~ARTICLE INFO~ U.S. News & World Report. This article is about the tension between major industries Sony and Microsoft. Microsoft makes software and Sony makes hardware. The problem is Microsoft is making hardware that competes with Sony and Sony is doing it right back.
Comdex, in Las Vegas, the yearly computer show that attracts more than 200,000 people showed indication of the battle between the two giants. Bill Gates's opening speech is usually the highlight of the show but Sony's speaker, Nobuyuki Edei who is president of Sony, stole the show. Sony introduced their new operation system at the show that rivaled Microsoft's "Windows" but on the contrary Microsoft is designing a gaming system that rivals Sony's "Playstation". The Playstation and Windows are both the top players in their own business but the companies are starting to compete.
I think both companies are making a mistake with all this. Most of the world uses Microsoft software and thousands of programs are compatible with it, so why make a new operating system? Well, they think it's because Microsoft has such a monopoly on operating systems, and they are not propelling it far enough because they know it will sell anyway.
We have reached a point in time where new stuff comes out so quickly, by the time consumers invest, there is something new out. Look at the music industry. Most people in the world know music but millions couldn't tell you what a mp3 is. Sony tries to get ahead so quickly they sometimes don't look at what we have to do to invest in this stuff.
Most people learned how to use a computer using Microsoft Windows, if almost any teacher in our school sat down at a computer that was running something else, they would be lost and afraid to touch it. So why make a new operating system that is not compatible with the one everyone knows? I think this is a stupid idea. Everyone uses cassette tapes or CD's these days. Sony came out with a new type of format, the Mini Disk. Something that relates to DVD Vs. The VCR. It's new, not everybody wants in invest in it. To buy a Midi Disk Player would cost someone anywhere between $150 to $250. You probably can not borrow Mini Disk's from your closest friends because they probably haven't even heard of it.
The battle between Sony and Microsoft is like the one between Microsoft and Netscape. Microsoft's "Internet Explorer" has since taken the lead as the most used Internet Browser by consumers. Microsoft had a wonderful idea, give it away for free. Everyone flocked to Microsoft's faster starting Internet Explorer and in no time it became king. Sony fears the same will happen to them. In the end, I think they will both stick with their own business, but I assume till then it will be a bumpy road.
November 29th, 1999
Page: 54
Should Bill Gates Worry About Sony?
Author: Stevem Butler
Co Author: Dori Jones Yang