Optron #02 24 октября 1997

PC

Apple + Microsoft =? - The expansion of IBM on any other platform.

          Apple + Microsoft =?



  Reprints of interesting articles sin
any publication, and usually it means they are not
spoils. Furthermore, in our case it is not
just technical work, but also a painstaking translation, and a 
comment written by us (see below). Especially in the expansion 
iBM all others (including the Speccy) platform, the subject not 
without interest, and even very relevant. So, before you an 
article published English language newspaper Finencial Times on 
August 8, 1997. Read! 

(C) Louise Kehoe, Finencial Times, 1997
(C) Gendalf / Paul Vysotsky, translated from

    English comment

 MICROSOFT DEAL LIFTS APPLE STILL HIGHER


  Shares of Apple Computers prodolazhali rise in price 
yesterday, which is one the results of the acclaimed alliance 
with Apple by Microsoft, the leader in creating

software.

  Agreement under which Microsoft has a minority of shares in 
Apple for $ 150 million, and has made expanding the use of 
their products on their computers Apple, put an end to the long 
blatant dispute between the companies.


  Microsoft has also pledged to develop software
which could be applied to future
PC to Apple, but yesterday
this obligation presented itself to a narrower,
than expected by observers.

  In particular, combination products
Microsoft c Apple Macintosh does not apply
Rhapsody, the operating system PC.
Microsoft agreed to continue razrobotku and install the 
software on Apple Macintosh PC in Over the next five years. 
However, Microsoft has not agreed to develop software for

Rhapsody, which relied on Apple's
its future development as well as still
not well defined, in order
to include it in the agreement, said
company Microsoft.

  Details of explicit disagreements between the two
companies remains unclear. Arple accused Microsoft in a 
long-lasting damage their copyright. Discussions on this issue 
had not been maintained almost near year. Microsoft declined to 
comment on precisely that question, but Greg Muffy (Greg 
Maffei), the chief financial manager, said that such 
differences exist between computer companies always.


  Microsoft agreed to pay a certain amount of Apple over the 
next 2 or 3 years to address and resolve these

differences. Fred Anderson (Fred Anderson),
executive director and chief financial manager of Apple, said 
that his company is not pursuing material interests. Arple and 
Microsoft also agreed to exchange of patents.


  Microsoft, which currently spends $ 2 billion annually on 
research and development, must get new patents is much faster 
than Apple. 

  Microsoft has already achieved concrete results of their 
investments in Apple, for account fluctuations of the average 
price for Apple shares for 20 days before the agreement.


  Yesterday, the shares were sold at a price Arple
$ 29, or 11% more than Wednesday night.


  Gendalf: Yes ... $ 2 billion is
a lot. And where did they take so much? Is
Windows'95 sold? But if more serious, then this is interesting 
(even cryptically) and scary at the same time. And 
predstavlyaesh imagine two monstrous tentacles Microsoft,

are attracted to the mother, dear and cheap Speccy, strive to 
break it up parts, rip out his heart, a brilliant company Zilog 
processor and give non-existence ... But is the word.


  Let me explain what is the tragedy
situation. Once upon a time, when iBM PC already
existed, but could only be used
as a medium-sized calculator, the whole
World famous for their simple, but extremely
comfortable family Arple computers. For
They had created an operating envelope,
also very comfortable, too well known. In general, in many 
respects (if not all) Arple became the first (although the 
cheapest remained our computer). And it would be everything is 
good, if not for Bill Gates. He and his firm (and this is how 
you understand again about Microsoft) is already time to do a 
lot of bad (well, to take at least MS-DOS, the legendary and 
somewhat (?) Buggy operating system - is to begin

its rabotenka any iBM PC). Tak here. Then
Does Bill Gates became envious look at
Arple Computers, whether he wanted to elevate his iBM PC, but 
Microsoft has begun to conduct some sort of suspicious 
activity, be downright pathological activity - and all for the 
creation of its operating envelope. Its them doing it, of 
course, laziness, and they asked Arple sell already gotovenkuyu 
to patch up a bit, adapt, and stamp the new and new version 
(not for my pleasure, of course, but purely from the mercantile 
considerations). Well, Apple is also not fool-otkozalis. And 
this was one reason long-term dispute between the platforms, of 
which you have already read. 

  But, unfortunately, all this does not end there. Borrowing, 
as it were, a couple ideas from the shell Arple (for example, 
the same window system, which then was a real discovery), steep 
programmers from Microsoft set to work. The result probably 
seen all (still can not forget their experiences, work in 
Windows truly unforgettable - I even dreamed about it). 
Appeared more and more new version, one better than the other, 
competing is the number required for a tolerable

megabytes of RAM, tens of millions of cycles in speed and size,
occupied on the disk. It is the latter
Porojan always admired its scale
users iBM. This is not a
Norton Commander, which is even megabyte
does not take! But let us leave this misplaced enthusiasm for 
the fans and Windows'95 galaxy no less remarkable program.


