[TriLUG] even more interesting

[rpjday]

On Thu, 8 Nov 2001, Matt Jezorek wrote:

> Also, he did help standardize the IT industry to a way.

and while i'm waxing philosophical, heck, i'll take exception to this
statement (but in a kinder and gentler way :-).  

microsoft windows and office are *not* standards.  they may be widespread,
they may be universal, etc.  but they are not standards.

120 volts is a standard.  700c bicycle tires are a standard.  when an
entire industry gets together and agrees to do things in a particular
way, *then* it becomes a standard.

if anything, microsoft has been virulently anti-standards.  they have
explicitly mangled proposed IT standards to make sure they are not
compatible with the way microsoft does things, with the simple goal
of making sure there is no other way of doing things than the MS
way.

while microsoft may have been the driving force in getting PCs onto
people's desks, the downside is that they have been the driving force
is making sure *only* microsoft PCs get onto people's desks.  the end
result is that the entire IT industry has stagnated for years under
microsoft's monopolistic control.

ok, i need a drink.

rday