I was intrigued by Mike Elgan's comments about whether Microsoft has violated antitrust regulations (The Explorer, October 1995).
Microsoft has been unfairly dumped upon by the Feds. I'd love it if someone, anyone, would stand up for those who do produce something of value in this country, instead of knuckling under to the same old bromides that regulation is necessary.
Jason Lockwood, via the Internet
A copy of Mike Elgan's column should be sent to the Justice Department, since it is obvious that Mike has a better grasp on computer-related antitrust issues than Washington does.
Craig Bonvechio
via the Internet
Mike Elgan says Microsoft's OS dominance has no effect on its applications success. In fact, he called this idea "hogwash." Well, his dismissal of this idea is "balderdash." Consider the number of neophyte computer users who see "Microsoft" all over their OS documentation and on their startup screens and think that a Microsoft product is more suitable for use with the OS because the name matches.
Microsoft makes good applications. However, there are many behaviors that smack of anticompetitiveness and monopolism. The proper thing is for Microsoft to avoid even a hint of impropriety.
Rob Stewart
via the Internet
In a world where successful people and businesses are routinely despised because of their success, I found Mike Elgan's piece on Microsoft refreshing. The hurdle of overcoming all this resentment is plenty of challenge for any company; federally imposed legal hurdles are simply not necessary.
Greg Scharer
via the Internet
I very much enjoyed Mark Hebert's article about being a closet Windows graphic designer (Dialog Box, November 1995). I have been designing on a PC since PageMaker made its first version for the PC. I struggled with cross-platform compatibility issues and the smug looks from the Mac users, but now I'm glad I have PC experience. PC graphic artists may have the last laugh after all.
Robert O. Allan
via the Internet
I appreciated Mark Hebert's column. I have been a graphic designer/desktop publisher/interactive multimedia title developer for seven years now ... all on Windows. I don't have to convert a company's corporate data into a format a Mac can read before using it (saves lots of time and money for everyone); I can give it back to a client in a form that can be further manipulated by the company;
I can charge less because of the lower overhead; I can offer much more flexibility; and I can match or better their output.
Karen DeFelice
via the Internet
Pioneers like Mark Hebert and I will get the word out to our peers. With software differences being nil, pricing favoring the Windows platform and operating speeds being arguably better, the days of Mac systems dominating the graphics arena are numbered. When you cut right to it, clients don't care how their collateral is created, only that it sells product.
Steve Prestek
via the Internet
Sen. Jim Exon's column (Dialog Box, October 1995) was hardly worth the space. We've heard all this poppycock before. The only part of it that aroused me was that I don't like being referred to as part of the "hands-off elite." The elite are in Washington. Out here in the hinterlands, we're just simple, practical people who are tired of self-serving politicians who use "for the good of our children" to justify every petty little regulatory urge they choose to pursue.
Gene Warner
via the Internet
Sen. Jim Exon said some groups will do anything to defend the status quo on the Internet. He's right. The Internet is the First Amendment come to life. Let us keep it that way!
Gabor Morocz
via the Internet
I do agree with Sen. Exon that there's a lot of material on the Internet that's inappropriate for children. Perhaps online services should limit access to adults only. We don't let children drive on our interstate highways. Why do they need to be driving on our Internet highways?
Robert A. Swirsky
via the Internet
It is sad to see the ignorance that Sen. Exon voices. How can you legislate a network that goes beyond national boundaries? Don't spend my tax dollars having the government do a parent's job.
Jose Nieves
via the Internet
Yes, pornography is evil. But censorship is more evil.
Nat Elam
via the Internet
While I agree with Fred Davis (ReadMe File, November 1995) that the floppy drive has not seen any improvement in quite some time, I cannot see CD-R as the answer to the floppy disk's obsolescence. The floppy disk is inherently reusable, is much more environmentally friendly, is easy to use and has a proven track record. The CD-R is like all CD-ROM systems: temperamental, not reusable, easily dirtied and hard to read by the system.
Ken Adamek
via America Online
Your article "It's time to deep-six the now-obsolete floppy disk drive" was one of the dumbest things I've ever read. Did you ever notice the price of a CD-R?
Raymond L. Warwick
via the Internet
I have come to expect thorough reporting, informative articles and thought-provoking commentary when I read WINDOWS Magazine. I was disappointed with the thoughtless and less-than-professional "attention-grabber" to lead off the Fred Davis column ("Here's what's really good about Windows 95: It sucks less!" ReadMe File, October 1995). While the words used may be common nowadays in somein my opinion they reflect a decided lack of professionalism and do not belong in your otherwise fine magazine.
Paul Schleusener
via the Internet
I'm responding to your recent article "Key to Making Changes" (News, October 1995). I have encountered many keyboard arrangements over the years. Each has its pluses and minuses, but the two biggest overall minuses are the varied placement of the "nontypewriter" keys (especially the backslash and backspace keys) and the offset of the "typewriter" keys to the left. The auto manufacturers have moved many controls to the steering wheel, and it seems logical for the computer industry to do the same with keyboards.
Wilbur C. Bragg II
via CompuServe
In our November New Products section, we erroneously said Blue Sky Software's "RoboHELP 95 turns Windows 95 and Word 6.0 32-bit into hypertext authoring tools." In fact, RoboHELP 95 turns Word 7 for Windows 95 and 32-bit Word 6.0 for Windows NT into hypertext authoring tools.
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