Klarinet Archive - Posting 000834.txt from 2003/08

From: Tony@-----.uk (Tony Pay)
Subj: [kl] Market dominance
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2003 20:29:34 -0400

On Thu, 28 Aug 2003 19:01:58 -0400, bhausmann1@-----.net said:

> It might be instructive to note that, although the Sony Beta, and
> possibly (as has been argued recently) the Macintosh computer, may
> have set TECHNICAL standards, they did not (will not) achieve the
> industry standard positions of VHS and Windows due to marketing
> failures.

No, it's not because of marketing failures; it's because a big company
that has obtained a dominant position in those fields can undermine
its competitors, even if their ideas are superior, by manipulating
complementary market factors. They ignore the argument that in the end
'nobody benefits', and buy lawyers who will agree to manipulate the
legal system in the interest of the company.

In the case of video recorder, it's just sad; in the case of computer
systems, it may well turn out to be a real disaster, as I've said here
before.

Fortunately, the structure of the world of music determines that no
clarinet maker can force reeds, mouthpieces, even music itself, to
conform to 'standards' determined by their clarinets.

Unless we clarinet players collude, that is.

Of course, despite what anyone may say, it wouldn't be a *disaster* if
everyone played Buffet -- but it's better if we don't -- so let's not
collude.

The music business itself is another matter.

> Or, to put it another way, VHS and Windows, among other products,
> dominate their markets IN SPITE OF their apparent inferiority. Being
> #1 is no guarantee of being the best.

It's why I despise, will not talk to and continue to disrespect those
who benefit by their collusion to promote inferiority in the second and
overwhelmingly important of these domains -- but who nevertheless
*pretend* to be musicians.

A real musician is true to himself or herself, like a real scientist.
What do we think of 'scientists' who 'sell themselves'?

Tony
--
_________ Tony Pay
|ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd Tony@-----.uk
| |ay Oxford OX2 6RE http://classicalplus.gmn.com/artists
tel/fax 01865 553339

.... Hire teenagers while they still know everything.

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