Posted by: tycheent | March 28, 2008

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

or “The Sheer Stupidity of Some Businesses”

Why is it that some people just can’t resist the “newest”, or “glitziest” when it comes along. It’s bad enough that Linux is fighting against and entrenched operating system oligarchy, nurtured by “the company which shall not be named”. But now I’ve come across a Television News Station that seems to think that reducing the number of people that can access their web content is a GOOD thing, just because of Silverlight.

People: Silverlight only runs on ONE operating system. There are at least 4 operating systems out there. There is “the company which shall not be named”, and UNIX (in appropriate flavors), whatever Apple’s flavor of the day is, and Linux. Remember Linux? That’s what is probably driving your website. Also your phone, your Tivo, and who knows what all else. Applying Silverlight to your website means that people that once COULD view your content, and maybe react favorably to your ads, will now stay away in droves. That means a reduction in revenue. Is that what you want? I thought you would be smarter than that.

It would appear that I was wrong. KTVK-TV, Channel 3, Phoenix, Arizona has already shown that they have no respect for their viewers, and lost me as a viewer of their web site because they insisted on creating web pages that could only be viewed by the victims of “the company which shall not be named”. Now, KPHO-TV, Channel 5, Phoenix, Arizona (a CBS affiliate) has decided to pollute their web content with Silverlight, which only runs on the operating system from “the company which shall not be named”. Guess what? I really don’t want Silverlight. I don’t have Silverlight. I’m not going to get Silverlight. The biggest reason is because I don’t have anything to do with that operating system from “the company which shall not be named”.

I really don’t think I can make it any plainer than this. This isn’t something that takes a college degree to understand, or at least it shouldn’t. It’s simple: there are people in the United States of America that don’t believe that products made by “the company which shall not be named” have value, or are quality products, or can be trusted to not expose one’s computer and private information to the world. There really are people who don’t believe that any company is OWED a living, that we should all line up like sheep to be fleeced by “the company which shall not be named”, simply because they want to continue their virtual monopoly on the operating system market and office productivity market.

So, that’s 2 channels down. You have shown that you don’t want my business. That’s fine. I won’t force myself on you. NEXT?

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Responses

I thought Silverlight ran on MacOS X? But I agree it’s stupid to insist on Silverlight or anything that may keep a percentage of potential customers/viewers away. And no, I’m not interested in trying to get Moonlight to work even if it worked perfectly.

I’m in kind-of the same situation, even though my case doesn’t involve Silverlight. My bank in its infinite “wisdom” makes sure that you can not use all features of their Internet-bank without installing third-party software. Software that only has been developed for the OS sold by that company that must not be named. I’m seriously considering switching bank for that reason.

Amen.

Really? I stopped caring about either station when they were reporting on the “phoenix lights” with a straight face.

Anyway, flash has similar limitations, it just happens to be released in binary form on more platforms.

MSFT develops Silverlight for their own operating systems and OS X, and Novell develops Moonlight, which is a Silverlight substitute for Linux. Also, OS X is officially a UNIX.

Bill,

I appreciate the additional information. However, my problem is with the fact that it’s just another format to have to deal with, when there are enough formats out there now, and the source company that makes that format specifically to lock people into using their products. I’m really not interested in converting back over to Microsoft, having managed to be free of them for about 4 years. Since I have broken away from products made by that company I have had NO virii invade my system, and have not had to worry about security breaches of any sort. My system doesn’t “phone home” to get permission for me to use it. It just works.

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