Re: [tlug] Re: [CoLoCo] RESPECT MICROSOFT

["Lyle H Saxon" <llletters@example.com>]

On 8/12/07, David L. Willson <DLWillson@example.com> wrote:
> I'm not sure "crushing Microsoft" is an immediate option yet, Phillip.
> When it is, I'll give it a good think.  For now, though, we have a lot
> of work to do.  We need to show people that our operating system is
> easier to use AND it does everything theirs does.  We're not there yet.

This is true, but I sometimes wonder why people expect it to be
delivered to them from the hands of an angle with fluttering wings,
descended from heaven with blaring trumpets, while on the other hand
they put up with all manner of problems with their brand-W machines.
The problems on the brand-W boxes are overlooked, but Linux must not
only be perfect, it must be better than anything else in each and
every way before it will be considered?

> Work.  Crush Microsoft later.  Inter-operate with them now.

I agree, with a couple of caveats - first the term "crush Microsoft"
probably should never be used.  It's a call to arms for Microsoft that
only strengthens their resolve to resort to dirty tricks.  Basically,
the world needs the hardware component of computers unquestionably,
but the world simple does not need Microsoft.  "Stop feeding Microsoft
money" is more to the point.

As for interoperability - this is a primary reason to get away from
using Microsoft - they work very hard to break interoperability, so
waiting for perfect interoperability with them is waiting for a day
that will never arrive - it's a perpetually and deliberately moving
target.

> Let Microsoft crush Microsoft.  Look at the steaming pile of fertilizer
> that is Vista, and ask yourself if they need any help.  Let's do our
> work, and not worry about Microsoft, except to the extent that we need
> to, to keep them from cheating.  (Thank you, FSF, for the GPLv3).

But that's the problem - they play dirty hard ball!  It's not a very
fair fight, which is why people (cough-cough) sometimes get passionate
and angry about their dirty business practices.

It's true we need to not foam at the mouth, but we might also have
some understanding of why some people do.  God knows there's enough to
be angry about!  That said, it's counterproductive to foam at the
mouth and the best defense is offense, not just digging in and waiting
for the weather to clear.

Lyle