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

[Dave Wood <dpw@thomsoft.com>]

Larry Kilgallen wrote:
> 
> In article <32AF0396.BB6@thomsoft.com>, Dave Wood <dpw@thomsoft.com> writes:
> > Laurent Gasser wrote:
> 
> >> 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.
> 
> The product becomes "obsolete" only if it no longer serves the
> purpose of a user.  I am quite happy with the PIM I use, even
> though the vendor just went out of business.  The fact that they
> could not get enough others to buy does not reduce the usefulness
> to me.

Sure, but I'm talking about the broader market, not specific
individuals.

> The software vendors who must support older versions are those
> whose product is _not_ the basis for buying a computer.  Nobody
> upgrades their OS just to support a product which is a minor part
> of their use of the machine.  

Typically, not for a single product.  However, when the 
preponderance of new and interesting products are released
only for the new OS, there is a compelling interest for
the broad market to move to the new OS.  The cost of the
move finally is offset by the cost of sticking with all 
the old software.

> Vendors of such products must be
> adaptive and look forward to many years of supporting Windows 3.1,
> DOS and MacOS System 6 if they want to maintain popularity with
> customers.

Vendors are adaptive only to the extent that they can 
make a profit being so.  The cost of supporting the 
old software increases rapidly as more and more people
move to the new OS, while less and less people buy the
old product.  At some point, the vendor will offer to
provide support only at a higher cost, which will drive
even more people to the new product/OS.  Ultimately, 
the cost of maintenance will become more than either
the vendor or the customer are willing to bear, and
the product will be retired by the vendor.  Of course,
the customer may continue to use it.

This happens all the time, and not just in the software
industry.  You'd be hard put to find a Ford dealer 
willing to sell you a service contract on your Model T,
or manufacture spare parts, but you may maintain it 
yourself or find a third party who specializes in 
classic cars for a hefty fee.  Still, for every Model T
on the street you will find millions of Escorts 
(progress being a fleeting and subjective concept.)

You will find exceptions everywhere (I know someone
who still uses a Sinclair ZX-80, for crying out loud!), 
but the real point of interest is the broad trend of 
the market.

> > 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.
> 
> Not based on the programming currently available !!!

Come now, just imagine the advantages of a digitally-
enhanced, wide-screen Geraldo show!

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