On Sunday, June 30, 2002, at 09:11 AM, Dennis Eberl wrote: > Ok, some asshole had to say it: "Buy an eMac fast, the rest in the trash! > " > > LOL! Lighten up guys. > > Dennis <snip>
"Buy an eMac in a flash, toss the rest in the trash." One more: "Linux -- an operating system so great you can't even give it away!" I am only half serious, but perspective helps. You can't explain Microsoft's success as the mere result of the buying public's stupidity (true) and Microsoft's relentless campaign of arm twisting and FUD (both tue). Obviously Microsoft responds to a need purchasers have. If the Linux community could define and address that need (which for reasons not worth belaboring it cannot, for it is built on the wrong "economic model"), it would be in a position to offer real competition to Microsoft. IMHO, it never will. As it is, and this is certainly wonderful and from my perspective an outstanding and no doubt long lived step forward, BSD, Linux et alia will remain the favorites of programmers and web site administrators, but will not even ever succeed as the favorite operating system of the poor, for the poor are for the most part people who want what those who are not poor have, which is -- you guessed it! -- Windoze. By the way, I have a clean hardcover copy or Eric Raymonds "Cathedral..." essays for sale if anyone is interested. Nice myth. Guess which of the two words I would emphasize? I hope you take this as the non-maliscious observation, possibly wrong, of someone succumbing to the temptation to play devil's advocate. It is not meant to demean or attack Linux, BSD, open source, or any of the more ardent members of EUG-LUG. The open source movement is an intelligent, needed alternative to purely commercial software that has, I believe, a _permanent_ place in the future of worldwide computing. I just don't think it is the path to universal brotherhood, world peace, or the everlasting Holy Grail. FWIW!? Dennis Eberl
