>From: "Bobby Whalen" <organix@hotmail.com>
>
>On Fri, 11 Jul 1997 Max More wrote:
>
>>
>>Once again I find myself in the untrendy position of defending
>Microsoft! I
>>note that while most companies are slashing research budgets, Microsoft
>has
>>recently *tripled* their budget for basic research. They have hired a
>large
>>number of exceedingly smart people, especially in regard to advanced
>>graphics software.
>>
>>Whatever truth there was a few years ago in the view that Microsoft was
>not
>>creative (a view that I've found exaggerated) has become ever less true
>>over the last few years. In the years to come, as results appear from
>their
>>labs, I think even the Microsoft haters will have to change their
>views.
>>
>>It's Apple that rested on its laurels while Microsoft relentlessly
>caught
>>up then, in many areas, overtook. I don't believe it's realistic to
>blame
>>all of Apple's woes on marketing. I suspect their cultish approach
>allowed
>>them to get lazy. While Apple was busy enjoying being cool, Microsoft
>was
>>busy attracting intelligent people and putting them to work at maximum
>>efficiency.
>>
>>Okay, go ahead, call me a corporate lackey.
>>
>
>Don't worry I won't call you a corporate lackey. Although my criticism
>of Microsoft haas been on their past track record, I will agree with you
>that Microsoft is finally making some strides in basic research. Nathan
>Myrhvold's haggling w/ Bill has finally paid off. I have never accused
>Bill of being a dummy; he is a very savvy businessman ( creative or
>visionary is another matter). With the increasing growth of the
>internet and java's intrinsic threat to bloatware, Microsoft will have
>to start creating some good software. I am optimistic in this regard.
>
>Hoping that my <brief> comment of Microsoft can be brushed aside, I hope
>this thread can get back to addressing my original questions regarding
>Free-Market economics.
>
>
>B. Whalen
>
>P.S. I will be more than happy to post my original post, sans the
>microsoft comment.
>
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>
Max More, Ph.D.
more@extropy.org
http://www.primenet.com/~maxmore
President, Extropy Institute: exi-info@extropy.org, http://www.extropy.org
EXTRO 3 CONFERENCE on the future: http://www.extropy.org/extro3.htm