Charlie said:
Try a bit of history Frank.
Try a bit of 'corporate' history Charlie. When corporations are first
formed they will take all risks and do most anything to gain market
share. When and if they become successful they all become
protectionists...it's a survivalists instinct.
They circle their wagons to protect what they have fought so hard for
and what they took huge risks in order to gain. Risk taking for the
successful is then moved way down the lists of "must do's".
All large surviving corporations have exhibited exactly this same
behavior for decades in our capitalistic society.
The reason MS got where it is today is
BECAUSE there was no piracy protection to speak of, that is the very
reason Windows found it's way onto so many enthusiast's desktops.
Exactly what I explained above.
People
generally don't mind paying for something they can feel like they own,
but when the beast keeps calling you a thief you want rid of it and will
look elsewhere.
Sorry, but that's not a feeling shared by the general computing public.
It is not factually nor statistically correct. If you truly believe it
to be correct, then substantiate it with well documented statistical
evidence that can be shared, ok?
Now, we have a situation where for "Security Reasons" 64 bit Vista
drivers have to be signed, 32 bit you are "Warned" they may be insecure.
That will all disappear when drivers are mature and have been digitally
signed. But, who really cares? It's not really a problem.
How long then before ALL non MS software has to be signed or won't
work?
Give me break Charlie...most all of my legacy software already works in
Vista using compatibility mode if needed.
You may consoder this "Different" than DRM or WGA / and
activation but I don't, all are being touted as "Security" measures but
had the ability to do far more.
Really? You're that bothered by DRM/WGA and activation? Guess what,
you're in the minority...by far. I'm much more concerned about our
snooping government, credit card companies and even grocery stores who
know our every move!
Add to this MS' new patent which places
an "Approved" trojan horse on the machine for advertising purposes and
what have you got?
Uhhh...they've applied for a patent that you and I and all the rest of
the general public really have no idea what it is for, do we? We have
read some very biased speculation and that's all. Nor do we know if the
patent in question will even be grated, do we?
An OS that shuts down if you happen to install
something that MS doesn't like.
Never have seen anyone state that their Vista computer "shut down"
because they installed something "MS doesn't like". Got a link?
We do know some have had to re-activate because of bios or hardware changes.
Someone in a recent thread was forced to
reactivate due to a BIOS upgrade recommended by his PC manufacturer.
Even Dell now require MS approval.
Re-activation because of component upgrade is painless...and you know
that to be true.
Then you wonder why by popular demand
people supply Linux on request.
Not by popular demand, sorry but that's not why Dell is/was offering to
ship with linux. Dell has been experiencing loss of market share and
offering linux is a move to appeal to a bigger market and to hopefully
gain back lost market share. It's actually a move made out of desperation.
What's due to ship to third world
Yeah, great idea if it works.
which coincidentally is powered by Linux because no doubt MS wanted too
much for an OS.
Speculating are we Charlie? No article makes that claim.
Imagine that, all those young kids who will soon be the
major market for new PCs and all of them cutting their teeth on Linux.
Kind of like giving them all an etch-a-sketch and then they'll want
more. Don't think they'll be using any command lines nor downloading any
new packages or compiling any kernels. The proposed linux os is way, way
too simplified for anything like that. Ever hear of the Minitels in
France? Good example of a computing model that eventually played itself
out from about 1980-1990.
MS is shooting itself in the foot and ably assisted by you and some
associates here.
Well Charlie, you don't come off as having a whole lot of business
acumen and I sure as hell won't be betting the store on the outcome
you're willing to bet on.
As long as I can continue to make my substantial living using Window
OS's I'll do so cause I'm not willing to shoot myself in the foot in the
name of some ridiculous non-rewarding software cause called linux.
But hey, take that shot if you're so inclined.
Frank