[93248] in Cypherpunks
re: Microsoft Metaphors
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Thomas Porter)
Thu Jan 15 11:29:40 1998
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 1998 11:01:05 -0500
From: Thomas Porter <txporter@mindspring.com>
To: cypherpunks@cyberpass.net
Reply-To: Thomas Porter <txporter@mindspring.com>
On Thu, Jan 15, 1998 at 10:09:09AM -0500, Declan McCullagh thoughtfully expounded:
> What are the best metaphors to use when talking about a browser and an
> operating system? Is the combination like a car and an engine, or a car and
> a roofrack? A pair of gloves?
>
> Or is it even useful to talk about a browser/OS metaphor in the case of
> Microsoft, since IE has been glued into the operating system in the form of
> .DLLs? Might that be more like the wheels of a car?
I might look at it like air conditioning in a car: If present, it requires
significant alterations to the basic vehicle, and might be difficult to remove
cleanly, _but_ air conditioning in no way affects the basic operation of the
car, and cars can be bought without air conditioning.
Hmmmmm, actually A/C does affect the car's operation: uses more gas and
degrades performance! A better metaphor than I thought.
--
Tom Porter txporter@mindspring.com
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"I do believe that where there is a choice only between cowardice and
violence, I would advise violence." Mahatma Gandhi
