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From: wtm@neoucom.UUCP (Bill Mayhew)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple,comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.windows.misc
Subject: Re: Apple Lawsuit (was BOYCOTT APPLE, etc.)
Message-ID: <1086@neoucom.UUCP>
Date: 8 Apr 88 16:50:18 GMT
References: <292@unicom.UUCP> <663@csm9a.UUCP> <4283@dandelion.CI.COM> <453@xroads.UUCP>
Organization: Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
Lines: 34
Keywords: Microsoft, HP New Wave, Xerox, Lawsuit
Summary: Apple is trying to get software writers to toe the line


I really doubt that apple cares terribly much that HP's New Wave
can bo set up to look similar to the MacIntosh environment.  I
suspect that Apple does see the new crop of more competent
windowing products as honest competetion to the MacIntosh.

One way that Apple can protect its posterior is to prevent software
writers from abandoning the MacIntosh ship.  Software writers being
pragmatic will likely write for the market where they can make the
greatest number of sales.  When the MacIntosh was the only game in
town it had a guaranteed audiance of software writers.  Lately,
software wrtriters have had to do some serious head scratching over
OS/2 and Windows 386.  Both Windows and OS/2, which currently have
only small markets have the potential for a huge installed base in
the next year or two.

Since OS/2 and Windows are still either not in the marketplace or
have very small shares, a vendor that writes to those environments
now has to hedge a bet against potential future sales.  This is not
a good thing for small (innovative?) vendors that have to live
pretty much hand-to-mouth from current sales.  A small vendor that
sees a cloudy future in OS/2 will probably opt for the MacIntosh
market where there is the certainty of current income (provided the
porduct is good).

So... the law suit is a good way for Apple to keep its hands on the
software reins and keep their market share by being able to offer
the most innovative and up-to-date products for its machine.  Not a
particularly moral thing for Apple to do, but a practical thing.

--Bill

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             OS/2?  Who needs half an operating system?