without a major fight. As they see it, it could easily be the revenue that funds the company that puts them out of business. Cheers Mike Kear Windsor, NSW, Australia AFP Webworks http://afpwebworks.com -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Barry Beattie Sent: Tuesday, 6 July 2004 12:32 PM To: CFAussie Mailing List Subject: [cfaussie] Re: microsoft in panic mode >> It's just Microsoft's typical technique to get their software in sure this is to secure a big contract and they'll still be making $Mega from it but IMHO it's typical of some of the things I've seen. Last year my former employer (a training org) received a $multi-thousand bribe from MS because we had ONE linux box running as a mailserver. Have others had this too? Here in Australia the likes of Telstra and the Tax Office questioning their decisions to follow MS's strategy. Some continue, some change. >> where CF might fit in all of this? I can see this linux/MS battle going one of two ways for CF. Part of it involves MS leveraging ASP.NET (v2.0 soon) another part with the acceptance of Java over .NET () but it may come down to 1) CF "slips thru the cracks" and will benefit from the fact it can run on both platforms happily (is MM *really* pushing this fact for what's it's worth?) and is nicely integrated with Java OR 2) CF gets trampled by the crush of the two adversaries (keep in mind all the hype that will happen with ASP.NET 2.0) with everyone else aligning themselves to one or the other. that's why I'm curious. I know others also don't have a crystal ball but MS do *seem* to be in a panic over this. just 2c worth barry.b --- You are currently subscribed to cfaussie as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Aussie Macromedia Developers: http://lists.daemon.com.au/
