Actually, in my experience, price does matter but other factors are considered when awarding a federal contract (such as your team, their experience and skills, your company's past experience completing similar tasks, and it always helps if you have an ex-fed on your staff).
Just to be clear, I am not arguing the historic significance of Microsoft Office to Apple. What I am arguing is that this is becoming less important due to many factors, including the available of substitute applications such as Open Office (which I unfortunately did mention in my original post).
Although Apple has not experienced a "tipping point" with their hardware sales, I believe, as a recent "switcher" myself, that this point is closer than ever before. Apple has delivered (by most accounts) what Microsoft has always preached: having software/hardware that fits your lifestyle and that just works.
Office for the Mac is a critical element of keeping the platform alive.
Bullshit. So the only reason why Apple is increasing their hardware sales is because people only want to run Office on that platform?
Recently I switched to Apple (from Windoze), not because of Office (which was the only pre-installed software I immediately uninstalled), but because it is a better experience. After the nth time of re-installing Windows because of a Service Pack that rendered it useless, I had enough.
The only "killer app" missing from Apple is a spreadsheet application. You can use the text editor that comes with all Macs to edit Microsoft Word documents (or use Pages).
Maybe the only thing keeping the Windows platform alive is Clippy or Bob...
...but, instead, they profile Charles Simonyi and his quest to "re-program software".
He's developed an approach he calls intentional programming (or, more recently, intentional software), which he hopes will overturn programming. If Simonyi has his way, programmers will stop trying to manage their clients' needs. Instead, for every problem they're asked to tackle--whether inventory tracking or missile guidance--they will create generic tools that the computer users themselves can modify to guide the software's future evolution.
No, this is real -- they need over $12,000 to buy the licenses from Microsoft so that they can get their fortune out of Microsoft Money. Once they do that, then they'll split the fortune with you.
See, if we all used open source software, we wouldn't have this problem...unless we have to pay SCO some kind of fee.
And why it wasn't until 1948 that the right combination of limestone & other minerals was discovered to be able to resist water and hold that high a level of precision.
For some reason, I didn't initially agree with these sentence, so did some quick research:
In 1824, English inventor, Joseph Aspdin invented Portland Cement, which has remained the dominant cement used in concrete production. Joseph Aspdin created the first true artificial cement by burning ground limestone and clay together. The burning process changed the chemical properties of the materials and Joseph Aspdin created a stronger cement than what using plain crushed limestone would produce.(http://inventors.about.com/library/invent ors/blconcrete.htm)
Oh, you must be talking about the Earned Value Management (EVM) initiative from Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
The bigger problem is that the so called "small businesses" who keep winning contracts -- most of these "small businesses" are usually a spin-off from a larger corporation.
...because the majority of people who want one have one. Now iPod sales will be more cyclical and based on getting the maginal number of customers who either don't have one or want to upgrade.
Besides, clearly the next trend will be the muffler whistle...whistle go woo woooo!
Yawn -- I just dropped the kids of the pool...where's the usual 20+ stories about Google and Apple? I want to read about speculation and not how a bully is getting bullied.
Slashdot Mirror
Actually, in my experience, price does matter but other factors are considered when awarding a federal contract (such as your team, their experience and skills, your company's past experience completing similar tasks, and it always helps if you have an ex-fed on your staff).
Touché.
Lord Baltimore someone else has heard of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)! NPI! :)
Your review could be beneficially dropped, thereby saving space.
I'm the guy who writes those chapter summaries, you insensitive clod!
Yeah, like I know how to use Google. :)
Just to be clear, I am not arguing the historic significance of Microsoft Office to Apple. What I am arguing is that this is becoming less important due to many factors, including the available of substitute applications such as Open Office (which I unfortunately did mention in my original post).
Although Apple has not experienced a "tipping point" with their hardware sales, I believe, as a recent "switcher" myself, that this point is closer than ever before. Apple has delivered (by most accounts) what Microsoft has always preached: having software/hardware that fits your lifestyle and that just works.
...Open Office...True that. Open Office was omitted from my comment only because of my ignorance.
Bullshit. So the only reason why Apple is increasing their hardware sales is because people only want to run Office on that platform?
Recently I switched to Apple (from Windoze), not because of Office (which was the only pre-installed software I immediately uninstalled), but because it is a better experience. After the nth time of re-installing Windows because of a Service Pack that rendered it useless, I had enough.
The only "killer app" missing from Apple is a spreadsheet application. You can use the text editor that comes with all Macs to edit Microsoft Word documents (or use Pages).
Maybe the only thing keeping the Windows platform alive is Clippy or Bob...
Here in the US we don't use the Metric System, which is the tool of the devil! My car gets forty rods to the hogshead and that's the way I likes it.
What if the rumored Beatles catalog will be DRM-free on iTunes? (And Mr. Jobs is building the momentum?)
(This comment is posted approximately 5 minutes after the start of the thread -- expect the comment to be appropriately buried. Just kidding.)
...but, instead, they profile Charles Simonyi and his quest to "re-program software".
Read the article at Technology Review.
Oh crap, the flood gates are going to open...head for higher ground!
No, this is real -- they need over $12,000 to buy the licenses from Microsoft so that they can get their fortune out of Microsoft Money. Once they do that, then they'll split the fortune with you.
See, if we all used open source software, we wouldn't have this problem...unless we have to pay SCO some kind of fee.
For some reason, I didn't initially agree with these sentence, so did some quick research:
...they didn't ask for or check your voter's card or driver's license. I signed my name as "Daffy Duck".
...they didn't ask or check your voter's card or driver's license. I signed my name as "Daffy Duck".
Dvorak, is that you?
Oh, you must be talking about the Earned Value Management (EVM) initiative from Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
The bigger problem is that the so called "small businesses" who keep winning contracts -- most of these "small businesses" are usually a spin-off from a larger corporation.
Meh.
...because the majority of people who want one have one. Now iPod sales will be more cyclical and based on getting the maginal number of customers who either don't have one or want to upgrade.
Besides, clearly the next trend will be the muffler whistle...whistle go woo woooo!
Oh no...looks like the hitman got another one, maybe I should stop before
Awesome comment -- and, for some reason, Chuck Norris is the most popular search tearm in some Eastern European Counties.
Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time.
Really? Can you provide a link because that's really cool.
What the hell is the Sony Connect? Seriously.
Yawn -- I just dropped the kids of the pool...where's the usual 20+ stories about Google and Apple? I want to read about speculation and not how a bully is getting bullied.
that the computer viruses of today will lead to spur computers to life?
Why not?