DEBATE Microsoft vs' CUCUG

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DEBATEMicrosoft vs. CUCUG

• Barnes Hall
• Cornell University
• December 2001

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So Many Choices
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As Long as You Play by the Rules!
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Opening Statement CUCUG

• Mike Webb
• B.S. Communication, Cornell U. 1997
• Founder, Editor, The Amiga Monitor
• Representing CUCUG

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Opening Statement Contd.

• Other computer platforms
• Growth of Wintel
• Negative effects of Wintel monopoly

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Other PlatformsApple Macintosh

• Introduced in 1984
• Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• Strengths Printing, Desktop Publishing
• (History of Computing)

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Other PlatformsCommodore Amiga

• Introduced in 1985
• GUI, multitasking, 32-bit, OO, MM, etc.!
• Strengths Graphics, Desktop Video
• (History of Computing)

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Intel Outside?

• Mac/Amiga use Motorola processors
• 68000 series in Amigas and early Macs
• PowerPC in PowerMacs
• Comparable to Intel
• Problems with Intel architecture

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640K ought to be enough for anybody.

• - B. Gates, 1981
• (History of Computing Project)

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Growth of Wintel

• IBM created the Personal Computer
• IBMs extensive legacy/history
• 1981 introduced IBM PC
• Intel provided processor Microsoft provided
  operating system
• IBM faltered Microsoft/Intel succeeded

(Microcomputer History)
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May the Best Technology Win?

• Not Necessarily!
• Famous example Sony Betamax vs. VHS (History of
  Computing Project)
• IOMega Zip vs. SyQuest EZ-Drive (Zip vs. EZ)

VHS
Beta
Zip
EZ
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Drastic Measures

• Anti-competition clauses lock computer
  manufacturers into using Microsoft products
• Internet Explorer bundled with Windows, Netscape
  suffers
• Market Share IE gt90, Netscape lt10 (BrowserWatch)

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Effects of Wintel Monopoly

• Lack of competition hinders progress
• Lack of competitors discourages new competitors
• Power to the few
• Superior technology ignored or forgotten

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Mike Webb webb_at_cucug.org 607-272-7413