Strategy in Standards

Jon Udell makes some interesting points in his article ``Why IBM Should License Win32'' (September). However, I cannot agree with his conclusions. IBM's licensing of the Win32 API would secure its place as the standard desktop API. Win32s support is not currently part of OS/2--not because IBM doesn't know how, but because IBM is delaying a wholesale move to the Win32 API. If Win32 becomes the standard API while ownership remains with Microsoft, Microsoft will continue to evolve it to conform to the company's view. Many would like to see Microsoft transfer ownership of Win32 to an industry-standards body, where it could continue to evolve, nourished by the joint efforts of the entire industry. Some control of the Win32 API may be wrested from Microsoft if the development of Win32 API emulators, such as those from Sun Microsystems, is successful. Then there will be two routes to Win32, license the real thing from Microsoft or the emulation technology.

IBM has a strategic interest in many of the new microkernel-based operating systems and RISC-based processors. The success of any of these will have an impact on the relative value of the Win32 API. Now is hardly the time for IBM to yield total control of the desktop to Microsoft.

Steve Brewin

Winchester, Hampshire, U.K.

In the three years that I have been buying BYTE, never have I seen such utter nonsense as Jon Udell's commentary (September). He assumes that Win32 is going to be an instant success with the release of Windows 95, just because Win16 has such an enormous user base. But this didn't happen with Windows NT, and Windows 95 is reportedly not nearly as good as OS/2. Microsoft has even stated its intention to not multithread the first entries in the Win32 market. The fact is that there are more PM (Presentation Manager) applications than there are Win32 applications.

Udell stil l doesn't seem to realize that the Windows support in OS/2 is a stopgap measure to let people keep using their software. When their old software is written off, there's no reason to buy a Win32 application over a PM application.

Illya Vaes,

ivaes@ib.ns.nl

Utrecht, The Netherlands