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The Great Technological Advances..

I have been educated and involved in computer information technology for over 30 years.

I can recall computers in their very early pioneering days. Small computers were actually run using the data on cassette tapes.

Later floppy disks were developed. However, it took a while for graphics to finally emerge to the platform.

Over time as larger data storage devices, faster access, and more memory evolved technology leaped into play.

In the early 1990’s I had to drive for miles to find a computer store and very few consumers had personal computers in their homes.

I for one am grateful to see technology finally awaken sleeping computer novices.

Much can be said for Microsoft Windows being the force behind the technological revolution.

In the beginning years Apple, Atari along with other hardware and software manufacturers were priced expensively. This left Microsoft an open field in which to steal the show!

I can recall when a word processing program, Word Star and a spreadsheet, Lotus 123 were too expensive for the small business company or consumer to own on their personal computer.

FREE does work. It just takes time.

Along came other programs like Word Perfect for word processing that was given away for free.

It was not too long before Word Perfect was the choice word processing application for 95% of the computer population. Once, they monopolized the marketplace with their software, then the price and upgrades increased.

Microsoft played Word Perfect’s game allowing their software to sell for less. History did repeat itself. Microsoft pulled ahead in sales and ultimately raised their software prices markedly higher.

Ironically, Word Star, Word Perfect and Lotus 123 applications lost their market share and struggle to this day.

Adobe ran a somewhat similar race, although the company concentrated in the graphical development sphere. In most recent years, they purchased Macromedia with continued increases in their market share for web advancement applications. They, too, profoundly raised their prices to astronomical costs.

Apple Computers gave their systems and products to schools and educational institutes. It kept them alive to begin again with the iPod and iPhone including their latest technological computer advances.

It has all been a very interesting journey. Additionally, some back stabbing and cut throating was sadly performed by many!

Every developing database software company who gave away their applications for Free or little cost was purchased by larger programming companies.

Over time the majority of smaller companies were taken-over by larger corporations.

Intuitive (Intuit) Quicken and Quickbooks purchased other financial packages to call their own software programs.

Microsoft purchased FoxPro Database and hundreds of other software developing companies to implement application technologies and present it as their own programs.

Microsoft originally made available at reasonable pricing along with marketplace solutions what other developers would not offer to consumers thereby enveloping the entire industry.

To be continued..

Stop by often to visit us…

Kindest Regards, B. Robert