Ideas & trends: new weapons prolong the computer wars

Article Abstract:

The competition between IBM's OS/2 and Microsoft Corp's Windows operating systems underscores the need to determine the standard for microcomputer operating systems. The problem, however, is who gets to set the standard. IBM and Microsoft used to be partners; Microsoft has emerged as the world's largest software publisher with its MS-DOS, the old operating system for IBM PCs. With the two companies' parting of ways, the competition between them is expected to be vicious. OS/2, the operating system they developed together, incorporates Windows capabilities in its new version. Microsoft's Windows mimics the Apple Macintosh's point-and-click style; the new version adds features and corrects some of the defects of the old version. The operating system war escalates with the creation of Taligent, a joint venture between Apple and IBM. Taligent will develop a new operating system called Pink, which will employ object-oriented programming technology.

Prepackaged software, Computer peripheral equipment, not elsewhere classified, Microsoft Corp., Operating systems (Software), Marketing, Operating systems, International Business Machines Corp., IBM, MSFT, Microsoft Windows (GUI), Operating System, Competition, Marketing Strategy, OS/2 (Operating system)

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Nextstation's future hinges on software

Article Abstract:

Many analysts feel that despite Next Inc's $50 million of business in its most recent quarter and its popularity among university students and faculty as well as a small but growing number of companies, the company does not have a good chance of survival. Founder Steven Jobs' philosophy is to seek innovative software creations that will run on the company's Nextstations instead of simply inviting developers to adapt their already well-known packages to the platform. The company's isolation will not help in the battle it must wage against the new alliance between IBM and Apple. Many Nextstation users find the power and interface of the system to be superior to that of any other available systems but users cannot take advantage of the hardware without good software packages. Developers will not create applications for systems with meager sales and users will shy away from systems that do not offer an adequate amount of software.

Management, Usage, Computer industry, Software, Product development, Beliefs, opinions and attitudes, Workstations (Computers), Jobs, Steven, Workstations, NeXT Computer Inc., Software packages, NeXT NeXTstation (680X0-based microcomputer)

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