Re: [DotGNU]Microsoft & Mono

[Kent Nguyen]

On Tuesday 17 July 2001 07:05, Barry Fitzgerald wrote:
> Kent Nguyen wrote:
> > > Even if 63% of all of the web servers out there are apache, these
> > > servers - using .Net compatible services - could further leverage
> > > Microsoft's position on the desktop by running Microsoft centric
> > > architectures over Free Software.  This it why dotGnu is the real
> > > danger to Microsoft.  Mono is a necessary component to some extent.
> >
> > What about Microsoft passport customer based?  Doesn't that attract
> > software developer to buy a specialize "security pack" to interoperate
> > with passport?
> >
> > --kent
>
> Well, I think it's obvious that user marketshare is always an issue when
> considering what platform some developers will develop for - as does an
> already existing userbase.  These are essentially one and the same.
> However, I fail to see your point here.  Yes, their marketshare is a
> factor.  So...???

Think about it this way.  Let's say a user have a Microsoft passport.  He 
uses email with his M$ passport, he uses it to check history of his 
transactions on ebay, he uses it to view a word, excel, powerpoint documents, 
he uses it to view his .NET photo album, he uses it to pay his utility, his 
electricity, and everything bill, he uses it to play games, he uses to use MS 
messenger, and he uses to talk on the Internet.   

Once the number of services grow, you won't be able to get people to change 
their "identity".  The services they use define them.  The user has no 
incentive to switch to dotGNU when the Hailstorm ecosystem have all the 
services they want.  

Let's carry this senerio further.  The user will want to share documents to 
his friends.  In order for his friends to view the document in .NET Word, he 
needs to setup a M$ passport.  This friend sends the document to another 
friend, who will have to setup an M$ passport to view a .NET Word document, 
and so on.  It becomes viral.  This is worse than attaching a simple message 
of every outgoing email from a hotmail account saying "FREE private email at 
www.hotmail.com".

The Hailstorm ecosystem is like a virus, it will grow exponentially.  

My question is how is dotGNU going to convince users to use its system?  What 
is the incentive for user to use dotGNU?  Is there a service available in the 
dotGNU environment that they need?

Here's another situation.  Let's say I'm Microsoft.  First I would encourage 
as many third parties develop on my .NET platform.  At first I won't compete 
against them.  I will help those third party developer out.  Then as more and 
more developers become entrench.  I'll just start bundling my service 
together.  One by one, I will slowly kill off the third party developer and 
monopolize the web service industry.  I use this same tactic to dominate the 
desktop market.  

--kent