I'm in agreement with you on the exciting times... I had an Atari ST and the GEM OS was on it which was fantastic.. We just couldnt get any software, much like the Amiga.. Now When I need a programming language, I know it is
available for my machine. Same with other Apps and Games...


>Competition will is the only thing which will keep MSFT in line. Example: 1) Netscape 2) Java - the MSFT version is platform specific.
>
>Remember OS/2? Many people laughed at me for using it to run Win 3.1 / Word / FoxPro, but it was an industrial strength OS. Looked like hell, and error messages were terrifying, but it gave one this feeling of imperviousness to gremlins.
>
>And yes, I remember those times. They were exciting. I remember looking at the Amiga when it first came out, doing proper multi-tasking - "WOW", but it didn't have those magic letters IBM.
>
>Sorry, I'm in rant mode, I'll cool down. We should all remember that DB2 is out there, and runs on NT (plus other OS's)
>-Miles
>
>>Does anyone remember what it was like in 1984 or So?? When you walked into your local computer store (It was very Small) and looked at the Timex, Atari, Commdore, Apple, IBM, Coleco, Radio Shack (Im forgetting some)... Remember the software you looked at???? IT WAS ALL DIFFERENT! You wanted a certain spreadsheet, but it was only made for APPLE. You wanted a game, but it was only on C64. I wont even get into the peripherals! My Atari disk Drive was $500 for a 360K 5.25" Floppy!
>>
>>While people constantly complain about MS having a Monopoly, I remember
>>the days when there were too many O/S's for the Software companies
>>to make a quality product. We used to have to write to software companies
>>to get a version of their product for our OS.
>>
>>Sorry... I like the Monopoly... It offers me a simplicity in my
>>life that the old way didn't offer. I especially dont feel bad when
>>I can look back at my Business Week's from the early 80's and
>>see how all these other companies (The Above Mentioned) screwed
>>up their chance at being where MS is today.
>>
>>Just my Opinion of course...
>>
>>
>>>Well there are a lot of companies out there who are looking for an out from the MS monopoly in the OS desktop. Although Unix has been out there it never made it to the desktop because it was just too expensive on any platform. Now Linux, which is practically free (about $39.95) is building a groundswell. The groundswell is mainly coming from the Unix crowd who feel they are left out but also from companies who want to kick MS in the butt.
>>>
>>>All Linux needs is a decent visual desktop and a visual programming language to get developers moving. There are already Office suites including WP.
>>>
>>>I think given a year's time we are going to see Linux as an alternative desktop for certain solutions.
>>>
>>>Costas