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So your saying that to a layman Windows is ubiquitous to a computer, and that somehow makes the brand worthless? When you are talking about a Hoover, sure. Any

by orf 7y ago

So your saying that to a layman Windows is ubiquitous to a computer, and that somehow makes the brand worthless? When you are talking about a Hoover, sure. Anyone can make a hoover, and the name looses all meaning and becomes a victim of its own success. That’s happening to Docker right now. But Windows is different. Not anyone can make “a Windows”, because the difference between a computer and Windows is a lot more noticeable than the difference between one type of vacuum cleaner and another. The link between Windows and a computer does make it harder to turn into some form of platform, sure, but it’s far, far, far from worthless.

Izkata 7y ago
You got the association off: It's not brand -> generic, it's "user has a problem" -> brand. For non-techie people (most users), it was always "my computer" or "my PC" until they had a problem with it and had to think about "Windows". So yeah, as GP said, "Windows" did already have a negative reputation and was viewed as a necessary evil. Particularly when the iPhone was released, Windows Vista had just come out a few months before.
- ineedasername 7y ago
  >Windows Vista had just come out a few months before. Yes, I know, Vista == awful. But I can never think too badly of it because I live through Windows ME, And when I think "worst Windows OS" everything else just kind of fades into the background. It's overall an improving pattern though, with every other version being a step backwards, but not as big a step as the one before. Vista wasn't as bad as ME, Windows 8 wasn't as bad as Vista. At the same time, Windows 7 wasn't as much of an improvement on Vista as XP was over ME, and 10 not nearly as much of an improvement on 8 as 7 was on Vista.
  - Fnoord 7y ago
    Windows ME and Windows Vista were both terrible (it doesn't matter which one was worst), but that was because Windows XP and Windows 7 were also so good. So you start to notice the difference between the predecessor or successor which articulates the strong and weak points further.
    - nicoburns 7y ago
      Windows ME was bad because it would crash A LOT. Every 20 minutes sometimes (and computers didn't start up so quickly back then). Vista qas comparatively wonderful.

by orf 7y ago

Izkata 7y ago

You got the association off: It's not brand -> generic, it's "user has a problem" -> brand. For non-techie people (most users), it was always "my computer" or "my PC" until they had a problem with it and had to think about "Windows". So yeah, as GP said, "Windows" did already have a negative reputation and was viewed as a necessary evil. Particularly when the iPhone was released, Windows Vista had just come out a few months before.

ineedasername 7y ago
>Windows Vista had just come out a few months before. Yes, I know, Vista == awful. But I can never think too badly of it because I live through Windows ME, And when I think "worst Windows OS" everything else just kind of fades into the background. It's overall an improving pattern though, with every other version being a step backwards, but not as big a step as the one before. Vista wasn't as bad as ME, Windows 8 wasn't as bad as Vista. At the same time, Windows 7 wasn't as much of an improvement on Vista as XP was over ME, and 10 not nearly as much of an improvement on 8 as 7 was on Vista.
- Fnoord 7y ago
  Windows ME and Windows Vista were both terrible (it doesn't matter which one was worst), but that was because Windows XP and Windows 7 were also so good. So you start to notice the difference between the predecessor or successor which articulates the strong and weak points further.
  - nicoburns 7y ago
    Windows ME was bad because it would crash A LOT. Every 20 minutes sometimes (and computers didn't start up so quickly back then). Vista qas comparatively wonderful.