RE: A "hidden" cost

From: Brad Elstore <brad_at_elstore.com>
Date: Mon 21 May 2001 12:35:48 -0500

MICHAEL MARTINEZ <Michael_at_xenite.org> WROTE:

>But the marketing behind the shoddy software is superb,
>second-to-none.

TO WHICH IAN IPPOLITO <IanIppolito_at_planet-source-code.com>
REPLIED:

> Again, I have to disagree. Microsoft's marketing is awful. As
> evidence, look at the confusion over the new .NET strategy they
> are promoting. If you ask 100 people what it is, you'll get 100
> different answers, because the message from Redmond isn't
consistent
> and is all over the place.

> Just one programmer's humble opinion.

Not to mention that they took a fanatastic language,
Vb6, and rewrote it as VB.NET, which isn't even
forwardly compatible. Bring programs forward, some
statements no longer work, and others work differently.
You will have bugs, they will bve hidden, your
customers will find them eventually. You might still
be in business when they do. Your reputation will suffer,
if you are still in business to have one.

Basically it looks like the C development group within
Microsoft did a political power play and sabotaged the
VB development process in the name of 'something' that
sounded great there. The attitude within Microsft at
some level seems to be that VB6 is a 'toy'language and
any programs in it are short and trivial and can be
rewritten in minutes to program around Microsoft's latest
feature crusade.

I've got VB-built systems that have nearly a hundred
thousand lines of code and sell for up to 60,000 bucks.
We are just in the middle of switching to VB 6 from VB 5,
whcih is not a major change but includes new versions of
third party controls that have to be tested in depth.

We have NO plans to go to VB.NET. Never. The changes to
the language are dysfunctional. Perhaps there are
wonderful things about VB.NET, but making a language
upgrade break existing programs is beyond idiotic. The
people who made that decision should be encouraged to
change careers. I suggest evangelism or stock brokerage.

Sorry I can't afford a humble opinion. I have 35 employees
and a thousand customers who depend on the decisions I
make. Microsoft's arrogance on this issue will cost them
money. Their focus groups and beta testers must have told
them how bad an idea this was, but they doctored up the
results internally and forged on with their crusade.

They will come to their senses, but it will cost their
customers and stockholders millions of dollars until
they do.

Brad Jensen



Received on Mon May 21 2001 - 12:35:48 CDT