Local comments on the ruling yesterday (Mosier)

[John Mosier]

At 04:46 PM 4/4/00 , you wrote:
>I don't see how MS had anything to do with Ventura Publisher's difficulties,
>since MS STILL doesn't have a competing product in that market (High-end
>document publishing software). Ventura's difficulties can be squarely placed
>on mishandling by it's owners. (I was a Ventura user once)

I beg to differ with you BIG Time on this issue.  Ventura's conversion
of their GEM software to Windows was a DISASTER.  I think this was
with Ventura Version 4.  This version had both a GEM version and
a Windows Version.  The Windows version flat did not work.  One
of the main reasons it did not work was because the APIs were
buggy and incomplete.  The lack of public and industry knowledge
regarding the APIs was, in my view,the main wrongdoing on
M$ part.

Putting the APIs into the Open Source Domain, would
be the cornerstone of a good way to deal with the M$ wrongdoing.
This would allow Linux and other Open Source products to support
and integrate applications that run on Windows to allow them to
run on Linux, or wherever we choose to take them.  This is REAL
free enterprise at work and will result in better value for consumers.

The trouble between
Microsoft goes back to the days when it competed head to head
with Digital Research.  Digital Research was around before Windows 1.0.
I think they even had some confilct with Microsoft when Microsoft
way vying for IBM business in the original DOS development in
1981.

The founder of Ventura Publisher was John Meyer, one of the
main techies at Digital Research.  John Meyer wanted his WYSIWYG
product, which was the FIRST of its kind to be developed at
Digital Research.  They did not have the resources to develop the
product.  Xerox took it on and John Meyer left Digital Research.

Digital Research developed DR DOS (This is Digital Research DOS,
not Dr. (Doctor DOS).  Of course many of you know that Caldera
got funding and support from Ray Norda, founder of Novell, much of
which was used to buy Digital Research and the right to sue
M$ for the wrongs it inflicted on DR.  I understand that something
in the order of $350 million was paid to Caldera in settlement of
this action a couple of months ago. I do not know what Caldera
had in mind, but they may have bought DR with the idea
of bringing the suit.


>Michael J. Sheldon
>Internet Applications Developer
>Phone: 480.699.1084
>http://www.desertraven.com/
>PGP Key Available on Request
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: plug-discuss-admin@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us
>[mailto:plug-discuss-admin@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us]On Behalf Of Jim W
>Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2000 16:30
>To: PLUG-Discuss
>Subject: Local comments on the ruling yesterday
>
>
>  From todays Republic...
>
>By Jonathan Sidener
>The Arizona Republic
>April 4, 2000
>
>Employees at Enhanced Software Technologies cheered the decision by U.S.
>District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson that Microsoft violated the Sherman
>Antitrust Act.
>
>The Phoenix company sees the decision as another shot in the arm for the
>Linux operating system that it supports.
>
><snip>
>
>Enhanced Software Technologies Vice President Tim Jones said the ruling was
>partially symbolic. While the company's employees cheered Monday's news, the
>real breakthroughs of the case already may have happened, Jones said.
>
>"We've seen a real loosening of Microsoft's stranglehold on the industry
>simply from the filing of the suit," he said.
>
>"There's been more willingness of manufacturers to offer other operating
>systems. Major manufacturers such as IBM and Dell are willing to offer
>competing systems such as Linux or Free BSD much more readily today."
>
><snip>
>
>John Mosier, owner of Phoenix-based Excelco, describes himself as a "Bill
>Gates hater," but he, too, hopes for a cautious remedy.
>
>Mosier said his Laser Works company went out of business seven years ago
>when Microsoft put Digital Research and Ventura Publisher on the ropes.
>Laser Works designed software to work with products from the two other
>companies.

This last sentence is a mis-quote.  LaserWorks was established
as a VAR to serve the PC-based typesetting, printing and publishing
businesses in Arizona.  Our "vertical" market went completely
horizontal as Microsoft products became popular and every
computer store became proficient at Windows consulting. We
also sold LaserMaster high performance typesetting laser
printers.  LaserMaster had a major hand in our demise, as well.

>"I'm in favor of anything they can do to get Microsoft to quit taking unfair
>advantage," he said. "But I'm not in favor of government intervention. If
>they do it the wrong way, they can hurt a lot of people."
>
><snip>
>
>Copyright 2000, Arizona Central
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Plug-discuss mailing list  -  Plug-discuss@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us
>http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Plug-discuss mailing list  -  Plug-discuss@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us
>http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss

John Mosier,  Excelco      Fax:  (602) 992-2026  Voice: (602) 992-8076
http://www.swinfo.com                                   http://www.excelco.com
2990 E Northern Ave, Ste A-101, Phoenix, AZ  85028    (800) 553-6911