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Q & A WITH BOB CRINGELY: CONTINUED
Bob, Java is interesting because it is inherently cross-platform and it is very well behaved. But the real success of Java depends on Java hardware, and that's not quite here yet.
How about intel, AMD and other hardware makers? Was their battle as interesting as the one between Apple, IBM and Microsoft? How about the battle between Microsoft, Lotus, Ashton-Tate and other software maker? Toby Shum Montreal, Canada We only had three hours, Toby. Wasn't what we did okay?
Tremendous show, one of the best on PBS ever. But, why didn't you let your readers know about it in the column. I almost missed it because of the NBA game. Also, where did the 8 years in the bio come from. The Quayle jokes during the 88 campaign are still vivid. I must have been reading you a couple of years before that. PS: Your credibility dropped about 50% due to your non-geek looks. Now I believe there is a Pammy. Dallas, TX I no longer write the InfoWorld column. They fired me last December.
NeXTstep is out there and very much one of the most usefull if not wonderfull product for software development -- and now that it is running well on Intel -- is Steve Jobs going to make an other puch at Microsoft to win over developers to a quality product? Or are we going to have to put up with the "crude" that flows from Redmond, to bring on new products? NT 4.0 (beta) has no sole, no grace, just the same ole'... sigh! Steven Kimbrough NeXT doesn't have the money or the interest to take on Microsoft.
What ever became of the PET and Radio Shack PC's and their makers? When I learned to program in highschool these machines sat at the back of the classroom just like the Apple II did. Why did they die off? Andrew Howarth Vancouver, BC Canada Commodore International (makers of the PET) went bankrupt a couple years ago. Radio Shack no longer makes PCs, but sells IBM and AST boxes in its stores. Commodore was mismanaged and Radio Shack makes more money selling computers than building them.
What is the "real" reason the colors in the Apple logo are in the incorrect order? Thanks, Andrew McIntosh Austin TX I don't know.
I always assumed Bob Cringely was a psuedonym, and details about Bob's life with Pammy, the adventures with the T-bird, and the like were created for the amusement of the column's readers. What is the story? Is Bob a real person? Are the details about Bob's life for real? Dave Burchell Lincoln, Nebraska This is my life.
Bob, Have you read Douglas Coupland's book "Microserfs" and if so, how accurate is it's portrayal of corporate cultures at Apple and Microsoft? Thanks! Hank Norris Philadelphia, PA I read it and thought it was stupid.
Bob, What ever happened to the company/developer of the original PC-DOS, who sold it to Bill Gates for $50,000? Suicidal or what?! Stephen Kay North Reading, MA You saw him on my show: Tim Paterson, who is today a journeyman programmer at Microsoft.
We truely enjoyed your special last night on PBS. As you steered clear of Job's later endeavers, what is your opinion of NEXT? I saw it as a bridge between the current PC and workstations of that time, without apps. Do you see the NEXT computer as before it's time? Do you see the current high powered pentium PC's as filling Job's vision? Lastly, what's the current positioning of Pentium Pro - are we waiting on process? complience? It seems that there isn't a "need" yet in the market as 586 had at rollout. Thanks in advance, Chris Neal San Jose CA NeXT was an overpriced failure. I suppose NeXTstep-Intel fulfills Steve's vision. And the Pentium Pro isn't enough better than an equivalent clocked Pentium to be worth the money. I don't think that will change.
Bob...Bruce Willis had better watch out! You did an excellent job with the PBS series. My qusetion is if Geroge Clooney backs out as Batman would you consider the role? Jeff Harvey Cincinnati, OH My love handles won't allow it.
Whatever happened to Gary Kildall? I believe it was mentioned that he was no longer alive, but what adventures did he have after 1983? John C. Tull Tucson, Arizona Gary's death is covered several times in earlier answers.
(When) are you going to release "Bit Players" ? Robert Duggins Beltsville, MD When I finish writing it.
Is it worse that Gates stole Windows from Apple or that Apple stole the GUI from Xerox? Paul Good NY NY It is good that users finally got to play with those toys.
what were you doing in 1980? robert andrews scotts valley, ca In 1980 I was teaching at Stanford University.
