Even the most successful companies have their own
black days. “Without loses there is no wins” as they say.
So… In the 1st topic at the end of wiki
page was the task. I did not saw it in first place – and it was the reason of
the first topic in my blog was born. But it is ok!!! It will be second (thank God
I saw the task in normal time)!!! The task is to look through the histories of
three most huge failures of IT history and think of them a little. Yes, sure I need
to tell the conclusions of them, something like: “if they do like this it
wouldn’t be happen like it was”, but I will not. It is not possible for those
histories. You will think the same after you read my new topic! But yeah i will end with summary.
Ok. Yes. Failures was many-many-many, but I will tell about
failures in companies everybody is know and last will be not exactly a failure,
it is defeat in the battle of equal and this defeat is giving only honor.
Let us look back to the near past. Let us look at the
history of Windows Vista live and list all of its mistakes witch kill it very
fast. Yes. All of us was using this Operational System but not as long as
Windows XP and if was variants not to use it we’ve done it!
Mistake #1. Late sales start.
First mistake Windows Vista made, it made it before it even burn. Sales start date of Vista is coming
with its history deep into the past. Already in summer, when Windows XP wasn’t
started to sell, Vista was told as a successor of it. Told as Longhorn System –
Vista was promised to start at the end of 2003y. Time goes, system wasn’t all
the questions about it reduced to some kind of farce. Windows Vista late for 3 years at the beginning of
2007y. User expectations were not fulfilled, the credibility to Microsoft has
been undermined, relation to Windows Vista has not been so smooth - everybody
tried to find flaws in the system. It was not being love before it was even
burn.
Mistake #2. Huge expectations.
The was too many things that was expected from the
system. Just before start the second problem was revealed – Microsoft required
from its programmers too many, there was no possible ways to done all the tasks.
As an example, file system WinFS, which was deleted at the and from tasks. Another
goal was to create an interface (symbols and text) on vector graphics,
completely independent of the screen resolution. It was crossed out and
postponed to later times.
Mistake #3. Bad compability.
Despite the fact that Microsoft had years to inform
computer world of the Windows Vista standards, they couldn’t avoid problems
with compability. Very large plate of users was not ready to Vista. A lot of
programs couldn’t handle with Vista Account Control. Moreover, many devices
have not worked because they did not have drivers. Microsoft arranged trial of
beta-tests and a limited number of licenses for a limited time and lots of
users faced Vista only after they bought new computers.
Mistake #4. System requirements was too high.
Probably, strategists from Rendmond overestimated
computer quality of normal users at home. According to the statistics average
computer was bought for 3 years before Millennium, after that sales was coming
lower. Many had 1 GB RAM and 1 GHz processors. That gives possibility to use
all the software for home and work, listen music and at the same time use
Internet with comfort. Only few bought powerful computers for gaming. As a result:
Windows Vista requirements was too high for “old” computers. Only few was ready
for spend money to upgrade, so lots of users demand to downgrade Vista to XP.
Mistake #5 “In the wrong place and at the wrong time”
Yes, it is appears that it was not the Microsoft
fault. But to kill is to kill. When the Vista started at the market rushed,
like a bomb absolutely new product – netbooks.
Device had market as it was its own. Deficit of
little, light, full-capacity computers with Internet access was destroyed by
them. And, of course, they wasn’t designed for super requirement as Vista
needed. First of them even had as start OS Linux. Microsoft couldn’t just watch
it and do nothing, so they had to go back and reborn XP. They restart XP sales
even if they wasn’t up-to-date OS, but Microsoft didn’t have another one.
Mistake #6 Price
Vista was most expensive Operational System for all
the Windows existing. No comments!!!
Mistake #7 Windows XP
It may sound strange, but the success of previous
system take its shot for fail of Vista system. Windows XP was most ideal system
of it time – stability and reliability of Windows 2000 in combination with the
convenience and good compatibility with games and applications from Windows 98 times
– done the XP natural working horse and nobody needs the new version.
Mistake #8 Incompatibility with predecessors
Yes, most of the programs from Windows XP times are
working at Windows Vista without a problems, but some – do not. And basically they
are – office software. Most of the companies didn’t wanted to change operation
systems, soft and with them computer park – too many money and need to teach
stuff.
Mistake #9 User Account Control
It was a good idea. Users have limited rights and
freedoms on the computer, it makes 2 good moments: security from reckless
actions and security from viruses and hackers. Problem was with the settings.
UAC was very strict and very often warns. That leads to scheme: its endless
warnings it dulls caution -> rash actions -> "hit from behind on the
head”, ta-da!!! computer is infected or under foreign control.
Mistake #10 Folder control
Folders in Vista are not always the folders which user
see. That fact often leads to chao. Vany users wanted to keep the File Explorer
the used to, so often used third-party programs instead of Windows Explorer.
Mistake #11 Reviews
Well.. After all of these it would be
strange to look forward for good reviews from users and journals… All what was
told was written there and that was the final nail in the coffin of Windows
Vista. XP lives even longer!!!
Ok then!!! Microsoft I kicked a little! Now it is turn for
another giant.
Apple Newton MessagePad
“It wasn’t simple killed. It was dragged to the
toilet, and finished off by the hair and that was done by one of the greatest
people in IT industry” – this exception is from american journal The Wired where
was written about the death one of the first PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)
in history.