  Then there was a long struggle, not only between
platforms, and between the approaches, principles, ideas and 
thoughts in different ways. For some reason, more and more 
people are tempted by unnecessary, some rough advancement iBM 
PC, a creative principle already almost no one drew. In the end

iBM PC won. Won not original
decisions are not simple and brilliant ideas, and simple power. 
And now, every problem is solved not mind, but extra megahertz 
and megabytes. Helped it narrow-minded gamers and for which iBM 
became the second home after Dandy. Esche would! Excellent 
graphics, good sound, lots of stolen games for every taste 
(from the editor: in truth, all this is not just a PC, but have 
such platforms as the Amiga, but that's another conversation). 
But, in my opinion, to buy such an expensive PC just to play 
konschunstvenno. In any case, iBM left office machine, it is 
inherent even in the its name iBM - International BUSINESS

Machines. Not "gamers", not "advanced
video ", namely" business ". And yet: this
machine simply corrupts its user, since, firstly, kills any
thirst for creativity, and secondly, claiming
the possibility to solve any of his problems
makes it to the whole and lazy. Especially
This applies to persons adolescent
vozvrasta from the former Soviet Union who receive "a miracle" 
as a gift. How nepedagogichno! 

  But back to history. Arple gradually
waned, but ostovalas hope that,
As is known, the last to die (die if at all). And after reading 
this article, I was gone and she (in the sense of hope). If all 
goes as planned agreement, Apple will soon simply be

iBM-compatible PC.

  It is clear that there konkrtnye reasons for the decision 
Arple, net sales decreased. But

is now a natural growth stocks (due to increased demand for 
them, one Microsoft what they bought) should improve their 
business. But would benefit iBM PC.


  Next in line was great and cheap SPECTRUM.
Seem to have had more fans, but also
they all strive to move on iBM, would
opportunity. Unpleasant soznovat that
Most Speccy only surovoya need, the only option, and
no free choice. But better about it
think.

  You can still remember the Amiga, and what will happen
it? Would not iBM only computer? The results of the complete 
monopoly of Companies like Microsoft, even to

scary. Best platform go into oblivion, the best people-to iBM, 
that is the same nothingness. Once all the ugly ... And what 
does all will it end?



  By the way, try to translate the name
Arple. Turned out beautifully, even poetically -
apple. And Microsoft? Better not try.
something like a "small software." Aptly named!

  I wonder what would happen to the PCs, if
Microsoft has not been created? Perhaps to the dismay of
Bill Gates, Spectrum would be the best and powerful machine. 
About it is already written a great story that curious

can find (or already found) in 23 rooms
Spectrofon'a. Its worth reading!

  The discussion is continued with this theme will
discussed in the next room, if
I was not seduced by iBM PC. ;)


  If the style of the latter text appeared
you somewhat confused, do not be surprised. I just filled with 
resentment and indignation. In addition most of the text I 
wrote during the night, yawning, and occasionally forgetting 
sleep. Only that I have successfully kept in their already 
unsteady hands of native keyboard - mean anyway, and it's time 
to call it a day. 

  I hope that the editor I did not slash,
and all my thoughts would reach you. Then you
know almost everything that should know about this monster - 
iBM (Editor's note: monster rather be called Microsoft; firm

IBM has long been engaged in personalkami).
But it is unlikely. Likely in the text that
you finish, there will be a few paragraphs from the original, 
most important, interesting and politically unreliable. But who 
knows, maybe in the next room you will see and them - unless, 
of course I will be able to convince (Or drink beer) editor?

We'll see.


  Rasp: Paul, I'm sorry, but half the
Article I "killed".: (

  Probably supporters of IBM PC already and nose
hanged: "Well, another cursed us ..." Dear, if your eyes 
obrasheny toward the "blue giant", but you do not like the 
position occupied by the majority Spectrum of newspapers and 
magazines, with respect to the PC, then you can try defend and 
justify their views on pages Optron. Write to us than you

attracted platform PC, what you do not like all the others, and 
we will try you persuade.



             P.S. by rasp


  Most recently I have been heard interesting news: because of 
that, together with Windows 95 comes free Internet

Explorer, by Microsoft is becoming a monopoly and antitrust
U.S. law does not permit, and
nekotrye smaller firms are trying to achieve
court decision on the payment by Microsoft
a fine of $ 1.000.000 (one million)
for each day of sales of Windows 95 with
Internet Explorer'om!