Re: [aclug-L] Microsoft's plans to kill Linux

[Bob Deep <bobd@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Karl Juhnke wrote:
> 
> On Thu, 12 Nov 1998, John Goerzen wrote:
> I ponder my attitude towards cars.  I'm a guy who would be hard pressed to
> check the oil, much less change it.  I look around for car expertise among
> my friends, and I find almost zero.  What happened from thirty years ago
> when every third teenage guy could take apart his car to the last bolt and
> put it back together again?  Cars have gotten too complex, and expertise
> has become narrowed to specialists.

Nay..  Cars are a good example of making it easier to work on them as
technology advanced.  Now days a tune up consists of replacing the
plugs... That's it.  You used to have to replace the plugs, points and
condenser, set the dwell, timing and idle speed to do a tune up.  The
only thing that has become specilized is the test equipment (and that is
becomming less and less so).  Makes you wonder why they charge you
*more* for *less* work...  Now, you ask, what if something goes wrong
with the computer.... Simple, you replace it (Costly? yes, but
simple.)...  Any thing else is a matter of asking the computer what to
replace, (usually can be done with out any special tools) and then
finding the part at the Auto parts store...  One replacement later and
you are on your way...

Sorta like installing Red Hat over trying to build a linux system from
scratch via ftp...  Now Red Hat is adding tools like linuxconf, making
sytem management tasks much easier....

> But maybe a clarification
> is worthwhile here.  You are symapthetic with people who know little
> about computers and want to learn more.  You are not sympathetic with
> people who know little about computers and _don't_ want to learn any more,
> but want to use computers anyway.

Those who _don't_ want to learn more are not concerned in the least with
their computer... It balances their checkbook or what ever they use it
for...  They are not a valid market for M$ or Linux (for that matter)
because they are already satisfied with what they run. M$ is not going
to be able to sell them upgrades any more than we are going to get them
to run linux.

> I feel Linux vs. Microsoft sort of like I do about the K-State vs.
> Nebraska football game, in that I don't know enough to predict who will
> win, but I am very interested to watch them play.
> 
> But the football analogy is weak.  I appreciate your points about the
> differences between corporate Microsoft and open source Linux.  Talking
> about winners and losers conceals that they aren't even playing the same
> game.

The issue becomes a "moral issue" at a certin point.  What is the best
for all... That's where most folks get wrapped up in the debate.  You
are right, the football analogy does not quite fit... It's more like the
debate about slavery that our country went to war over (albeit not quite
one I'd take up arms over...).  There where dis-interasted parites,
those who argued the "moral" aspects of the debate and those who went to
war for their cause...  Some do that for football I suppose...

> 
> You say that Linux has never been affected by Microsoft.  I wonder if this
> will continue to be true now that Microsoft is specifically targeting
> Linux.  No, I'm not sure what they can do to Linux, but I imagine it is
> more than zero.  On the other hand, maybe Microsoft's public relations are
> so tenuous right now that they can't do anything overtly evil, lest they
> be classed with tobacco companies and child pornographers.

MicroSoft is engaged in dammage control, to be sure.  But if they are
consistant with their past practices, they will try to buy, steal, FUD
it to death or try to beat it in the market (in that order usually). 
They cannot possibily buy it, or steal it so that leaves the last two,
but I doubt that they could beat Linux technically without artificially
adjusting the market place, so that leaves FUD.  Look for it.
 

-= bob =-
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