RE: Ballmer on software design....

[Jim Damato <jdamato@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Leif Svalgaard:
>The way to more domination is to pull things into the OS.
>This is called "integration".

I do think that "integration" is a contributing factor to the decline of the
AS/400, and it could lead to the decline of Microsoft.  The AS/400 was
unable to keep pace with some industry demands (and buzzwords) of the 90's
because IBM focused on integrated proprietary solutions first and open
solutions when it was too late.  Their "Application Systems" claim to fame
slid as vendors and developers looked elsewhere for open database, open
connectivity, and client server solutions for better or worse.  For example,
TCP/IP based printing from the AS/400 was barely possible even six years
ago.

Microsoft's integration of their browser, ActiveX, and manipulation of Java
compliance, Exchange, Office, as well as standards such as Active Directory
over LDAP will have as much influence on moves to Linux and Unix as do
Microsoft's security and virus issues or their new creative licensing.

Do I need to wrap a big "IMHO" around this?

-Jim

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