Hi there
I got a kick out of some claims made by dennis (see below).
First off Microsoft has NEVER developed any product I know of including
the almighty Windows. While its true they have enhanced and integrated
virtually everything they've purchased the fact is almost everything in
the MicroSoft product line was initially developed elsewhere.
I've installed Windows on several machines, I don't see how you can say
its less complicated than Mandrakes or Redhats, or Calderas, of SuSE's
install utilities.
While there may be something to be said for MS spending $$$$$ on
employees who's sole purpose is to understand the psychic of the average
user. There is something to be said for getting a full office
workstation for $500-$600 less than MicroSoft. To put it another way
I'll spend a couple of hours learning to use StarOffice on a stable
linux platform any time over spending several hundreds of dollars for
Microsoft office.
The one important difference is stability, I know of Linux servers that
have been continuously operational for over 3 years. I doubt that
anybody knows any computer running MS products to have gone a single
year without a lockup
Ya all take care
Chris Loper
> :~>True. The Windows installation is typically easier than *any*
linux distro,
> :~>even the almighty (and it is, IMHO) Mandrake.
>
> Nop. It is not easier, but it works on more hardware. Though I have
seen
> 2 machines where LM would install but Windows would not ;->.
>
> :~>Consider the fact that Microsoft spends $$$$$$ on employees whose
sole
> :~>purpose is to understand how the computer disinclined people think.
> :~>Consider the fact that Microsoft founded itself with the purpose of
> :~>producing an OS that *anyone* can install and use on *any* machine
(i386
> :~>based mostly).
>
> This is not our real problem: Consider the fact that hardware
manufactures
> write their Windows drivers themselves, then PAY microsoft to test
these
> drivers and become "certified for windows"... On the other hand, this
> same manufacturers are often reluctant to even publish the specs
needed
> to write linux drivers... You got the picture?
>
> :~>Linux is for sure on the way however, and Mandrake (IMHO) is really
helping
> :~>to push this.
>
> The fact is: ca 50% of our efforts are on "hardware
> support" (kernel-tweaking, recognition, automatic configuration)
> front, but we are still a small company with very limited resources,
and
> more often than not we are still sailing against the wind....
>
> Keeping this in mind, our hardware support is asstounding. I know that
> this does not help the people who could not install on their hardware
at
> home, but every one is invited to help himself: Subscribe to cooker,
talk
> to people, find the reason for your problems and help us solve it.
>
> And one last tip: think before buying a hardware. Always ask for
hardware
> which works problemlessly under linux, if needed write to manufacturer
> before purchasing, and if it does not return it back to shop. This is
> exactly how windows users would react if they buy a piece of hardware
> which does not work, so just do the same and all of the sudden your
> problems become manufacturers problems...
>
> have fun ;->
>
> Denis
>
