NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/comp/os/os2/advocacy/11503

Internet Message Format | 1993-01-03 | 5.9 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!batcomputer!cornell!uw-beaver!news.u.washington.edu!hardy.u.washington.edu!robs
From: [e-mail] (Robert Suh)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.advocacy
Subject: Re: NT Destined to Succeed??
Date: 3 Jan 1993 23:35:57 GMT
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
Lines: 114
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
References: <[e-mail]>
NNTP-Posting-Host: hardy.u.washington.edu

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Ian Upright) writes:
>
>Why do I now think that OS/2 will definitely dominate the desktops in the
>future, and why NT won't be the *most* popular platform on PC's in general?
>
>At times I didn't, and with all of NT's supposed capability, and Microsoft's
>marketing, I thought it could actually be a success.. NOT!
>
>Here's why:
>
>Why do so called UNIX OS's (in our terms) fail?  Because lack of a user
>base..  And because the user base is so low, the prices must be higher.
>Windows NT will not be affordable by most people.. (especially due to
>hardware requirements as well, but the software price is a big difference
>too..  Businesses today aren't willing to invest big bucks into software
>anymore.  They now know things are changing, and getting better.. Why
>spend a grand on software, when in 3 years something better and cheaper
>comes out... We see the market taking aim to $99 software packages now..
>Software *is* getting cheaper.. )
>

Well, Windows/NT does not 'lack a user base', as you put it.  Windows NT will
run almost every Windows 3.1 app out there.  Windows as been accepted into
the desktop a lot better than UNIX ever will.  Another point, WindowsNT isn't
targeted towared 'averge desktop users', Bill Gates has even said that they are
targeting LAN Servers, Workstation users, and anyone else who needs some of the
specs that NT offers.

>Windows NT will not be compatable, and will even have worse compatabilities
>than OS/2, thus driving the NT user base down even more..

Well, NT trade's in decreaces compatibility of DOS programs, for increase
system integrity.  Nothing wrong with that.  If you'd like to use all your
wonderful DOS programs, use OS/2.  It does a good job at it, NT is using a
different approach.

>
>There is a lot of OS/2 advocacy out there..  If someone turned all those
>OS/2 advocacy quotes into bumper stickers, I'm sure they'd sell pretty
>fast..  Thus driving the NT user base down even more..

Make NT bumper stickers, and I can tell which Porches(sp?) are owned by
Microsoft employees. :)

>snapshots of OS/2 screens of course..  Thats the OS that all the developers
>are seeking to develop for..  Thus driving the *software* base of NT down
>even more, thus driving the NT user base down even more..

Hmm, wonder why Wordperfect, Lotus, Corel, and numerous other 'big players'
have already publicly stated their support for WindowsNT?  In fact, I
wouldn't be surprised to see WordPerfect for NT, Lotus 1-2-3 for NT, and
CorelDRAW for NT, all released shortly after NT's debut.  Something I can't
say about OS/2.

>OS/2 has a 4 million user base, and there aren't really many native apps
>yet!   4 million people are looking into the future, sitting waiting for
>the native apps!  Once native apps hit the market, and driver support gets
>better, watch that number double or tripple very fast..  Windows user base
>isn't really going down, it's changing to OS/2..  Especially seeing as
>the hardware requirements are close to the same..  Except for hard drive
>space... Oh, and haven't you heard?  40 meg hard drives are selling like
>hot-cakes!  ;-)   People are just itching to put Dos, Win 3.1, and
>one Microsoft app on thier hard drive..

For something (Windows) that is 'selling' at nearly a million a month.  You
don't seem to acknowledge that Windows is here to stay.  For better or for
worse, you'll have about as much luck in up-rooting all Windows users, as
you do for DOS users.  BTW, I would change that '4 million user base' figure
of yours to possibly '2 million'.

>The hard and the truth of it is:  With all these people *NOT* using NT,
>the software prices are going to be very high... Thus driving the user
>base even lower, thus driving the prices higher..  You get the picture?

Hmm, WindowsNT users has the benefit of running almost all Windows 3.1
applications.  SO if they can't afford the near-term NT products, they
can plug in Windows3.1 software.  But, since Win32s is coming, ISV's can
program their hearts out in 32-bitness and hit both NT and Win3.1e, in a
single swoop.

>
>*PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO BE USING NT FOR A DESKTOP PLATFORM IN THE FUTURE*
>
>Server platform maybe..  Shitty ugly looking high-end workstation *MAYBE*..
>Where's it headed?  Where is it's TARGET MARKET?  I don't even think
>Microsoft knows..  Personally, I think NeXTstep's got a better chance..

You already stated MS's target market.  High-end workstations, LAN servers,
High-end PC computers.  And when the market is ready for it, normal to low
end computers.  Funny thing, this PC marketplace.

>
>Where's OS/2 headed???  On all our desktops..  :)  Thank goodness.. relief
>from Microsoft at last..  Just think!!!   Imagine a popular OS without
>any Microsoft APPS!!!  Doesn't that sound nice??  I wonder if Microsoft
>will be bankrupt by the end of the 90's?  I wonder if Microsoft has started
>developing OS/2 apps like the said they would..  Hopefully not..  :)
>

OS/2 isn't headed toward my desktop. :)  Actually, it was on my desktop, now
it's on my shelf. :)

What an OS without Word2.0, or Excel4.0? I'd rather stick to Windows.

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Sorry for quoting the whole message, but there were a lot of points to be
disputed. :)  Happy Windows/OS/2 hunting!