>So, what this says, then, is that when I put "real audio" next to an
>.ra/.pnm file, converted with RA Encoder, tested with RA and designed
>for RA streaming -- and my users expect it to trigger the RA player that
>I intended -- it is a "feature" that MSIE defaults to windows media
>player, which isn't a plug-in, but an OS add-on, and confuses
>expectations?
*tsk*
of *course* it's a feature.. the MS-specific OS add-on is designed to be
completely compatible with the Windows environment (aka: leave the default
setttings alone and nobody gets hurt). third-party software, like Apple's
Quicktime player and the RA player, is inherently flawed because it doesn't
support all the Microsoft defaults in exactly the same way as the
corresponding OS add-on.
Microsoft defines the operating system, therefore they decide what
constitutes good and bad design. designs endorsed by Microsoft are de
facto good, and designs not supported by Microsoft are de facto bad.. a
judgement supported by demonstrations of compatability and stability in the
marketplace under Windows. consumers want software that works, therefore
a product which breaks under Windows is badly designed and not in the best
interests of the consumer.
Microsoft products are the definitive standard for good design in any
supported technology. anyone who wishes to compete is free to do things
exactly the way Microsoft does them, and compete in the standard marketing
and distribution channels.
if an unsupported technology gains popularity in the market, it's simply a
matter of remaining competetive for Microsoft to adopt that technology and
release a definitive product of their own. that product will be
incompatible with the original developer's version for the simple and
necessary reason that the original developer was not using a
Microsoft-sanctioned design. the Microsoft version is superior because
it's designed for complete integration with the Windows operating system,
and is therefore the new de facto standard in that technology.
life would be so much easier if everyone just *accepted* this..
mike stone <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 'net geek..
been there, done that, have network, will travel.
____________________________________________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Join The Web Consultants Association : Register on our web site Now
Web Consultants Web Site : http://just4u.com/webconsultants
If you lose the instructions All subscription/unsubscribing can be done
directly from our website for all our lists.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
