3 ms·

> choosing not to use Google products is about as useful as choosing not to use MS Windows was 10 years ago Actually people that decided not to use Windows 10

> choosing not to use Google products is about as useful as choosing not to use MS Windows was 10 years ago Actually people that decided not to use Windows 10 years ago are precisely the reason for why Microsoft is more and more irrelevant today. They've been haemorrhaging mind-share amongst developers ever since early 2000. This isn't something that happens overnight, but when losing the mind-share of influencers, the long-term effects are devastating. And developers in the software industry are the ultimate influencers. Pick any successful product that's eroding Microsoft's market-share, anything at all. You'll discover an interesting pattern - the early adopters, the influencers, the ones providing the much-needed spark are exactly the people that stopped using Microsoft's products 10 years ago. And yes, most people are still on Windows, but they aren't locked to Windows any more and guess who made that happen?

stephengillie 13y ago
Like how videogame developers started shifting from DirectX in 2003 and many now write for open standards, like OpenGL & OpenAL? Except that didn't happen. The videogame industry got too caught up in the nVidia vs ATI fanboy wars, allowing Microsoft's proprietary standards (or however I should refer to DirectX) to become the de facto industry standard.
- BlackDeath3 13y ago
  "Like how videogame developers started shifting from DirectX in 2003 and many now write for open standards, like OpenGL & OpenAL?" Hey man, I'm working on it! Give me a break.
- nkassis 13y ago
  There has been some recent changes around this situation such as Microsoft now implementing WebGL in IE11 which means they are starting to loose some of their stronghold on the graphic api world.
  - stephengillie 13y ago
    I don't think it's a case of Microsoft consciously releasing their stranglehold so much as new devices (smartphones) forcing a change in the videogame landscape.
jbigelow76 13y ago
> And yes, most people are still on Windows, but they aren't locked to Windows any more and guess who made that happen? Apple? - Sent from my iPhone
- pestaa 13y ago
  Barely. - Sent from my web browser

stephengillie 13y ago

Like how videogame developers started shifting from DirectX in 2003 and many now write for open standards, like OpenGL & OpenAL? Except that didn't happen. The videogame industry got too caught up in the nVidia vs ATI fanboy wars, allowing Microsoft's proprietary standards (or however I should refer to DirectX) to become the de facto industry standard.

BlackDeath3 13y ago
"Like how videogame developers started shifting from DirectX in 2003 and many now write for open standards, like OpenGL & OpenAL?" Hey man, I'm working on it! Give me a break.
nkassis 13y ago
There has been some recent changes around this situation such as Microsoft now implementing WebGL in IE11 which means they are starting to loose some of their stronghold on the graphic api world.
- stephengillie 13y ago
  I don't think it's a case of Microsoft consciously releasing their stranglehold so much as new devices (smartphones) forcing a change in the videogame landscape.

jbigelow76 13y ago

> And yes, most people are still on Windows, but they aren't locked to Windows any more and guess who made that happen? Apple? - Sent from my iPhone

pestaa 13y ago
Barely. - Sent from my web browser