>
> What I don't understand is if so many people are against what Microsoft is
> doing, then why don't the computer manufacturers choose another operating
> system to ship with their systems? Microsoft doesn't own the computers.
> They own the software.
The reason is that people don't by computers like they do cars. They
by computers to run specific applications, and applications run on
specific operating systems. It is similar to the way they decide between
rail, car, and air travel. You want web serving, you buy a machine that
runs Linux, or a SUN Microsystems machine. You want word processing with
MS word, you buy a Windows 95/98 machine. You want superb graphics
capability, choose between Silicon Graphics and Apple, depending on your
budget.
Even Silicon Graphics is now planning to make machines which can run
NT. Similarly, most vehicle manufacturers these days are making rubber
wheeled vehicles capable of traveling on the nation's highway system,
EVEN IF ONLY to get to the location where it will be USED OFF THE ROAD.
(As in, how do you think they get those gigantic Euclid and other
earthmovers to the work site?)
> That's like saying just because I buy gas at a certain filling station
> once, they can order me to /always/ use their gas and none other. And if I
> do, then I'm not allowed to buy a car from an auto dealer who puts the same
> gas in that I do.
No, it is like saying that if I buy a railroad car, then I must
always run my car on the railroads, not on the highways or in the air. You
try to run a railroad car or some other unconventional vehicle on the tar
road, and you will be cited for damage to the roadway, if applicable, and
failure to meet regulations, etc. Or at least the local constabulary will
Very Seriously consider doing that.
(We, uh, had some trouble with running an, um, unconventional vehicle
on the public roads. http://www.mall-net.com/javilk/newyears.html We
called it a farm vehicle, which was a bit of a stretch... Of course, we
were polite about it...)
> IMHO it's up to Compaq, IBM, Packard Bell, Dell, other PC manufacturers and
> even Apple, to just change vendors for their operating systems and
> software. I wonder why Amiga doesn't have this problem.
The operating systems are not compatible. That simple -- Not
Compatible except by use of awkward SEEMING adapters of various sorts. I
hear that Solaris has a Windows emulator that runs faster than Windows on
the same hardware, but most folks just WON'T try it!
Plain and simple, the market for Linux/Unix machines is a lot smaller
than for Windows machines. People given the choice, choose what they are
familiar with -- Windows. Technical people, acting more like hot rod
gearheads, will choose based upon the engine and transmission gearing, no
the color or the placement of the automatic transmission lever, or how
comfortable the seat feels. That's one of the reasons normal folks call
those people "gearheads", "abnormal", "geeks", etc.
I run Windows 95 myself for the applications. And Linux for the
ability to build things to do what _I_ want to do!
I won't make a fortune using windows applications, because others are
doing what I can do with them. BUT... I have a chance at making some
good money providing unique services (incidently,) running under Linux.
Why? Because it is easy for one man to build and run unique services
under Unix and Linux. To do the same thing under Windows would take a
team of programmers months to set up and administer, and would require
several times the machines to run reliably. Continuous uptimes of weeks
to months are not unusual with Linux machines under load. I have seen
UNIX machines that have run for well over a year without re-booting, even
under load.
- [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------
MS asks "Where do you want to go?"
Linux asks "What do you want to do?"
It is doers, not goers, who built this world!
Member: http://www.svlug.org/
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