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

[Gary Miller]

> Samantha said: 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.

Because Microsoft bundles Outlook Express into the Windows XP operating
system.  And the XP operating comes installed on 99.9 of the PCs used in the
US whether you like it or not, it has become the defacto standard.

High speed carriers such as Comcast and Verizon only have installation and
helpdesk support for Outlook.  Try asking them for help configuring another
mail program and you'll find out you're on your own.

I know there are a lot of power users out there who enjoy trying new
software and a lot of the Open Source software out there has been made a lot
easier for newbies to download/install but the truth is I work with the
average PC consumer on a daily basis and the vast majority of them don't
make it any further than Outlook and Interent Explorer.



-----Original Message-----
From: extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org
[mailto:extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org] On Behalf Of Samantha Atkins
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 4:56 AM
To: ExI chat list
Subject: Re: [extropy-chat] Microsoft (was: singularity conference
atstanford)


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

_______________________________________________
extropy-chat mailing list
extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org
http://lists.extropy.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/extropy-chat