Re: Is Ada a commercial language ? (was: SEIC News Brief...)

[Dave Wood <dpw@thomsoft.com>]

Laurent Gasser wrote:
> 
> In article <58cd0h$jqj@news.nyu.edu>, kenner@lab.ultra.nyu.edu (Richard Kenner) writes: > However, it isn't surprising that any product being newly developed
> > will be based on the then-current version of the OS.  After all, it
> > certainly has to work with that version anyway, so developing it for
> > both that and an older version can be significantly extra work.
> 
> Let me play the devil's advocate.  This attitude is very popular in the
> computer market and goes badly against the interest of customers.

I agree in the short term, but in the long term everyone is 
served by this kind of rapid evolution.

> As a customer, willing to get a new application solving one of my needs,
> I have to upgrade to the version of the system developers had chosen.
> In many cases, this implies an upgrade of the hardware to keep up with
> the extra burden of the new system.  In some cases, the new hardware
> only comes with a more recent version of the system, which is no more
> compatible with the software originally selected by the customer... ;-)
> 
> I know no other industry so able to drive consumers to consume.
> 

It seems to me this is just the nature of a rapidly evolving
technology.  When hardware or software vendors are able to 
present a persuasive argument that their latest product is
vastly superior to the one on your desk, you feel compelled
to buy.  When enough people buy, the preceding product 
becomes obsolete, requiring everyone else to buy in as well.

I don't think this is unique to computing, it's just more
evident due to the breathtaking rate of change.  For example,
music lovers who disdained CDs and felt they were inferior
to top-quality vinyl, nevertheless have been compelled to
buy CDs and CD equipment just from sheer overwhelming market
tides.  Enthusiasts of BetaMax, convinced their format was
superior, had to give it up and go with the flow.  Same for
8-track.  Having been forced to move to new hardware (CD
players), the customer naturally had to upgrade all software
(CDs) or be left in the dust.

Horse lovers were compelled to buy gasoline once
automobiles became the dominant form of transporation and
quickly made saddles, buggies, and hay obsolete.

In a few years, you will feel compelled to buy new TV sets
simply because the software (broadcast signal), while still
backward compatible with your current sets, will be horribly
constrained in comparison to its digital decendent.

These indirect marketing effects only happen when truly 
compelling improvements are made in one area that require
an upgrade of related components and don't present any
serious drawbacks.  Video disks never really took off 
because while the quality was clearly superior to a VCR, 
the lack of a recording capability meant that people 
could not give up their VCR, and most people aren't 
willing to carry two variants of the same software (a 
problem Mac enthusiasts, or worse, Amiga enthusiasts, 
will fully appreciate.)  

An analogy might be that you are a great fan of ObjectAda
for Windows (blush!), and even though you think MacOS or
OS/2 are superior to Windows 95, you aren't willing to
change your OS because you can't bear to live without
your ObjectAda.

Hey, it could happen.

-- Dave Wood
-- Product Manager, ObjectAda for Windows
-- Aonix - "Ada with an Attitude"
-- http://www.aonix.com