ActiveX wasn't really used outside of enterprises. It was also used for creating wave-effects on an image, cool stuff.
The desktop was never threatened, most people were on dialup. Javascript was about changing link colors, not creating "software".
Since IE was so much better than the competition it didn't really matter that it got monopoly. Until it stagnated. Same as today, since Chrome was so superior it didn't really matter that all other browsers faded into niches. Until google started abusing it.
Maybe we should start prioritizing open software rather than waiting for a monopoly to be formed?
The reason for why Fusion 360 is "free" isn't because autodesk are nice guys, it's because that's an effective way to ensure that they won't have to deal with competition in the future.
The desktop was never threatened, most people were on dialup. Javascript was about changing link colors, not creating "software".
Since IE was so much better than the competition it didn't really matter that it got monopoly. Until it stagnated. Same as today, since Chrome was so superior it didn't really matter that all other browsers faded into niches. Until google started abusing it.
Maybe we should start prioritizing open software rather than waiting for a monopoly to be formed?
The reason for why Fusion 360 is "free" isn't because autodesk are nice guys, it's because that's an effective way to ensure that they won't have to deal with competition in the future.