Comments on: Can Fragmentation of Open Source Still Work? http://allthings.blogsome.com/2007/11/13/can-fragmentation-of-open-source-still-work/ Sat, 05 Dec 2009 11:20:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Gordon R. Vaughan http://allthings.blogsome.com/2007/11/13/can-fragmentation-of-open-source-still-work/#comment-480 Tue, 13 Nov 2007 06:16:09 +0000 http://allthings.blogsome.com/2007/11/13/can-fragmentation-of-open-source-still-work/#comment-480 Yeah, Apple has been training its users for a long time to expect the train to leave the station. I figured for quite a while that they'd drop Classic, especially after they made it a user install in 10.4. Now folks are figuring 10.6 (whatever kind of cat it'll be) will drop PowerPC, but I read someone saying Apple's said it will be 10.7. In any case, we all know it's coming. Microsoft has long made backward compatibility and cross-gradability from other products a key part of their strategy. This worked great as they grew, but Windows ended up with a lot of old junk in it. Just working around the 640K barrier lasted an awfully long time. If Microsoft had gradually moved folks forward as Apple does, they wouldn't have the messy codebase they must have (judging from how hard it was to bring out Vista). Personally, I think Apple moves too quickly. It would have been really helpful to have an AppleTalk port in the early iMacs, for example, but it's better than not moving forward at all. Actually, now I'm wondering if Apple's going to pull the plug on Carbon in a few more OS releases, maybe 10.8?? Yeah, Apple has been training its users for a long time to expect the train to leave the station. I figured for quite a while that they’d drop Classic, especially after they made it a user install in 10.4.

Now folks are figuring 10.6 (whatever kind of cat it’ll be) will drop PowerPC, but I read someone saying Apple’s said it will be 10.7. In any case, we all know it’s coming.

Microsoft has long made backward compatibility and cross-gradability from other products a key part of their strategy. This worked great as they grew, but Windows ended up with a lot of old junk in it. Just working around the 640K barrier lasted an awfully long time.

If Microsoft had gradually moved folks forward as Apple does, they wouldn’t have the messy codebase they must have (judging from how hard it was to bring out Vista). Personally, I think Apple moves too quickly. It would have been really helpful to have an AppleTalk port in the early iMacs, for example, but it’s better than not moving forward at all.

Actually, now I’m wondering if Apple’s going to pull the plug on Carbon in a few more OS releases, maybe 10.8??

]]> by: Jeff Smith http://allthings.blogsome.com/2007/11/13/can-fragmentation-of-open-source-still-work/#comment-479 Tue, 13 Nov 2007 03:12:03 +0000 http://allthings.blogsome.com/2007/11/13/can-fragmentation-of-open-source-still-work/#comment-479 It makes you wonder who's responsibility it is to push the envelope for advancement. Developers are bound to the limitations of the OS, but the OS is bound to keeping things status quo for developers of established software. Could Microsoft get away with pulling a move like Apple did when the released OS X? Do they still have the technical prowess to even be able to pull it off? It makes you wonder who’s responsibility it is to push the envelope for advancement. Developers are bound to the limitations of the OS, but the OS is bound to keeping things status quo for developers of established software.

Could Microsoft get away with pulling a move like Apple did when the released OS X? Do they still have the technical prowess to even be able to pull it off?

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