“PC’s are just an Apple rip-off” was never more than Apple propaganda. By the time of this cartoon, the “IBM compatible” market was far more innovative than the MacWorld. Did Mac ever get around to putting more than one button on the mouse? I believe Bill was making more money selling MS Office and network software than Windows 95. I went from WordPerfect 6 for Dos to what came on the used computer I bought next, to OpenOffice to LibreOffice, and only had to actually pay for WordPerfect. (I bought a book from Amazon once.)
The fact that PCs had a standard OS is what helped them succeed. If there had been multiple OSes it is doubtful they would have been as useful. Though people complain, the fact that it works on so many different devices and brands is pretty good. Apple limits what you can put on their machines.
In the 80´s IBM had mainframes installed in all the major countries of the world and had the capability to shut them down by remote control! Scary huh?
As a home hobbiest, I went used DOS in its various evolutions, and then went OS/2 Warp to jump to 32-bit processing. It ran Windows in a DOS emulator, hence the claim it ran “Windows better than Windows”: running separate Windows programs in multiple OS/2 windows, if one crashed or locked up it didn’t bring them all down. But MS kept jerking IBM around, tweaking the code, and so finally after WinXP came out I went over to the dark side. I wanted to work, not screw with the drivers and so forth: that’s what Linux is for.
I’ve only been reading this strip a few weeks, and now I’m a little bit confused. I thought it was a new cartoon every day, but these ones look like they’re from 25 years ago??
Another reason people went with Windows and PCs is serviceability. As a 20-years IT support guy, I have seen this personally. Apple, over the years, has tried to monopolize the repair industry for its computers. It glues in batteries, even changes screw heads to make their laptops harder to service. I don’t think you can even upgrade a hard drive anymore. NOT customer friendly.
Apple didn’t invent the GUI. It just got in the commercial market early. Other companies realized it was worth making the effort after Apple did the proof of concept for them. Everyone knew about GUIs. Text based interfaces were just cheaper to code.
At least Bill Gates married a fabulous woman who encouraged him to give up running the computer business end and invest the vast majority of their billions into saving the world through medical research, starting with malaria and spreading into aids, and now COVID-19, and on and on. The two are now the most active philanthropists of the 21st century. Melinda is probably one of the most intelligent, well rounded people out there. I have two students from low income families who benefited from their scholarship programs and are now first generation college students at top universities.
Turns out that giving all the money to Bill Gates would have been a good idea back then. Who knows, he might have prevented the pandemic! Or at least have gotten a running start at it. But I guess nobody knew back then that he would have turned out to be a philanthropist.
BE THIS GUY about 3 years ago
“We can’t give all our money to Bill Gate because we have to have some left to give to Jeff Bezos.”
Petercowen about 3 years ago
Back then, I did just fine with a Brother word processor, with edit, memory and storage. Never did get used to the hum.
mourdac Premium Member about 3 years ago
I was a network admin for 25 years and said that I should send Bill a Christmas card every year because his buggy products guaranteed me employment.
Troglodyte about 3 years ago
Windows to the soul, they aren’t.
scote1379 Premium Member about 3 years ago
Windows 95 ?
Yontrop about 3 years ago
“PC’s are just an Apple rip-off” was never more than Apple propaganda. By the time of this cartoon, the “IBM compatible” market was far more innovative than the MacWorld. Did Mac ever get around to putting more than one button on the mouse? I believe Bill was making more money selling MS Office and network software than Windows 95. I went from WordPerfect 6 for Dos to what came on the used computer I bought next, to OpenOffice to LibreOffice, and only had to actually pay for WordPerfect. (I bought a book from Amazon once.)
Billavi Premium Member about 3 years ago
It’s hard to believe that Microsoft only had 80% market share at one time
NeedaChuckle Premium Member about 3 years ago
The fact that PCs had a standard OS is what helped them succeed. If there had been multiple OSes it is doubtful they would have been as useful. Though people complain, the fact that it works on so many different devices and brands is pretty good. Apple limits what you can put on their machines.
wrd2255 about 3 years ago
At least Bill embraced charitable causes. Eventually. With Melinda’s urging.
Prey about 3 years ago
In the 80´s IBM had mainframes installed in all the major countries of the world and had the capability to shut them down by remote control! Scary huh?
MartinPerry1 about 3 years ago
Why not rip off Apple? Apple ripped off Xerox.
steverinoCT about 3 years ago
As a home hobbiest, I went used DOS in its various evolutions, and then went OS/2 Warp to jump to 32-bit processing. It ran Windows in a DOS emulator, hence the claim it ran “Windows better than Windows”: running separate Windows programs in multiple OS/2 windows, if one crashed or locked up it didn’t bring them all down. But MS kept jerking IBM around, tweaking the code, and so finally after WinXP came out I went over to the dark side. I wanted to work, not screw with the drivers and so forth: that’s what Linux is for.
Stocky One about 3 years ago
MartinPerry1 about 3 years ago
A second comment because of the comments about the economy. Are you enjoying the GameStop play as much as I am?
66mustang about 3 years ago
Can’t wait to get back to store shopping once the TrumpVirus thing is fixed. Better days are coming.
Uncle Joe Premium Member about 3 years ago
Too bad they didn’t invent the smartphone.
mistercatworks about 3 years ago
Another reason people went with Windows and PCs is serviceability. As a 20-years IT support guy, I have seen this personally. Apple, over the years, has tried to monopolize the repair industry for its computers. It glues in batteries, even changes screw heads to make their laptops harder to service. I don’t think you can even upgrade a hard drive anymore. NOT customer friendly.
willie_mctell about 3 years ago
Apple didn’t invent the GUI. It just got in the commercial market early. Other companies realized it was worth making the effort after Apple did the proof of concept for them. Everyone knew about GUIs. Text based interfaces were just cheaper to code.
Ka`ōnōhi`ula`okahōkūmiomio`ehiku Premium Member about 3 years ago
Give it to Elon Musk. He’s more innovative than the lot of them.
JenSolo02 about 3 years ago
At least Bill Gates married a fabulous woman who encouraged him to give up running the computer business end and invest the vast majority of their billions into saving the world through medical research, starting with malaria and spreading into aids, and now COVID-19, and on and on. The two are now the most active philanthropists of the 21st century. Melinda is probably one of the most intelligent, well rounded people out there. I have two students from low income families who benefited from their scholarship programs and are now first generation college students at top universities.
Laurie Stoker Premium Member about 3 years ago
Turns out that giving all the money to Bill Gates would have been a good idea back then. Who knows, he might have prevented the pandemic! Or at least have gotten a running start at it. But I guess nobody knew back then that he would have turned out to be a philanthropist.