MikeB on 21 October 2008
@ xman
Interesting if not slanted view, MS did start off with a bad product, the first windows you leave out how they have improved it version over version to lead the market.
MSDOS (due to IBM, a company which lacked vision with regard to the potential of computer usage within people's homes) already earned Microsoft a majority share within people's homes. People wanted to use the apps they used at work in their homes as well. Lotus 123 and Word Perfect weren't exactly the most advanced software of their time (others 80s apps were in color and took advantage of a pre-emptiive multi-tasking GUI system), but they were used by lots of companies.
Windows IMO wasn't exactly anything special and IMO still isn't today. Of course they did a great marketing campaign in mid-late 90s, hyping new Windows features which had been implemented for rival platforms for over a decade earlier.
IMO it's amazing how slow desktop operating systems have advanced since Windows95 onwards and how inefficient everything has become. During the 80s you could boot up a computer within seconds, click a GUI button and the OS would always instantly provide user feedback, turn off the system like you would a TV, etc. Hard to imagine at the time how little the desktop experience has advanced. IMO Microsoft's monopoly and lead tech directions have significantly held back advancements.
