Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!ucsd!nosc!logicon.com!trantor.harris-atd.com!trantor!dsampson From: dsampson@x102a.harris-atd.com (sampson david 58163) Newsgroups: comp.windows.ms Subject: Re: Does everybody hate Windows? Message-ID: Date: 29 Aug 90 12:39:21 GMT References: <1990Aug27.204452.9786@tc.fluke.COM> Sender: news@trantor.harris-atd.com Distribution: na Organization: Harris Gov't Aerospace Systems Division Lines: 67 In-reply-to: sota@tc.fluke.COM's message of 27 Aug 90 20:44:52 GMT In article <1990Aug27.204452.9786@tc.fluke.COM> sota@tc.fluke.COM (Bruce White) writes: From reading this newsgroup, one could conclude that there are so many problems associated with installing and running Windows, that everybody hates it. Yet the popular press shows Microsoft selling godzillions of copies. Since so many people are buying it, some of them must like it. What we're seeing is a flash back to 1984-85 when there were dozens of computers making their own copies of the IBM PC. All of the vendors claimed "IBM PC COMPATIBILITY", but only Compaq met the claim (that's why Eagle, Colombia, Corona, etc., are no longer in business). When the Chips & Technologies ROMS came out, "compatibility" wasn't a major issue anymore. So everyone believed that they had compatible machines. Now, along comes Windows 3.0. The people at MS made the environment "compatible" with the IBM/Compaq "standards". If you look at the task that MS took on, viz creating an environment that works across all hardware and software implementations that follow the "standard", it is amazing (and a credit to their design and code abilities) that they have as few problems that we see everyday on the net news. It has to be a nightmare to work their customer support line. The majority of problems that I've seen people complain about (and that have actually been traced down the cause of the problem) are affiliated with video boards. Guess what folks? Those nasty video card makers aren't truly following the "standards". Each vendor has his own custom chip, proprietary alogorithms, etc. We hear that some are switching register functions around and other rude things. It's 1984 all over again. You, the consumer, innocently purchase these cards, install them in your machines, get a mighty fine looking DOS screen, and then try running Windows 3.0 that requires real compatibility, and it bombs. "Foul," you cry. "This piece of crap software doesn't work." But, your anger is directed at the wrong source. I'm not trying to say that everything MS does is absolutely great. I happen to believe, for example, that their site license policy for network compatible software was the product of brain dead minds. But, that's another issue. What I am saying is that Windows does work properly if you have a "compatible" machine and cards. If you get a chance, look at the SDK manuals from MS Press and see how Windows really works (1st couple of chapters in the Programming Guide). It is a pretty slick windowing system. So there. -- V ' ' ' ' ' * I Damn Pigeons! David Sampson Harris Corporation dsampson@x102a.ess.harris.com Gov't Aerospace Systems Divison uunet!x102a!dsampson Melbourne, Florida -------------------------------------------------------------------------------