[extropy-chat] Microsoft (was: singularity conference at stanford)

[Samantha Atkins]

On May 16, 2006, at 12:13 AM, John K Clark wrote:

> "Alfio Puglisi" <alfio.puglisi at gmail.com>
>
>> Eugen's mail program sends perfectly standard-compliant multipart
>> messages. If Outlook Express can't handle them, that's Microsoft  
>> fault, as
>> usual.
>
> Like it or not Outlook Express is the most used mail program on planet
> Earth, and as the entire point of mail programs is communication I  
> tend to
> think the problem is with Eugen and not with me.

Lots of things are widely used that have serious flaws that  
occasionally cause problems.   The problem seem to be not with Eugen  
or you but with a disconnect between relevant standards and what  
Outlook in some configuration and circumstances actually does.   
Outlook is not itself the standard just because it is widely used.

I also doubt it is the most used.  Outlook costs money.  Many people  
on Microsoft platforms can afford it only at work.  They use other  
things quite often at home.

>
> As for the Microsoft bashing, well, Muggles love to bad mouth  
> success, but I
> thought Extropians were beyond that.

Success?  Many things are widely done that are not something that is  
actually good.  Outlook as a mail system has some serious flaws.   
That is merely factual.   If Outlook is screwing up on perfectly  
reasonable standards compliant mail then Outlook is at fault.  I  
don't know enough about the particulars of this case to be sure this  
is the case in this instance.  But it will not do to accuse people of  
Microsoft bashing just for stating the problem may be with Outlook.

- samantha