From: discar@nosc.mil (Joe Discar)
Subject: Re: FCC will proclaim Microsoft is run by Communists! : )
Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1993 06:45:58 GMT

In article <roelle.726523296@uars_mag> roelle@uars_mag.jhuapl.edu (Curtis Roelle) writes:
>discar@nosc.mil (Joe Discar) writes:
>>>
>>>[Stuff deleted]
>>>
>
>There are cyclical forces at work in the market.  Applications are
>written for op systems that have high demand.  The systems that sell
>are those that customers buy.  The end of 1992 had record sales of
>computers for 1st time buyers, e.g. seamstresses and carpet sweepers,
>who buy what the experts in their eyes (e.g. salesmen) tell them to buy,
>(read: DOS/WIN).  DOS/WIN sells, so more applications are produced which
>are then touted in the PC magazines, which is read by the salesmen, who
>tell people to buy DOS/WIN because of the applications.  The 1st time 
>buyers, who are a large segment of the market, are being sat on and led
>around with a bridle.

The circular nature of Apps<->OS is well-known.  But remember: a vendor
will normally not stock an item that is not in demand.  Go to your
local vendor tomorrow and see if he has a Targa Truevision 32 in stock,
I'll lay odds that he doesn't.

What creates the demand?  Marketing is one factor, but the STRONGEST
marketing is the perception that they NEED the product.  Look at all the
hottest new software on Egghead's shelf: on the "system requirements"
label, it usually says "DOS" or "Windows"--with nary even a HINT that
the software will work on OS/2.

So seamstress is told by computer friends and magazines that they should
find the software they want FIRST before buying the computer.  They
go to local store and find "AutoStitch AutoPlaid v. 12" read the 
description and find that it'll do everything they want their computer
to do--read the requirements--and lo and behold!  It says "DOS 3.3 or
above required."

I'll tell you how to get vendors to snub Microsoft: convince software
application developers to put "...or OS/2" on their boxes.

>
>>I just checked with three other vendors in my area... the typical system
>>they sell if a 486-33 with 4 megs of RAM.  RAM may be cheap, but clients
>>WOULD rather save themselves $120 off the cost of the system... and OS/2
>>does not run well in 4 megs of RAM.
>
>A personal friend bought a 486 system.  Being a doctor with two
>practices leaves him little time to research the market himself --
>call him a carpet sweeper for argument's sake.  He walked in the store
>with a pen and a checkbook and said, "What do I need".  They sold him
>a 486/33 with 210MB HD, *8MB RAM*, MS/DOS/WIN, and a shopping cart
>load of "DOSware".  Although he had 8MB RAM (and OS/2 runs pretty well
>on 8MB -- let me tell you), the salesman didn't mention it.  My friend
>said He Himself inquired about OS/2 but the salesman shrugged, saying they
>didn't even carry it because he (the carper sweeper) had no need for it.
>The salesman didn't offer him an OS/2 demo and made him feel like an 
>idiot for even asking such a stupid question.

Again, vendors do not carry what does not sell.  If three hundred more of
your friends converge on that shop and ask for OS/2 in one month, I'll
lay odds that the vendor will purchase another load of OS/2's the NEXT
month.

Now, tell me, why did your "carpet sweeper" *need* OS/2?  Was there an
application that required it?  (CMEA sells some pretty good medical
software and references on CD-ROM--ALL of it DOS or Windows based)
In other words, was there a real demand for OS/2, or was it simply an
"interest?"

I stand by what I said: until there are applications that demand OS/2,
it is unlikely that there will be a great demand for OS/2... and until
there is such a demand, vendors will not carry it.


>
>(BTW, within 4 hours of purchase he called, wondering if I could "fix" his 
>computer.  Turned out one of his DOS applications overwrote his AUTOEXEC.BAT 
>and CONFIG.SYS file.  !BRRZZZZT!)
>
>>Now, Microsoft has come up with a plan to offer MS-DOS and Windows for a
>>cheap price... but mind you, IBM can do the same.  
>
>Only if they can communicate with the people who meet the public -- namely
>the stores that sell computers (and first impressions) to 1st time buyers.

And whose fault is it that IBM can't communicate with the potential buyer?
Microsoft, because they are so good at marketing?  Yeah!  So let's 
cripple them so that the race is closer.  *sigh* Weakening the strong does
not strengthen the weak.

I say, let IBM make the moves: start with putting "OS/2 required" on some
good application boxes...

>
>>In short, it is NOT the dealers that create the "demand" for MS-DOS.  IT
>>is the desire for Microwave-oven-convenience.  Many buyers don't care
>>how a Microwave oven works, or whether or not it contains a Phillips
>>tube or a Goldstar tube--they care whether or not it will cook their
>>food.  Likewise, until OS/2 can boast the same SOFTWARE support (and
>>stability) as DOS+Windows, I doubt that people will be flocking to 
>>Egghead software to buy it.
>
>>Mind you, I've just seen OS/2 2.1... and I think that I'd be switching
>>soon (it does almost everything I want it to do, but wish to make sure
>>that it will be compatible with the software and applications and hardware
>>I use)--it's a great deal better than OS/2 2.0 was.
>>[...]
>>I am a vendor--yes, I actually sell hardware and peripherals.  I KNOW
>>how volume can actually lower the overall price of the systems.
>
>>[discussion about PC systems w/ & wo/ multi-I/O boards -- deleted...]
>
>>The Microsoft Plan?  I reviewed the MLP, and turned it down.  I have not
>>felt any repercussions from the (ahem) "force" that Microsoft is
>>exerting on me.
>
>>Joe.
>>My opinions only.
>
>As a vendor, have you ever demonstrated OS/2 to any of your customers?
>Do you have an OS/2 system in your store for customers to experiment
>with?  If a customer were to question you about OS/2, would you grasp
>them by the shoulders from behind and push them over to a Windows 
>system running Solitaire?

As a vendor, I've INSTALLED OS/2 at sites that I support.  I've demoed it
to interested people... but I must point out, that OS/2 mostly sits on
the shelf.  There is little demand for it, and I always recommend that
they wait for a new "official" release--if you want a house to live
in, don't buy one with a leaky roof especially after it's started raining.

>
>Curt roelle@sigi.jhuapl.edu
>
>Opinions expressed derive from personal, not commerical, experience.
>
>

Joe
My opinions.
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