Rodney O. Lain - 1999.12.09
This article was originally published on
MacSimple, a site which no longer exists. It is copyright 1999 by
The Linton Media Company, which also seems to no longer exist. It
is thus reprinted here without permission (which we would gladly
obtain if possible.) Links have been retained when possible, but
many go to the Internet
Wayback Machine.
Here at MacSimple, we try to stay above the fray by avoiding
Windows and Microsoft bashing, but this time there was no way we
could remain silent in light of Microsoft's blatant ripping off the
Mac . . . again.
This won't be a flame, since we doubt Bill Gates would ever read
this. It'd be a waste of good flame if the flamee doesn't read the
flame. That said, let's get dirty....
Beginning of rant
Over at
CBS MarketWatch, Courtney Smith makes a cogent observation when
she says that Microsoft's Glory Days Are Over." You should go and
read this article. We tend to agree with it, since the beleaguered
company's latest move is akin to the desperate act of a dinosaur
that sees the meteor hurtling toward the earth.
Mr. Gates made a "duh" announcement yesterday that desktop video
is the next great thing, and Microsoft will be all over it like
white on rice. Of course the PC media is lapping it up, without
mentioning once that Apple is months ahead of Mr. Gates.
Check this out: Mr. Gates announced the company's new vaporware, an application called Windows
Movie Maker, which will be part of "Windows Millennium."
(For the uninitiated, "vaporware" is a term
applied to the practice of announcing a product, even if there is
no such product in production or planning, just to steal the
thunder of a competitor's product that may be currently shipping.
Microsoft has made this into a modus operandi.)
CNET summed it up quite nicely: "RealNetworks may be feeling a
little like Netscape Communications did about three years ago. The
leader in the market for streaming audio and video content over the
Internet, Real has an early advantage over Microsoft, which began
offering its Windows Media Player in response to the success of
RealNetworks' RealPlayer, RealJukebox and G2 software."
RealNetworks is ostensibly the target for the latest Microsoft
death threat disguised as a product announcement.
Rest assured that Apple's QuickTime is also in the
devilish details, also. Read on...
According to PC World online, this Movie Maker "automatically
divides the stored video clip into segments that appear in the
program as a series of still images. You can drag and drop selected
video clips into a 'storyboard, to compile a custom movie. "
Now, where have we seen and heard this description before? Let's
see: iMovie was demoed in October by Steve Jobs, wasn't it? Bill
Gates is speaking in, what, December?
So this is just another piece of "me, too" software belching out
of Redmond, Washington.
But, wait. It gets worse. The article continues:
"[MS Movie Maker] includes an on-screen graphics
equalizer, so you can adjust the bass and treble settings of
downloaded music files. "
Keep in mind that Bill Gates said not too long ago that all
Apple is the leader in is color. Go and look at QuickTime 4, reread
the above description of Microsoft's application, then you tell me
who's leading whom?
Just remember when you hear Bill Gates talking of innovation,
consider the source.
You can read the rest of PC
World's article yourself. It's called "Gates: The Future is
Moving Pictures."
It seems that if you really want to keep abreast of what
Microsoft and the rest of the PC industry will be doing in the
future, just look at what Apple is doing today.
You know what? I have the sad feeling that there isn't a blessed
thing Apple can do to stop Microsoft. This may be part of the
cross-patent licensing agreement between the two companies back in
1997 when Steve Jobs made his deal with the Great Satan of the
computer industry. Talk about a Faustian bargain.
It's amazing how this industry works.
Where's the Department of Justice when you need them? We need
them to protect us from Microsoft's attempt to make the world safe
for innovation, if you know what I mean, and I think you do....
End of rant.
