[Novalug] Re: Windows Competition (Was Community Contrib)

Ken Kauffman kkauffman@headfog.com
Tue Jan 22 11:26:16 EST 2008


You really are only strengthening my point.  None of that made it to market
as a long term viable consumer option.

Ken

On Jan 22, 2008 11:19 AM, Clif Flynt <clif@cflynt.com> wrote:

> On Tue, Jan 22, 2008 at 10:52:23AM -0500, Ken Kauffman wrote:
> > I actually find it more valuable that Linux is putting pressure on
> Microsoft
> > to provide a better quality product more so than replacing it.  As long
> as a
> > few viable offerings are out there, it will continue to foster
> improvements,
> > growth and choice.
> >
> > There was a time in our history where Windows was the only way to work!
> > ...
>
>  I agree that Linux has provided competetition and a fertile playing
> ground.
>
>  However, regarding Windows as the only game in town...
>
>  I came to Linux from BSDi Unix, and to BSDi from Microport Unix.
> Before that, I had a Tandy Model 16 (68000 based system) running
> Microsoft Xenix (before it was SCO Xenix).
>
>  I was running X before I ran Linux and before Win 95 was released.
>
>  At the time, BSDi and Microport were both more expensive than the
> Windows or DOS operating system being offered by Microsoft, but once
> you counted buying Visual C, a decent editor, an email client, etc, the
> cost of a useful Unix system was cheaper than useful Windows system.
>
>  My point is that even in the Dark Ages, there were viable options to
> MS-DOS and Windows.  The costs were pretty close, and folks were using
> the options in home and corporate settings.
>
>  Linux got introduced just as we hit critical mass in the OS
> community, when the BSD licensing wasn't clear (and whether or not AT&T
> was going to close BSDi wasn't certain).  Linus made some correct
> technical choices (when the BSDi developers chose wrong), and Linux
> took off while the BSD derivatives have stayed in the background.
>
>  It could have easily gone the other way, and Linux could be as well
> known today as the Xinu project.
>
> Clif
>
> --
> .... Clif Flynt ... http://www.cflynt.com ... clif@cflynt.com ...
> .. Tcl/Tk: A Developer's Guide (2nd edition) - Morgan Kauffman ..
> .. 15'th Annual Tcl/Tk Conference:  Oct 2008,  Philadelphia, PA..
> .............  http://www.tcl.tk/community/tcl2008/  ............
>
>
>
>
>
>
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