(Please delete this long-winded diatribe if you are not into spirited
debate)
My two dollars
As an old-time MapInfo Pro desktop application user, I understand some of
the frustration with MapInfo spending more and more energy on their MapX
line, seemingly to the detriment MI Pro users. But I must admit I've heard
many of these same complaints before- when MapInfo decided to move
development efforts away from their bread and butter DOS product and devote
more resources to developing on "that silly Windows platform". In order for
MapInfo to thrive, it must be ahead of the curve when it comes to new
technologies and platforms. The reason MapInfo is as strong as it is today
is because 10 years ago they "bet the farm" on the idea that computing would
be ruled by graphical user interfaces. Their main competitor at the time
(ArcView didn't come out until a few years later) was Strategic Mapping
(Atlas GIS), who didn't embrace the new GUI paradigm until it was too
late...and we all know what happened to them. In addition, it could be
argued that the only reason MapInfo made a dent in ESRI's market share at
all was that MI was the only GUI mapping application in existence for
several years. The Internet and rapidly expanding broadband access
represent another major paradigm shift that is changing the way people use
computers, similar to how Windows (and of course the Mac) opened up the
power of computing to a whole new class of non-technical users 10 years ago.
In order for any software to be successful over the long term, it must be in
the business of predicting how people will interact with computers several
years into the future. It seems the MapX product line represents MapInfo's
response to what it believes is the next generation of information
technology.
While obviously the move towards internet-based mapping now and the move to
the Windows platform 10 years ago are not strictly analogous, I believe the
concepts still apply. MapInfo must devote much of it's time into making
sure it is in position for the next wave of "distributed" applications.
This means more developers working on MapX/MapXtreme type technology,
leaving less developers for the maturing MapInfo Professional technology.
(And in a micro sense, within MapInfo Pro itself more attention will be
given to newer technologies, such as 3D mapping, internet connectivity,
etc., and less towards tweaking the interface) Now I don't think anyone
believes MapInfo Pro is being abandoned anytime in the near future, but if
you look ahead 5 years from now most experts envision that many if not most
computer applications will be internet/service based. Imagine if you will a
MapInfo Pro level "service" that you sign up for and use over the Internet
through your browser, without installing or downloading anything on to your
local hard drive except your own data.
In regards to pricing of MI Pro and its upgrades, that is a business
decision that can be argued over until every one is blue in the face. The
more money MapInfo brings in, the more developers and support people (i.e.
MapWorld magazine editors) can be hired, which is better for all of
MapInfo's product line. However the higher the prices, the more certain
users will be "priced out" of buying MI products and upgrades; Which leaves
a market niche open for lower priced alternatives (such as Manifold,
Maptitude, etc.) to enter the picture. Each individual user has to decide
for his/herself whether the extra money needed to purchase a MapInfo product
or upgrade is worth it given the alternatives. But one must keep in mind
that just as successful software companies must keep an eye toward the
future, we users must be sure that the technology we invest in today will
still be relevant down the road. (Anyone thinking of buying a copy of Atlas
GIS? It only costs $295...) In theory it is possible that a company like
Caliper is so efficient that it can make money building and maintaining a
MapInfo Pro quality desktop product for a sub $500 price tag while still
getting itself ready for the next generation of information technology. If
it can achieve this feat consistently and over the long term then the
marketplace will reward it, and we might all be chatting on Maptitude-L in
five years. However until this business model is proven, I believe the bulk
of desktop mapping users will "dance with the one who brung 'em."
Feel free to argue,
Chris
Chris DuBuc
Sage Software
VP Florida Operations
Authorized MapInfo Reseller
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
- Original Message -
From: Dick Hoskins [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Bill Thoen [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Friday, May 05, 2000 3:06 PM
Subject: Re: Anyone used MI 6.0 yet?
I might augment your predictions a little: I suspect that the average MI
user is getting tired of cosmetic upgrades that cost $500. Much less,
many
of us are not real nuts about MapExtreme, the big price tag and the
profound
lack of ease in
