[Manifold-l] Manifold Roadmap

[Dimitri Rotow]

> But those isolated bleating voices (of some Manifold-L 
> posters) that I mentioned are (in my opinion) just 
> symptomatic of a broader perception "out there", that 
> Manifold is some sort of a maverick product, with maverick or 
> eccentric advocates. 
> 

Well, I'd first ask you not to characterize the comments of your colleagues
as "bleating" as that word can be taken as a pejorative even if only
intended as colorful commentary.  People have a right to their opinions and
this forum is a place where they can express them, including the voicing of
complaints.

>From the perspective of the mainstream, Manifold is a typically mainstream
new technology entrant.  Go into the mainstream and talk to them about
"Arc"haic products and you'll often be ridiculed for proposing something so
bizarrely Stone Age.

>From the perspective of the traditional GIS community, Manifold is indeed a
maverick product: that is the perception of any new technology that provides
revolutionary price/performance within markets about to shift paradigms.  

No surprises there! People who are invested into spending tens of thousands
of dollars per seat via the old ways when they could do a better job with a
couple of hundred per seat using the new way will quite often be very
defensive about their choice of old, overpriced technology.  Calling the new
stuff "maverick" is the least of it! :-)


> I presume that your writings here and on the forum are 
> recognized as Manifold's views /// 
> 

Nope. They are my views and my views alone.  If you want to get any official
statements you should read the website, read Help, write to the company,
etc.  This is a user forum run by directionsmag.com and we are all here on
our own time.

I'll write a few words now and then to share what is hopefully some useful
experience to educate people who may be interested in my views on why
software companies may be doing things as they do.  Quite often, some
familiarity with the possible logic behind a company's stated position will
help people take better advantage of it. 

Cheers,

Dimitri