Re: Microsoft Systems Journal

[Mitch Stone <mstone@vc.net>]

In reply to Steve Cohen's message sent 3/31/98 5:51 AM:

>I'm reasonably certain that I'm maybe one of two if not the only habitue
>of this space to actually lower myself to READING MSJ, but I have to
>tell you, it can be a goldmine of information with which to battle the
>behemoth.  Haven't these folks heard of the Fifth Amendment?  They don't
>have to incriminate themselves, but they do, in the court of programming
>atrocities.

I for one appreciate your delving into this thicket, and interpreting the 
implications for the benefit of the less technically sophisticated among 
us. Obviously, Microsoft has shown again and again an astonishing 
ineptitude in their foundation business, writing computer code. Even some 
of the less technically sophisticated among us recognize that.

But allow me to pose the tough question: who cares? Who really cares?

Software developers are willing to put up with it, and so are the 
majority of consumers. Microsoft can afford to incriminate themselves, 
because few in the professional developer community or the general public 
really care whether their technology is useful and well crafted, or 
dysfunctional and badly constructed. For the time being, I'm sorry to 
say, Microsoft is "giving 'em what they want," and not a farthing more.

   Mitch Stone
   Editor, Boycott Microsoft
   http://www.vcnet.com/bms 
 +---
   We're the leaders, wait for us! --- Microsoft motto