As I See It...

An occasional commentary
by James E. Felton

May 12, 1997

Windows 95 should have been great. Instead it is only huge.

Windows 95 did introduce a large number of people to a relatively intuitive computer interface at a fairly reasonable cost. Who could deny that Windows 95 is a huge improvement over previous versions? Certainly not me. I absolutely hated Windows 3.1. Prior to the release of Win95 I threatened to throw my PC "out the window" more times than I'd care to mention (I've probably threatened to a few times since, but it wasn't due to the interface.).

So why do I say "should have been great"? Because greatness is more than just a useable interface. Greatness is more than just a large installed base. Webster's online dictionary defines greatness as "markedly superior in character or quality". Microsoft and Windows 95 are neither!

In my mind, Microsoft represents everything that can go wrong with the way America does business. Lie, cheat, steal, make clandestine deals...anything to win, win, win (RA3.0).

It seems to me that since about the time Ronald Reagan became President, America has slowly drifted from a nation of high morals, values, and principles to a nation where winning is everything. A nation where cheerleaders' moms might shoot each other's daughters over a spot on the team. A nation where nobody admits to anything unless you have eyewitnesses, and the evidence on video tape.

Fortunately, Microsoft made two huge mistakes in recent years. The first mistake was that the simpler interface of Windows 95 made it fairly easy for people to access the Internet and install non-Microsoft programs like Netscape Navigator, and Eudora Pro. The second mistake was that Microsoft chose to include Active X in it's own competing browser.

The Internet has turned computing into a very effective digital communications medium. And the fact that Netscape Navigator provides a common interface on almost every computing platform in existance, and it's inclusion of Java which also runs on almost every platform has opened software developer's eyes to the fact that there is a much larger market out there than just the Windows market.

Having realized their first mistake, Microsoft quickly arranged to buy a browser and build in competing features. But Microsoft took a huge risk (and I believe made a huge mistake) by choosing to include Active X as an alternative to Java. While Active X may be fine in a "closed system" like your PC, or an Intranet, it creates a huge security risk when used in the wide open space of the Internet. It is an "all, or nothing" proposal. In other words you either allow full access to your entire system at a site that uses Active X, or you reject it completely. With those being the only two choices, I'll reject it completely, thank you! I believe most people with any sense will do the same!

As Java, and network computing become pervasive I look forward to the day when I can say bye-bye to all my Windows programs. And from what I've seen recently, I don't think that day is very far off. Sure, I'll miss my old Win95 desktop. Kind of like I miss my old tricycle! But those days are gone forever. I'll say goodbye to the past in favor of "greater" things!

Have an opinion you'd like to share? Send it to me!

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