[LINK] Moved to Linux

[Ivan Trundle]

On 13/09/2006, at 9:20 PM, Brendan Scott wrote:

> Kim Holburn wrote:
>>
>> On 2006 Sep 13, at 5:17 PM, Ivan Trundle wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> On 13/09/2006, at 4:59 PM, Kim Holburn wrote:
>>> <snip>
>
>
>> Yeah but computers really do change - get faster, cheaper, more  
>> powerful
>> all the time.  There is the old Bill Gates quote, not great but  
>> you get
>> the idea:
>> "If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we
>> would all be driving $25 cars that got 1000 MPG"
>
> You forget a couple of the unspoken riders -
>
> "...but the price for the operating system essential to its  
> operation would be gradually increasing while your usage rights  
> would be gradually decreasing."

Okay, I'll play this game: let's contrast this with the operating  
system that I choose to use at present: price no higher since I  
bought it, usage 'rights' not less.

> "... but if you learnt on one make/model it would cost more than  
> the cost of a new car to use another brand."

Nope - I can switch to any other major OS with little penalty (the  
cost of a licence).

> "... but if you wanted to have the 'able to turn left' optional  
> extra, you'd also need to buy the '2 door hatchback' accessory."

  I assume that if you want to do something that is considered by  
most to be quite normal, but not by the OS, then you'd have to buy  
something that costs extra. Can't really think of anything with  
regard to the OS that I use.

> "... but if you'd like to park it somewhere other than your garage,  
> you'd have to pay double."

Getting vague here. Assuming that the OS is to be placed on another  
host machine, to replace the existing machine. No problem - transfer  
from one hardware device to another not an issue, and licencing  
permits it to be used in different locations - albeit only in one  
garage at a time.

> "... but it will record your every movement and report back to its  
> masters on a regular basis"

Nope.

>
> "... but if you let anyone else borrow it, you could end up in gaol."

Possibly - to be fair - but the ability to allow others to use it is  
sanctioned.

> "... but if you let your kids drive it, you'd have to pay a per use  
> kids fee."

Nope.

> "... but if you want to ferry your friends kids to soccer, you'd  
> have to pay a per use ferry fee."

Lost me on this analogy. I need guidance here!
> "... but hackers could take control of it over the network and  
> drive it through your living room at high speed."

Hardly likely.

> "... but anyone else could so easily use it without your consent  
> you might as well leave the doors unlocked and the keys in the  
> ignition."

Ditto.

> "... but the hood would be welded shut."

A matter of conjecture. I have access under the hood, but then my car  
also offers access under the hood - and I'm not game to replace the  
engine there, either.

> "... but you'd pay to use it every year"

Quite possibly - if I consider upgrades essential - which I don't.  
Ditto with cars. Some buy new ones more frequently than I do.

> "... but if you wanted to use the fifth gear, you'd pay double."

Not so - one price covers all speeds.

> "... but if you wanted more than 2 people in the car concurrently  
> you'd have to pay an additional fee per user."

Not so - my OS has multi-passenger capability.

> "... but you couldn't use it both at home and at work."

To be pedantic, some personal cars aren't able to be used at work,  
either. But I use a laptop, so the OS goes with me everywhere.

> And the kicker:
>
> "... but while the right to use the car only costs a couple of  
> hundred bucks, the consequences of getting the licensing wrong are  
> so disproportionate to any loss anyone would ever suffer as a  
> result, you need to employ someone at $60K/annum (with another $15K  
> for legal advice) who makes no productive contribution to your  
> business other than to make sure all your licences are compliant."

I doubt it - I don't need to employ anyone to make sure that my  
licences are compliant. And even when I worked in a larger  
organisation, it was not work $75K/annum to ensure this was so. It  
might be so for larger still organisations - but the cost of not  
having a registered car can become quite disproportionate, too -  
though not quite as extravagant, I agree.

> I'm sure there are plenty of others.

Point taken - Agreed that *some* OS systems demand this - how they  
got into this position is easy enough to see. I pity those who are  
tied to the hegemony of a dominant OS.

iT