Standardization Vs Backward Compatibility (Age Old Debate)
Microsoft does not claim that all "special purpose" third party software will run on their operating systems. They sell a very good multi-purpose operating system that any software vender can adapt to with little effort. How anyone can expect any operating system company to ensure compatibility with all of the old antique special purpose applications that are still around, is well beyond me. Microsoft even provides a testing program to aid software and hardware vendors in assessing the need for updating their own hardware/software. To satisfy every little vender and ensure that his antiquated little system works with any advances in the operating system is impossible. Operating systems are the foundation for all software operability. To insist upon hampering OS progress, for compatibility with all old software, would be the same as saying that one must not invent a new engine for cars until all old car owners have replaced their transmissions to enable compatibility with the new engines. What you guys are asking is for Microsoft to stop progress and wait for all special purpose hardware and software to catch up. That is ludicrous. It is simply the nature of computer systems development, software and hardware, that some must adapt to new advances and when they won't do that, they will have great problems into the next century. Let me ask that all of you folks, who fight these advances,invent a new and forever backward compatible OS. Can't be done and who would want it? Stop impeding progress by trying to run old special purpose software designed to run on, for example DOS 6, using the latest hardware or OSs. Conversely, stop trying to use antique hardware to run advanced software. You are butting your heads up against the old reality that to be sucessful one must keep up with the times. If Linux or some other operating system fits your needs today, use it. But be aware that you will be stuck with the limitations of that OS until you decide to design to today's standards. Fortunately, time does march on and in the computing world it is moving at warp speed. We must all deal with the headaches and ramifications of that.
