Why not Linux?

[Rick Tomaschuk]

On Fri, 2006-09-01 at 14:05 -0400, Colin McGregor wrote:
> I have not read Animal Farm I'm afraid, but I do know

Animal Farm is a satirical allegory of Soviet totalitarianism. Major
events in the book are based on ones from the Soviet Union during the
Stalin era. (From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_farm ...sorry I
don't have Encarta)

> my industry history well enough to know that Microsoft
> is not the first firm in our industry to be a less
> than honourable player.
> 
> Go back to the 1960's and the "jokes" were about IBM
> and the seven dwarfs (UNIVAC, Burroughs, Scientific
> Data Systems, Control Data Corporation, General
> Electric, RCA and Honeywell). Namely, IBM totally
> DOMINATED the computer industry with only a handful of
> small players on the side, in a way that is in many
> ways comparable to the current situation with
> Microsoft. IBM achieved its position of power through
> some morally/legally questionable tactics (and spent
> time in court over such tactics). Now, IBM has been
> brought into line (due to Microsoft, sigh, groan) and
> is now a much more respected, if still very much a
> hardball player (as SCO is learning the hard way) in
> the industry.

Companies such as you mentioned exist due to the fact 
that most of the population is asleep or spend most of 
their time drinking beer. One day (when the wake up) the find
a monopolistic company dominating their industry and they 
themselves are out of work. Another reason is that most people
are just too 'chicken' or lazy to start their own business and 
follow through on the work to make it successful. Add to the
mix corrupt lawyers, politicians and you end up with with 
unhappy campers demonstrating/complaining about some sad cause.
(see: softwood lumber)

> This situation did not stop at least one of my
> instructors in college during the 1980s from
> worshipping the ground IBM walked on. The fact that I
> thought it obvious to all that IBM was at the time
> something of a bully who needed to be taken down a

I though Micro$oft was fine till they started focusing on world 
domination and quality control went out the window(tm). ;)

> notch wasn't obvious to all.
> 
> I do admit to liking some Microsoft keyboards/mice,
> but overall I see Microsoft in exactly the same light
> as I saw IBM in the mid-1980s a bully who needs to be
> taken down a notch (or two). I do hope Microsoft

I have among other things a 10+ year old no name great 
quality keyboard and circa 1996 IBM and Compaq mice ;)
I've never had a reason to consider buying new ones...

> coming down does not happen because a new comparable
> nasty shows up and that Microsoft does evolve into
> something respectable

That says a lot about the hypocrisy in North America.
Basically the message is: Rob a bank, If you don't end up
in jail use the money to start a legitimate business and
then moralize the population. Afterward move into respectable
venues such as charity and moralize the population. Sounds reasonable...
RickT




> > "We need to slaughter Novell before they get
> > stronger."
> > -Former Microsoft VP James Allchin in a 09-9-91
> > e-mail (as revealed in
> > Caldera v. Microsoft)
> > http://www.msboycott.com/quotes/
> >  
> > -- 
> > http://www.TorontoNUI.ca
> > 
> > 
> > --


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