>Sad development, but Mandrake is becoming more and more like Microsoft.
Or perhaps Mandrake is becoming more and more like a successful
business. I'm sorry, crusades as for people who don't have to support
themselves. Witness Richard Stallman. He's a crusader, not a
businessman, and he's been broke and on a soapbox for 20 years now. Over
the years I've sent the FSF money and cajoled various bosses into
sending them money just because I believe in the cause, but I've never
taken up my sleeping bag and tent and gone off to join him. I doubt
seriously any of you here would do that either. Anyone who wants to just
tell your spouse/significant other, "We're casting away our worldly
possessions and joining the crusade today." I'll bet you'll get a look
that will stop you dead in your tracks.
It seems what Mandrake did was let a reduced version go out the door to
avoid being destroyed by a deadline that was non-negotiable and
inflexible, much the same way you would push your car off a railroad
track when a train is coming rather than take a ridiculous position that
you really need more time to find out why it won't start.
Like it or not, Wal-Mart and Microsoft are the two most successful
business in the history of mankind. I, for one, think the
7.2/MacMillian/Wal-Mart flap probably could have been handled better,
but you're talking about an extremely small, inexperienced company.
Every one of you who hasn't blown it a few times feel free to take your
sleeping bag and go join the crusade. Otherwise remember they've got
kids to feed and send to college, too. Help a little more; bitch a
little less.
Michael