It all starts in 1993 –
when the president of Apple inc – John Sculle decides that Apple absolutely
need to blow up the market by developing computer what would be placed in a
pocket. Apple Newton – the name of OS for devices of the MessagePad line. As
planned, these devices should be compact, text recognized and easy to manage.
In the reality 6 inch and thick PDA with 1000 dollar price did not came into
any pocket, demanded stylus usage and read handwriting so incorrectly that even
“Simpsons” where joking of Apple. 5 years of Newton era were interrupted by
Palm gadgets – they were lighter, chipper and more reliable than Apple devices,
for which for the first time in Cupertino donated his brand white.
“The Lord gave us 10
styluses. These are our fingers” – legend how Steve Jobs talk about MessagePad
by using another aphorism. Most likely, accompanied by a beautiful quote a
favorite phrase of the founder of Apple, with which Jobs is diagnosed with a
monstrous devices: “This is CENSORED”. In 1998 project was closed at one moment,
so as not to suffer another fail in the market. After 10 years the Newton death
Steve Jobs was at the scene with elegant iPhone and made history by announcing the most sold
line of smartphones in the world.
This
becomes a tradition when developers in IT-industry comes hand to hand. New
ideas of technics modifications, introduction of new data base protocols and
their modifications. This healthy competition, operating on the principle of
"who first come, his sneakers then" sometimes goes beyond all
reasonable boundaries.
That
story is about a real war between two technologies: HD DVD and Blu-Ray.
Unlike
the previous technologies (CD, DVD – red laser) they use blue-violet laser with
a short wave (405 manometers). This ensures a smaller diameter of the light
spot, and as a result, significantly greater recording density.
But
(always this word is!!) difference between that two formats are. HD DVD
(Toshiba) was using disks with same structure what is using DVD, while disks
Blu-ray have absolutely different structure. What this means from a user
perspective? Well, HD DVDs could cost much cheaper than Blu-Ray – because they
could use the same tech-lines to produce them, same tech-lines what are used to
produce normal DVD disks. At the same time this means that hybrid device what
can read HD DVD and Blue-Ray (Sony) wasn’t possible. Or possible but very expensive.
Second
difference - different amounts of disk. Maximum of HD DVD was 15 GB for one-ply
disk and 30 GB for two-ply disk. Was even announced three-ply disk with 45 GB,
but it didn’t happens. Blue-rays much capacious 45 and 100 GB (4-ply disk).
But the buyer, by and
large, all these technical features to the bulb. Write to Disc movie with
HD-picture, playing a special player or the computer's optical drive - and it
is fine. And what's the logo on the disc is drawn - the case tenth.
So it happened that the
fight against high-definition formats actually became a battle between the two
camps, which included the world's largest IT-companies. Toshiba Corporation
(developer of HD DVD) allies was Microsoft, Intel, Sanyo and NEC, Sony (Blu-ray
developer) allies Panasonic, Hitachi, Apple, Dell and HP.
The task was not easy to
supporters formats: they needed to win to his side as much as possible the
influential Hollywood studios. The infamous fight with pirated DVD-disks so exhausted filmmakers that
promise to make discs for high-definition video recording is completely
tamper-proof and rewriting, of course, they were perceived favorably. However,
and here it is not so simple - the two disc formats are now protected by AACS technology (Advanced
Access Content System)which was developed by DVD Forum with BDA alliance
cooperation. Therefore, here the decision to support that is not a consequence
of technology superiority is a particular format, and only a successful marketing
moves: of its intention to release movies on HD DVD announced Paramount
Pictures, Universal Pictures, Warner Brothers, HBO and New Line Cinema, Blu-ray
has only Walt-Disney Columbia and 20th Century Fox.
The turning point in the
fight against HD DVD / Blu-ray was the release of the Sony PlayStation 3. It
has Blue-ray drive and games for PS3 are producing only in that format. For a
year over the world was sold 10.6 million of PS3. And considering that Sony
offered customers free consoles movies in Blu-ray format it became clear that
all PS3 owners can be considered without undue arrogance format supporters of
Blu-ray. Yes, in response the Microsoft promised to release HD DVD drive for
its Xbox 360 consoles as an option, but it couldn’t make a difference.
Finally, the tendency to
defeat HD DVD emerged in late 2007. And in January, when the film studio Warner
Brothers has announced that from May 2008, it will stop the release of movies
on HD DVD and go completely on Blu-ray, the situation began to develop truly a
cruising speed. Fuel to the fire poured retailers: British retail chain
Woolworths has promised to stop selling HD DVD in March of this year, and the
largest US seller - retail chain of supermarkets Wal-Mart Stores Inc. - focused
on Blu-ray sales in the summer.
19 of February 2008 year
Toshiba officially announced the termination of all projects related to HD DVD.
Summarizing,
we can say that the causes of HD DVD format displacement format Blu-ray is
quite a lot. This successful sales of gaming Sony PS3 console, which virtually
erased from the HD DVD series of potential supporters of more than ten million
people - buying unit, two-in-one (prefix + player high-definition discs), they
are unlikely to be re-spent on player for CDs competing format. This can be
attributed to a competent policy of Sony companions, who do not disowned
cooperation with producers of porn - apparently bitter experience Betamax and
JVC trade war. Again, the major role played by marketing policy and unofficial
talks with representatives of production companies.
And in conclusion of my article I would say always
commensurate with the possibilities of desire, never show off in advance if
promised - and do all the same no matter how you try - can always find someone
who will beat you so it is always necessary to have a backup plan.
P.S. Everything is ok with Toshiba!!! https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshiba
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