Richard Gaskin wrote: "Yes, there will be many advantages when Linux takes over the universe of computing. With a single OS, software designers will never need to worry about forked code."
presumably sarcastically. I hope so: I am not a great fan of Windows, and I don't really like the way Macintosh is tied to one type of computer; BUT, a world where there is only one type of operating system would be horrible as everything would stagnate. A few unpalatable facts for the Linux fans: 1. Almost everything about Linux has been developed as either a 'copy' of the capabilities of things one can do with commercial operating systems or software, or as a way of doing those things better. Or; to rephrase: You would have no Linux without Microsoft, Apple, IBM and RISC. 2. Linux puts pressure on the commercial giants just as much as the other way round; leading to what might be called a "leap-frog" effect. This is essential to continued improvement in computer software, just as much as similar competition in any other sphere. Now I know I have got a bit hot under the collar about "cross-platform"; but I am very glad there are various platforms out there. All those anti-competitive law-suits against Microsoft exist because silly Microsoft (and if they sat and thought about it for a few minutes they would see just how silly there approach was) have been trying to exclude from the market just the sort of competition that will keep them on their toes. Whether it is Microsoft, Apple, Linux, or some new player that takes over "the world", if and when that happens I will chuck out all my computers and dig out Mum's old typewriter. sincerely, Richmond Mathewson. ____________________________________________________________ A Thorn in the flesh is better than a failed Systems Development Life Cycle. ____________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________ use-revolution mailing list [email protected] Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your subscription preferences: http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-revolution
