From: roelle@uars_mag.jhuapl.edu (Curtis Roelle)
Subject: Re: FCC will proclaim Microsoft is run by Communists! : )
Organization: Johns Hopkins University
Date:  8 Jan 93 20:01:36 GMT

discar@nosc.mil (Joe Discar) writes:
>In article <wiegand.726347492@lido16> motcid!wiegand@uunet.uu.net writes:
>>discar@nosc.mil (Joe Discar) writes:
>>
>>[Stuff deleted]
>>
>>>Likewise, vendors are out there selling MSDOS and Windows because their
>>>clients WANT MS-DOS and Windows. 
>>
>>This assumes all users are well informed and making intelligent choices.
>>I would suggest that many users simply take whatever is offered by the
>>computer maker without researching the alternatives. So to some extent
>>the "demand" for MS-DOS is created by the dealers themselves.
>>

>Oh, so you would prefer that seamstresses and carpet sweepers "research"
>their alternatives in a technical thing such as an operating system?
>Nice thought, but unrealistic.  The "need" for MSDOS and Windows is generated
>because of Applications... applications that may (or may not) run well
>(or at all) under OS/2... on the machine configuration that the client
>desires.

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.

>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.

(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.

>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?

Curt roelle@sigi.jhuapl.edu

Opinions expressed derive from personal, not commerical, experience.








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