Hi Bob,

I think I can bring you a few clues.

I started writing programs using assembler, or peeks and pokes under proprietary CBM 64 Basic (or ZX Spectrum), thinking at each written line, that my program won't work any more if Motorola decide to modify only a register, or an instruction.
../..
Then (a few years later) I came to PC, and then to windows. I discovered at school Borland Turbo C language (said is a STANDARD, I discovered that it's a huge lie if you don't write ANSI C, which is poor). And my dreams disappeared really when I started using API.
Today I don't even think using the respectable old Assembler (became to complex for me), but the APIs... Isn't it the most proprietary tool ? With them, you don't any more see your machine. You just approach a library. And 90 % of software is written like this, tied up to the bermudas' triangle, Intel (or its compatible challengers)-Microsoft-Peripheral constructors (who are more less ten, including Japs Companies).

Exit PostScript, real OOP (like Eiffel or SmallTalk, Lisp), Out : RISC, TransPuters, SuperScalar architecture, and others, more confidential.
I believed in the creative tremendous strength of US Universities, but I'm hungry. They didn't create good alternative systems for years (or I'm not up to date). And they're "sponsored" by Microsoft...

Regarding DOJ decision, I think things have gone too far. Microsoft is vital, necessary to computer industry, all over the world. Its dismanting would be an error. We had a long discussion at the office, and I still think we should conserve Microsoft just as it is, with only a surveying official (honest ?) external service. Computer world just need a police.

I've got a bitter taste in the mouth : I don't understand why the US State left Microsoft grow for 15 years, without doing anything (or I'm not up to date). Microsoft isn't, though, the biggest software company. With all of its divisions, IBM is bigger, but much more discrete...

Bye
J-Marc