Hello Jac, I've kept your mail in my inbox. I too feel that the MIPro development has strayed too far for too long, and that the time may have come to redicover the roots. But I needed to think about the subject for a while first.
I don't think MapInfo will ever consider launching a "retro" version, just as they wouldn't dream of reviving the DOS version. They're stuck with the current version for better or worse, and can only go forward. My guess is that they would much rather have us purchase MapX and code ourselves silly than get into responsibilities of more products. They have too many already as it is ! Another issue is that we might want the "basic" functionality of say 4.5. But MrSID and ECW support is nice to have too, and hotlinks are cool, and better printer control making life easier, and ... The problem is where to draw the line. Drawing the line somewhere would probably either end up giving us more-or-less version 6.5/7.0 or angering half the MI user community. Which is a lose-lose scenario from MI Corp. point of view, and so a "no-go". Yet another issue is desktop vs. web. Although all marketing cannons are booming web-web-web, it's a proven fact that the bulk GIS usage is still desktop based. But development resources are unfortunately determined by marketing strategies, not real user needs. So although the request for a more basic desktop based GIS tool (i.e. MapInfo Retro) is very valid and reasonable, it doesn't ring well with the marketing folks. And they ultimately decide what you get. So one needs to think hard about whether one really wants a "MapInfo Retro", or something completely different. Maybe the Open Source community will be able to deliver what you want ? The building blocks seem to be present in any case, TAB/MIF support, graphs, layouts etc. etc. Although Open Source GIS is primarily focused on web, there are a number of initiatives on desktop GIS already. I haven't tried them, so I really can't say whether they're adequate or not. Maybe someone else on the list can ? The only thing that's missing is MapBasic support. But if anyone's game, I'd be happy to participate in building an Open Source MapInfo+MapBasic compiler/linker/runtime environment. Eh, better call that Mbasic for MPro to avoid any copyright issues :-) Best regards/Med venlig hilsen Lars V. Nielsen GisPro, Denmark http://www.gispro.dk/ http://hjem.get2net.dk/lars-online/ WGS84: 10.20'40"E 55.20'20"N ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jacques Paris" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "MIL" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2002 5:05 PM Subject: MI-L MI DT : a "retro" version > I am in very special position that makes me think about the future of MI and > not liking what I hear. Essentially going into avenues that do not fit at > all with my needs, and into prices that are way above the usefulness of the > updates. But as I said, I am in that special position. > > To meet my needs, I would like to have a simple MapInfo DeskTop version, one > that would remain a good MapBasic platform, and that would be focussed on > what MI was doing so well, DeskTop Mapping. I see that as a return to the > functionalities of a previous version with all the improvements to the > MapBasic language that are relevant to desktop mapping. > > That "retro" version would be more or less "stabilized" but for the > necessary improvements to MB (there are still some in the wish lists that > could be addressed). It would be of great interest to universities and > students, and to many that have to prepare maps and applications and are not > concerned initially with data diffusion systems. The older versions were > really solid, simple and effective, they had an edge over the competition, > and I am sure MI DT would be a sure seller. > > I would love to hear about you, but before you answer, look around you to > see how MI is used and if I am that wrong in thinking along this line. > > > Jacques Paris > e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] > MapBasic-MapInfo support http://www.paris-pc-gis.com > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- List hosting provided by Directions Magazine | www.directionsmag.com | To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message number: 4668
