RE: no Java in XP Windows

["John Taylor" <jtaylor@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Steve,

> The focus of your back and forth implies ( to me ) that java and
> linux open source are not proving to be the vehicle for breaking
> the ms stranglehold.
>
> If so, do you have any explanation why?

Simply put, applications, applications, and applications. With the exception
of TCP servers, and --to a lesser extent-- database servers, none of the
software that we need in our business runs on Linux.

Of course, this is most obvious on the desktop. I know that StarOffice runs
on Linux, but it's not 100% compatible with Word/Excel documents, and it's
not similar enough to Office for the users. That means that we can't easily
exchange documents with our business partners, and our training costs would
be much higher than our competition. Ironically, being better than Office is
not good enough. If a new productivity suite is to make it onto our
desktops, it must first be just like Office, so that the transition is as
painless as possible. And, of course, it has to be practically free,
otherwise there is no incentive to switch.


>
> My explanation:  software by commitee is bound to fail.
>

Not entirely. I think Linux is giving MS a run for their money in the
internet server market.


John Taylor

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