[LINK] Apple to Use Intel Microprocessors Beginning in 2006

[Con Zymaris]

On Wed, Jun 08, 2005 at 11:39:39AM +1000, Craig Sanders wrote:
> > I want every piece of proprietary software available, be default,
> > on Linux too. Why, when I don't actually use much/any proprietary
> > software? Well, just in case it is needed one day.
> 
> well, i know i'm never going to use it so i don't care whether it exists
> or not.
> 

Yes, but that's just you Craig. :-)

If you can show me a viable FOSS accounting and wages application which we
can use in Australia, I would agree with you. And I'm sure that for many
people, for many organisations, they can invoke yet another instance of a
line of business app for which there is no viable FOSS play. They must 
have software to perform that function. What would you have them do? 

> it's not an exclusionist attitude. it's "indifferentist" - i don't
> care whether other people use linux or not. it's their choice. more
> developers benefits linux (and thus me as a linux user). more users
> makes no difference.

Perhaps, once again, for you maybe. For me, if we had Linux desktop
penetration in small business at 30%, I'd be assured of having all the
FOSS (at best) or non-FOSS but running on Linux (at worst) applications my
life and my business needs. At present, I'm reduced to having to run 
Windows platforms where I want to, because Linux is not mainstream enough 
on the desktop yet to have collected that critical-mass base. I would 
guess a straw poll in this forum will show a majority leaning towards this 
angle, too.

> > No contest. But as a user of the software, I want maximal
> > 'opportunity' to be bestowed on my platform of choice, as it is on
> > Windows.
> 
> OTOH, some "opportunities" aren't worth having - and, in fact, are
> negative rather than positive.

Granted. You don't think we can do a better job of security lockdown for 
the masses than Microsoft can? Ye have little faith ;-)

> 
> 
> > > [...] linux developed and prospered long before there was any
> > > commercial involvement, it is a mistake to think that it is
> > > necessary for linux in the future. and it is a mistake to thing that
> > > it is an entirely good thing - there are some negatives along with
> > > the positives.
> >
> > Can you list the negatives?
> 
> i though i already had, and some more in this message. overall, though,
> the inevitable dumbing-down that happens whenever anything becomes
> mainstream popular.

Explain The Simpsons then ;-)

> 
> 
> > > also, they'll do it anyway regardless of whether linux or mac or
> > > anything starts breaking into Microsoft's desktop near-monopoly or
> > > not - they'll do it because it helps to undermine Microsoft which
> > > makes good strategic sense for them.
> >
> > Business will only push into this space out of enlightened self
> > interest. If the money is no longer there, they wont be either. Linux
> > loses on that score.
> 
> no, that's the point you miss. linux loses nothing if all these
> companies pull out. linux will still exist, it will still be developed,
> and it will still be used. linux does not *need* big commercial partners
> for it's continued existence or growth. like i said, they're just icing
> on the cake - nice but by no means essential.

You know as well as I do, that much of the heavy lifting in both kernel 
space and core application space, over the past 7+ years, has been 
achieved through (enlightened self-interest) corporate sponsorship. That's 
fine. That's how free software works. Think free as in enterprise. 

So, yes, I know (having used Linux since circa '92-93) that Linux/FOSS 
would just keep-on keeping-on, regardless of corporate involvement - but 
the rate of development, the rate of improvement and the rate of 
usability would diminish. My preference would be for faster and more 
frictionless development on all fronts. And that can only be achieved with 
corporate heavy-lifting.

> 
> and, also like i said, enlightened self-interest doesn't require a
> direct profit. sometimes just undermining an enemy is enough.

Concur. That explains Sun and OO.o ;-)

-- 
___________________________________________________________________________
Con Zymaris <conz at cyber.com.au> Level 4, 10 Queen St, Melbourne, Australia 
Cybersource: Australia's Leading Linux and Open Source Solutions Company 
Web: http://www.cyber.com.au/  Phone: 03 9621 2377   Fax: 03 9621 2477