Re: Xywrite antiques

[Leslie Bialler lb136@xxxxxxxx]

> Myron asks:

> Any opinions on how copyright should be treated for
> the collecting and historical study of old computer programs??? It seems
> plausible that someone might want to collect all versions of something
> like XyWrite or Word Perfect. Aside from the intrinsic interest, there
> might be historical concerns as well:

I couldn't agree more. It seems to me this is something Congress needs to
address. Ideally, or so it seems to me, once a particular version of a
software product is no longer offered for sale--due either to upgrading or
obsolescence--free distribution ought to be permitted after a certain period
of time--say, seven years. Just imagine. If this law were in effect, free
versions of Windows 3.1 could now be distributed (although why anyone would
want one I cannot imagine).


> Are there coding differences that
> can be correlated to social, economic or enterprise events? I would love
> to see a PhD thesis on the impact of the Microsoft/WordPerfect
> competition on wordprocessing features, coding, performance, marketplace
> expectation, etc.

Indeed! So would I.


> Why, for example, did Word Perfect go from the elegant
> version 4.2 to increasing bloated, slow, buggy versions 5.0--->9? or is
> it now 10?

Because that which was once designed for a specific purpose--and did it
well--was bloated into something that attempted to do all things for all
people--and did them all badly. (One wonders, for example, how much code has
gone into the creation of the odious Paperclip and how much system
resources it takes up!)


> Computer programs are, after all, social "artifacts" that
> reflect the cultures that create them. What does the dominance and
> nature of Microsoft word tell us about US society? How would
> wordprocessors differ if some other country were the dominant player in
> the market? Japanese, German, British... Or if women dominated software
> design and programming? aaahhh... enough already. I just finished
> marking final exams (law -- evidence) and I'm a bit punchy.

Not at all. A very provocative post, Myron! Thank you.

--
Leslie Bialler, Columbia University Press
lb136@xxxxxxxx
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212-459-0600 X7109 (phone) 212-459-3677 (fax)
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