In 1983 I invested 3 years of my life to developing an On-line Service for the Persoinnel Industry that was similiar to Real Estate multiple-listing service. My service called ADNET failed. A lack of critical mass was the complaint by Venture Capatalists. Now, the internet is here and the critical mass is as well. But every service on the net is duplicated by a 100 others just like it, thus, none have any dominance. I also note that nothing is replaced. With the new information I always thought that other information tools would begin to disapear. This does not seem to happen. Why?? We are still using just as much paper as we were befor the paperless office was implemented!! There is still all of the old classified print advertising regardless of all the electronic database public access systems. Why?? Even more SEX magazines are being published regardless of the bountiful amount of smut made available on the NET. Why??
I really enjoyed your show...you got me all charged up...Thanks!!! I, too, am drowning in paper. Maybe it's a conspiracy?
hi, bob: great program. question/comment: toward the end of the program, your narration stated (essentially) that both ibm and apple are "falling behind" in the pc industry. how does that remark reconcile with the widely acknowledged (see guy kawasaki's website for links to comments about...) technological and practical superiority of the macintosh OS, the powerPC chip, and the latest generation of PPC macs? my interpretation: that _marketing_, not functionality, has been the secret behind the dos dominance in the pc market. as millions grow disillusioned with wintel95 (win95 sales have not recouped the _advertising_ budget, let alone the development budget), the motorola/ibm/apple alliance is poised to recapture their leadership of the pc industry. remember, apple was the world's leading pc seller as recently as 3Q94 (or was it 3Q95....?) -grin-
(i'd LOVE to see this question/comment, and your
answer in print) GUY WORKS FOR APPLE!!!!!!! What do you expect him to say? I hope Apple makes it, but market share is what counts and those guys have blown it bigtime.
Oh, come on, you sex symbol you - surely you can't be all negative about Apple's future? There are millions of us who shall always insist on the Apple OS. Surely with Apple's new licensing policies and far greater availability they can stop treading water and come in a healthy second - as opposed to sinking out of sight? Maria Holt Sheffield , Mass Always insist? Always? I think Apple will do fine, but I don't think you'll always insist on their OS.
It seems that much of Microsoft's success, particularly of late, has resulted from its adding as many of the competition's features as it can manage, and throwing on a few of its own. Often it seems that this "software bloat" is what is driving hardware development.
Netscape, in its efforts to fight off Microsoft,
seems to be using a similar tactic: add as many
new features as rapidly as possible. What result
do you foresee, given that the hardware required
by the growing software comes at a much higher
cost (i.e. higher-speed networks, improved
phone lines and ISDN, &c.)? You've got it right, David. It works for Microsoft (and now for Netscape) and it has always worked for Intel, too. The result is that we'll buy new computers and faster modems. They win again.
Empowerment & decentralization seem to be the two most powerful forces being unleashed through t he advances of information technology. Comments please; and which players embrace such a scenario and which seem to be reluctant? James Laney Raytown, Missouri If I understand your question, you are asking if I agree that the PC empowers people and allows organizations to be decentralized. Well, the PC has certainly made possible to move toward home offices and that implies decentralization, so I must agree. Who is embracing and who is reluctant? Right now everyone is embracing. It's a lovefest.
In the course of the video, it was presented that Bill Gates was on the initial Development team for the engineering of the software for the MacIntosh. My question is did Gates actually write software for the Mac? Also, wasn't there a fine involved on Microsoft's part in the trial of Apple .vs Microsoft for "look and feel"? Anonymous Microsoft wrote several early Mac applications. There was no fine: Microsoft won the case.
I sat down tonight to watch Game 4 of the NBA Finals and ended up watching your terrific program. Question: IYO, how much did age factor in to the Apple, MS, Oracle successes, and the IBM, Xerox, Digital Research 'failures'? Steve Stockdale Irving, TX Age was a factor with IBM, but I don't think it was a factor with DRI. Oh, and the Sonics won game 4.
It seems that the battle fo high tech supremacy is intertwined with making technology as intuitive as possible. Today's emerging leaders (Netscape, Aol, Sun, microsoft) have adopted the direction of keeping information as grachical as possibe, while now trying to intermingle other intuitive technologies(sound, interactive realtime feedback). (AND NOW FOR THE QUESTION) What device or technology is best suited (or has the possibility )to integrate useful information into a interactive realtime environment.
IF there are none, please contact me so we can get one started. I am amazed at all the people who think I want to start businesses with them... or businesses at all! Okay, so you are talking about realtime interactivity and are looking for some device that will integrate useful information. WE already have keyboard, cameras, and microphones, so I nominate the SMELLATRON! An olfactory input device for the Internet! Smellatronic computing will be the new rage and we'll start a company (Smellscape) that will be the next hot IPO.
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