RasterWeb: Rambles: failstorm

I've been following some (not all) of the HailStorm coverage, and thought it might be good to collect my thoughts on it so far...

There are things to not like about HailStorm. I really don't want Microsoft in control of my data. I like to control my data. I like to have my data. I like to have it on machines under my control, or under the control of someone I trust. I don't trust Microsoft. I've never signed up for a HotMail account. I've never bought a piece of Microsoft software. I really don't like to deal with Microsoft too much.

I have to deal with Microsoft products. Through some classic MS Moves™ they have an operating system and browser that is used by zillions of people. If my job did not require me to use Microsoft products there's a good chance I wouldn't. Microsoft makes some good products, they really do. I've heard great things about Entourage, and MSIE 5.0 for the Mac OS is a very nice browser, I've even been known to use it on occasion.

But from what I've heard about HailStorm, it's not something I'm interested in. I'm really hoping it will be a costly thing to be involved in. If it costs money for users to participate in HailStorm, that's good, as it will lessen the number of people using it. How many people have HotMail accounts, or use MSN Messenger? What would the numbers look like if there were costs for these services? The sad part is, I'm afraid the numbers would be lower, but still be quite significant. It's easy to use Microsoft technologies, and by that I mean, the typical person on the street who buys a typical Windows PC, will most likely use what is installed on it. If Office is there, they'll use Office. If Passport is there, and MSN Messenger, and HailStorm - chances are they'll use it. I'm starting to think we're the freaks. People who know enough about technology, the net, and computers to care about things like privacy, security, open protocols and standards, vendor lock-in.

It scares me. For while I'm not about to sign up for HailStorm anytime soon, members of my family might... and what if my place of employment signs up the whole company, myself included? Then I'm caught in the mess, by no choice of my own. Isn't it sad that people are looking to AOL to save them from Microsoft? AOL, the people who grabbed Netscape, the people who tell you that you've got mail! Yup. I suppose if AOL used Jabber's technology, I could hope for the best.

Some days I feel like I'm the minority on the net. I know there are others who do have many of the same concerns as I do, let's hope those people continue to be a strong voice on the web. That is all.

  Last Modified: 04.02.2001 by rasterboy