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On 05/24/2012 11:15 AM, Michael Hirsch wrote:
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cite="mid:CAL4OPA-mOqoytD_X3hHQFjYx_Mu8EekQXy9RdX9w0auBKAkUjw@mail.gmail.com"
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<div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, May 18, 2012 at 7:19 AM, Jay
Lozier <span dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:jslozier@gmail.com" target="_blank">jslozier@gmail.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
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One question always puzzled me, why would a computer
manufacturer IBM<br>
not realize that any computer will need an OS and either
write, buy, or<br>
license one from the start? Many of the OS problems of Windows
can be<br>
traced to backwards compatibility issues with DOS. While MS
catches all<br>
the blame IMHO IBM deserves a large percentage because of
their<br>
incompetence and arrogance.<br>
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<div><br>
I recommend reading "The Innovator's Dilemma" (<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Innovators-Dilemma-Revolutionary-Essentials/dp/0060521996">http://www.amazon.com/The-Innovators-Dilemma-Revolutionary-Essentials/dp/0060521996</a>)
by Christensen to understand this. The short answer is that
IBM's entire business interests ran against supporting the
personal computer market. When a new product type (with a
different customer base) like this enters the market, it is
rare that the incumbents can adjust. Digital never did and
they are gone.<br>
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Very true, many early PC/Apple/etc users hated the centralized
control of mainframes and wanted control without dependence on the
mainframe. The PC gave users more control and independence from the
mainframe. Also, many SMB could afford a PC but not a mini or
mainframe. <br>
<br>
I remember a quote from Ken Olsen stating he could not see why
anyone needed a computer at home.<br>
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<br>
Actually, I think IBM deserves some kudos for coming in to the
market, and actually dominating it for a while. They are now
out of the desktop business, but they stuck around long enough
to have adjusted to the new computing world well enough to be
wildly successful, again. But it was a near thing. I
remember when it looked like IBM was dying, just before
Palmisano committed the company to using and supporting
Linux. He basically bet the company on Linux, and won.<br>
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It seemed in the late 80's early 90's like IBM had a split
personality: mainframe vs PC. Both seemed to be warring against each
other not the competition.<br>
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cite="mid:CAL4OPA-mOqoytD_X3hHQFjYx_Mu8EekQXy9RdX9w0auBKAkUjw@mail.gmail.com"
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<br>
Michael<br>
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<br>
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<br>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Jay Lozier
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:jslozier@gmail.com">jslozier@gmail.com</a></pre>
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