RE: The future of computing

[Jim Damato <jdamato@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> http://www.ximian.com/tech/mono-index.php3
>
> Still think so?

Yes.

It's not because .NET is a bad idea or because I think no one else would buy
into it.  In theory, it's a neat architecture.  The concepts are sound and
I've already read about other communities either becoming excited to join
in, or joining in because they don't want to be left behind.

At the heart I feel .NET is an attempt by Microsoft to become the
cornerstone of a new age of computing.  If Microsoft has the power to crush
the Mono Project, don't you think they will?  That's why I said it's the
mother of all shills.  They're angling to create an infrastructure that they
own and control, and they're already marketing something that does not yet
exist.

And please don't think this is the typical "evil empire" rant.  I'm just
continually amazed at how Microsoft can inspire the industry to wait months
or years for the next big thing, then deliver it incomplete and late.  Look
at Windows 95.  I can remembering anticipating Microsoft's true Windows
operating system through quarter after quarter of delay, then catching on
that it was really just a half-assed integration of DOS and Windows.  We all
bought it though, then waited again for the promise of NT.  Depending on
your level of commitment to Windows 95, migrating to NT may not have been a
viable option until Win2K.

For me the concern is how much of .NET and HailStorm will be delivered
initially and how much will be sold as the potential for the future?  And as
this catches on will it derail existing, usable technologies as we all
jockey for position around the promise of the next big thing?

The folks at Microsoft are smart.  The web is leading us to an environment
where software products are centralized.  They see a future where they won't
be selling Word or Outlook licenses for every computer.  They're wisely
planning on being the biggest part of this new technology.  I just expect
that they'll sell it before it's ready and spend years selling it to us
again and again.

Of course, that's just my opinion -- I could be wrong...

-Jim

James Damato
Manager - Technical Administration
Dollar General Corporation
<mailto:jdamato@dollargeneral.com>


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