| From: | Martin Baute |
| Date: | 14 Sep 2000 at 06:18:00 |
| Subject: | Re: AMIOPEN: Re: |
Hello Claus
On 13-Sep-00, you wrote:
> Hi Martin,
>
> Martin Baute wrote:
>> Yes? How so? The companies with a _motive_ to do so couldn�t care
>> less for if their software is "approved by Amiga" or not...
>
> Well, they can't be forced. But others who provide a VP version will have
> a bigger market. So they can provide a comparable solution for less cash.
That�s simply not true at the present. "Microsoft Word" simply sells better
than "Star Office, approved by Amiga Inc." if for no other reason because
it�s from Microsoft.
> If the companies, which don't care, provide say a Mac and a
> Windows-version of their application, they will need more time and money
> for improvements as everything
> has to be implemented and tested twice.
It would be sufficient to provide _x86_ versions only, which would limit
those applications (and thus Ami) to the market where it would have to
compete vs. Microsoft.
All this from the point of view that companies like "Big Bill" could try
to make Ami a failure by _providing_ software. Nasty, but that�s the
way Microsoft operates.
> And data exchange isn't guaranteed
> between
> their versions of the same programm.
Hell, data exchange isn�t guaranteed between Word for Windows and
Word for MacOS either. Doesn�t stop them selling both, with good profit.
> Having a VP version is cheaper and
> faster to make,
Nonsense, I can compile the same source to VP and x86, same
development time.
> easier for users (they can buy
> any hardware (almost), without worrying that their software stops
> working).
That�s exactly the point - platform independance is the great danger
for Redmond, that�s why they worked so hard to make all that Java
(J++) stuff the pain it is, before proposing C#. Yes, it would be easier
for users, they could buy hardware Windows is not supporting, and
_because_ of this limiting Ami to WIndows-supported hardware could
be a way to:
1. crush competitors who might provide VP binaries in addition to x86;
2. by monopolism, de facto limit Ami to the x86;
3. win by Windows installed user base (or by abruptly stopping support
for the Ami line).
> So I guess, companies, ignoring the possibilities of
> 'write-once-run-anywhere', might
> have some hard times.
M$ lived happily without it for years, and now they offer the same with
their .NET sheme. The fact that .NET is limited to WIndows platforms
will not stop the industry from using it. Ami should take great care not
to be limited to the same hardware as M$ is supporting, they can only
lose there.
>>> Customers would go for software with the boing badge to be sure to
>>> buy future proof software.
>>
>> Customers went for soft- and hardware "designed for Windows 95"
>> just the same. Don�t overestimate Joe Average�s sense for quality.
>
> Quality won't be the main reason. I'd say, being able to buy hardware and
> VP software suiting my needs best is the biggest advantage. There won't be
> something
> like 'legacy VP applications' any time soon :-)
Even if the market shares of installed OS are difficult to judge because
of the distribution options for Linux, fact is that the vast majority (say,
95%?) of desktop systems today are x86. People don�t complain that
Linux, albeit being fully portable theoretically, only supports the x86
hardware 100% (in terms of applications); using Linux on PPC means
you don�t have access to several of the killer apps for Linux, limiting
full-power use of Linux as a desktop system to the x86.
So, the fact that I _could_ run some OS on any hardware might not
be _that_ enticing if the hardware I already _have_ is x86. This shift
towards better hardware will not appear anytime soon, I fear, last but
not least because buying a StrongARM (or whatever) system means
you cannot fall back to Linux or Windows if Amiga has to call it quits
- which is rather likely at this time, you have to admit. (Having no
cash influx at the moment and all.)
So it would be a good idea to ensure the presence of .00 binaries
_now_, so the hardware shift _could_ take place later. Even if
some companies are not evil-minded, they could just be lazy:
"Our app is so big, why ship two sets of binaries if x86 is covering
95% of the market? Gee, we could save the CD space and put on
yet more fonts, clip-arts, ads or whatever instead..."
> When Ami is almost completed
> and those
> mystery partners are officially known, we'll see how big Ami's impact will
> be. Regards,
> Claus
Please note that I am advocatus diabolis in this. I hope that Ami will
make it�s impact, too - but since I�m not able to do serious coding ATM,
I try to provide some thought and / or ideas instead to ensure Ami
doesn�t trip over some pitfall...
Regards
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