10. it's an OO language
9. slower than C
8. syntax differences
7. paradigm differences
6. it required beefy hardware
5. missed the boat on web browser integration
4. too expensive
3. lack of marketing
2. potatoes taste great if you've never had filet mignon
1. you can't teach old hackers new tricks
Most of these things are no longer true of course. The combination of open source implementations such as Squeak (which I love by the way), strong commercial support by Smalltalk vendors, and entrenched usage by many Global 2000 companies (the only ones that used to be able to afford Smalltalk) all bode well for the future of Smalltalk. Perhaps the most exciting thing is that the better universities are now making Smalltalk an integral part of their cirriculum.
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10. it's an OO language
9. slower than C
8. syntax differences
7. paradigm differences
6. it required beefy hardware
5. missed the boat on web browser integration
4. too expensive
3. lack of marketing
2. potatoes taste great if you've never had filet mignon
1. you can't teach old hackers new tricks
Most of these things are no longer true of course. The combination of open source implementations such as Squeak (which I love by the way), strong commercial support by Smalltalk vendors, and entrenched usage by many Global 2000 companies (the only ones that used to be able to afford Smalltalk) all bode well for the future of Smalltalk. Perhaps the most exciting thing is that the better universities are now making Smalltalk an integral part of their cirriculum.