Re: Intuit's CEO calls for 'OS neutrality

["Eric M. Bennett" <ericb@pobox.com>]

Brett wrote:

>Actually, according to his testimony, he apparently thinks
>it's more a matter of S-U-R-V-I-V-A-L. Note that Intuit DID
>support other platforms (DOS and Mac, at least), but
>eventually felt (correctly or not) that it couldn't keep
>doing this.

The basis of my gripe here is, as you have recognized, the fact that
companies like Intuit bear a moderate amount of blame for the current
situation.

ISVs helped build the current Microsoft monster.  They put their money into
it.  Microsoft also put a lot of money into it.  Now that the ISVs have
recognized the full extent of what has been built up in Redmond, I think
it's fair to ask them to put some of their money into trying to tear the
mess they helped create.  They can do that most effectively (IMO) by
supporting alternative OSes.

But Intuit has been dropping support, not adding it.  I have no problem
with ISVs asking the government to help clean up the Microsoft mess the
ISVs helped build.  But the ISVs should not ask for government help and
then sit and watch; rather, they need to put considerable resources into
the effort themselves.



--
Eric Bennett (http://www.pobox.com/~ericb/)
Cornell University, Field of Biochemistry, 377 Olin Chemistry Lab

Piano, n.  A parlor utensil for subduing the impenitent visitor.  It is
operated by depressing the keys of the machine and the spirits of the
audience.
-Ambrose Bierce