[aclug-L] Re: Microsoft's best move

["Ivan" <itrail@xxxxxxx>]

On the contrary, as far as cars go, they are more reliable.  There are many
times more cars on the road today with over 100,000 miles than thirty years
ago, when the avreage car was amazing if it lasted passed 50,000.  50 years
ago, the engines didn't even have pressureized oil systems (or were just
beginning to embrace the concept) and plateau honing ofthe cylinders would
have brought a dumbfounded look to any machinist's face.

As far as the business end of it all, they are very shrewd.  They pay their
techs an average of 65% less than what they should for warranty repairs, nd
demant 90% more.  They mark the price of the vehicle up by and expected
percentage that they expect to pay in warranty repairs, so in the end the
customer really does pay for all that "free" warranty work.

Bill and teh Big three do have one thing in common, after they make their
money, they are done with you.  If you bought something that doesn't perform
as you'd expect, tough luck.  I reckon if Linux went for $300 a copy there
would be as much heartache over it as there is over Microsoft. But since it
is free, we don't mind fiddling with it, and making it happy.  If cars were
free I wouldn't mind fiddling with it either to make it purr.

I ahve to agree with Anne, in the fact that Microsoft isn't necessarily
evil, yet they are shrewd.  And they also dim in comparison to Linux.  But
you can't play the latest blood and gore game on Linux with out investing
some brain power which is at a premium in today's youth (and adults?).  If
you can't push the button and it all works by it's self, it must be bad.
Scratch your head with Linux, or suck your thumb with Microsoft?  It is all
in perception.

Ivan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Hall" <flimzy@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <discussion@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2003 1:41 PM
Subject: [aclug-L] Re: Microsoft's best move


Car manufacturers do the exact same thing.  Sell "defective" products, I
mean.  Most cars made today are not nearly as reliable as the ones made 50
years ago.  And it's not because cars are more complex now.  It's because
car manufacturers have realized that they make more money if they sell a car
that will wear out in 5 years instead of in 20.

Bill Gates doesn't have a corner on the sale of "defective products."  He's
a smart business man, and has used his intelligence to make more money for
himself--or as many people would say, "evil."  (According to any definition
I've heard, anyway, selfishness falls under the category of evil :).
Likewise, General Motors uses their intelligence for "evil", and so does
George Foreman.  :)

-- Jonathan


----- Original Message -----
From: "ironrose" <ironrose@xxxxxxx>
To: <discussion@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, August 25, 2003 8:47 PM
Subject: [aclug-L] Re: Microsoft's best move


Most people or even consumers don't consider Bill Gates to be "evil."
 Many business people have different opinions, but to be able to sell a
"defective product" as Microsoft Windows and make so much money do so is
astounding.  If he was in the business of a car manufacturer or any
simular line of business, he would have gone broke or bankrupt a long
time ago.  Screwd is a little different than evil.  ~Anne

Jonathan Hall wrote:

>I've never heard anyone call Gates "ignorant."  Gates is a VERY smart, VERY
>in-touch individual.  He just happens to use his intellect for "evil."
>
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Hugh Harding" <hughh@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>To: <discussion@xxxxxxxxx>
>Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2003 10:12 AM
>Subject: [aclug-L] Microsoft's best move
>
>
>Maybe Gates isn't all that ignorant after all....
>http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=74&e=8&u=/cmp/13100775
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