|
|
 |
Friday
March 19, 2010 Since 1922 |
The past and future of Microsoft
By Aaron Barbee
Contributor Published July 12, 2009 It’s been one year since Microsoft’s co-founder Bill Gates has left his company. I call it “his” company because it always has been, and it always will be. Surprisingly little has changed over the last year, but I still think in the future (probably five to ten years), Microsoft as we know it will be unrecognizable.
But, that isn’t what this particular column is about. In looking into Microsoft’s past and possible future, I happened onto a slideshow of Bill Gates through the last 30 years. That really took me back. I got my first computer in 1981 at the age of 10, and I never looked back.
While I was growing up, so was Microsoft. In 1981, a young 26 year old Bill Gates signed a major deal with IBM to sell their first major piece of software, DOS. DOS was what actually let computers do “stuff” and provided young computer nerds like me an interface in which we could build on. Yeah, it was cryptic, and you had to know exactly what you were doing, but through many trials and errors we started to get a foothold. This deal put Microsoft on the map and gave them all the money they needed to really get rolling.
Then, in 1992 Windows 3.1 was introduced. Don’t ask me about the previous versions; it would take forever for that explanation. Windows 3.1 was the “real” beginning of what let normal non-nerd people use the computer. Yeah, Microsoft borrowed the idea from Apple (there, I said it). BUT, Apple borrowed their idea from Xerox. Yep, Xerox can officially claim responsibility for the first GUI (graphical user interface). GUI is just fancy for using pictures, icons and the mouse to get around. The execs at Xerox didn’t understand the potential of this “desktop computer” thing and told their workers to throw it in the trash. The Steve Jobs with Apple caught wind of it and convinced Xerox execs to let them copy it. Oops!
I never used Windows 3.1 because it was really just an overlay to DOS and drive space was precious back then. Plus, 3.1 just got in the way.
On came Windows 95, 98, NT, ME, 2000, XP, Vista, and soon Windows 7. Even though there have been some really neat technical advances, the overall look hasn’t changed and we all got used to it. That is, until VISTA came along and really shook things up. Truthfully though, Vista didn’t do much, but it sure did annoy a lot of people out there.
Now Microsoft is chomping at the bit to take over the Internet. They’ve tried to buy Yahoo a few times. I’m sure they even had their eyes on Google. The goal, from what I understand, is to put their programs out there on the Internet and rent them to customers. Hey, it’s just what I’ve heard.
Since nobody has sold out or cratered to Microsoft’s will, they’ve created their own search site at www.bing.com. I think it’s proof that they want to take over the Internet. The rest of my predictions will have to wait a few years before we see what happens.
Hopefully I’ll win the lottery and move to Tahiti, so if I’m completely wrong it won’t matter.
Check out my Web site www.TexasComputerGuru.com for supplemental information and previous articles as well.
Aaron Barbee owns Texas Computer Guru, a local computer services company for on-site business and residential needs. He can be contacted at 281-628-5099. E-mail questions for Aaron to sunnews(at)baytownsun.com.
Contributor Published July 12, 2009 It’s been one year since Microsoft’s co-founder Bill Gates has left his company. I call it “his” company because it always has been, and it always will be. Surprisingly little has changed over the last year, but I still think in the future (probably five to ten years), Microsoft as we know it will be unrecognizable.
But, that isn’t what this particular column is about. In looking into Microsoft’s past and possible future, I happened onto a slideshow of Bill Gates through the last 30 years. That really took me back. I got my first computer in 1981 at the age of 10, and I never looked back.
While I was growing up, so was Microsoft. In 1981, a young 26 year old Bill Gates signed a major deal with IBM to sell their first major piece of software, DOS. DOS was what actually let computers do “stuff” and provided young computer nerds like me an interface in which we could build on. Yeah, it was cryptic, and you had to know exactly what you were doing, but through many trials and errors we started to get a foothold. This deal put Microsoft on the map and gave them all the money they needed to really get rolling.
Then, in 1992 Windows 3.1 was introduced. Don’t ask me about the previous versions; it would take forever for that explanation. Windows 3.1 was the “real” beginning of what let normal non-nerd people use the computer. Yeah, Microsoft borrowed the idea from Apple (there, I said it). BUT, Apple borrowed their idea from Xerox. Yep, Xerox can officially claim responsibility for the first GUI (graphical user interface). GUI is just fancy for using pictures, icons and the mouse to get around. The execs at Xerox didn’t understand the potential of this “desktop computer” thing and told their workers to throw it in the trash. The Steve Jobs with Apple caught wind of it and convinced Xerox execs to let them copy it. Oops!
I never used Windows 3.1 because it was really just an overlay to DOS and drive space was precious back then. Plus, 3.1 just got in the way.
On came Windows 95, 98, NT, ME, 2000, XP, Vista, and soon Windows 7. Even though there have been some really neat technical advances, the overall look hasn’t changed and we all got used to it. That is, until VISTA came along and really shook things up. Truthfully though, Vista didn’t do much, but it sure did annoy a lot of people out there.
Now Microsoft is chomping at the bit to take over the Internet. They’ve tried to buy Yahoo a few times. I’m sure they even had their eyes on Google. The goal, from what I understand, is to put their programs out there on the Internet and rent them to customers. Hey, it’s just what I’ve heard.
Since nobody has sold out or cratered to Microsoft’s will, they’ve created their own search site at www.bing.com. I think it’s proof that they want to take over the Internet. The rest of my predictions will have to wait a few years before we see what happens.
Hopefully I’ll win the lottery and move to Tahiti, so if I’m completely wrong it won’t matter.
Check out my Web site www.TexasComputerGuru.com for supplemental information and previous articles as well.
Aaron Barbee owns Texas Computer Guru, a local computer services company for on-site business and residential needs. He can be contacted at 281-628-5099. E-mail questions for Aaron to sunnews(at)baytownsun.com.