[REBOL] Re: Microsoft to buy Macromedia?
From: chris:ross-gill at: 26-Dec-2002 17:13
Hi Charles,
> A note on "If MS could do anything like Flash, they would have." Not
> necessarily true. Possibilities:
> 1> They already had a strategic alliance with Macromedia, and didn't want
> to step on their toes.
Hmm, strategic alliance by the convicted monopolists...
> 2> Copyright and patent infringement. Lots of people would let small
> things go, but when someone big, hefty and rich like MS does it, they'll
> look to get every penny they can.
This didn't stop them producing an alternative version of Java. Which
addresses the whole point: MS did try something similar to Flash when they
created said Java VM* -- it highlights their 'innovation' when they clone a
technology with a view to crippling it instead of introducing fresh ideas.
MS don't have a handle on the need for a lightweight approach to the
x-internet, despite a slowly increasing consumer bandwidth.
*similar in that Rebol, Java and Flash are all x-internet, albeit each with
their own approach to implementation.
> (Partially, I feel, because MS is rich, and partially as retribution coz
> MS has done it before.)
Ok, Java *is* the precedent I think you're alluding to. But still, MS have
a history of plundering the ideas/work of others, I don't think they'd stop
at Flash. Unless they really are feeling the weight of lawsuits.
> 3> Because it's MS, lots of people didn't want to use it.
> (I doubt #3; however, there've been depressing number of people who WILL
> avoid a good technology, simply because it has the flying window logo.
> These are people who have no idea about the tech, but are prejudiced
> against MS in general.)
Not sure what you're trying to say here, there are plenty of people (also in
depressing, if not tragic, numbers) who will buy into bad technology just
because it *is* MS (how else can you explain Windows or IE?). But your
perceived snub doesn't explain why their best effort in this area is a duff
version of Java. Though they may also cite Windows as x-internet due to its
near ubiquity...
> It can be tough, though, as Linuxlovers have seen. It needs to offer an
> ease-of-use and compatibility that the megacorp offers. Linux's ease-of-
> use is still lacking, general support by the company is lacking.
> Compatibility with software and hardware is still lacking. I don't want a
> religious war. Yes, you can write your own drivers, you get community
> support, yadda yadda.
I wonder if some of Rebol's problems could be solved by the other piece of
MS news this week in the enforced bundling of 'official' Sun Java with
Windows. Surely having Rebol/View or /Link already installed on a plain
Windows setup would catapult Rebol to the top of mainstream computing. If
Sun can force their way in, why not RT?
- Chris
