XPost: comp.os.linux.advocacy, comp.os.os2.advocacy   
   From: ajbrehm@gmail.com   
      
   Linønut <=?iso-8859-1?Q?lin=F8nut?=@bone.com> wrote:   
      
   > Andrew J. Brehm poked his little head through the XP firewall and said:   
   >   
   > > Linønut <=?iso-8859-1?Q?lin=F8nut?=@bone.com> wrote:   
   > >   
   > >> Andrew J. Brehm poked his little head through the XP firewall and said:   
   > >>   
   > >> >> No marketing, impossible to get OEM deals due to Microsoft's illegal   
   > >> >> business practices, etc.   
   > >> >   
   > >> > Do you know anybody who tries to buy a computer without Windows and   
   > >> > can't?   
   > >>   
   > >> That's not the point.   
   > >   
   > > I believe it is the point. Most people want a Windows computer   
   >   
   > No they don't.  They want a computer that can run the Windows apps that   
   > they've become accustomed to (thanks to the monopoly), and deal with   
   > internet formats in ways similar to what they've become accustomed to,   
   > thanks to the monopoly.   
      
   In other words, they want a Windows computer.   
      
   A "Windows computer" is the thing you describe above.   
      
   > If someone were so foolish as to make a Linux distro that exactly   
   > emulates Windows, and so incredibly lucky as to elbow out Windows in a   
   > significant percentage of the current desktop computer OEMs, they people   
   > would buy it, and not even know the difference.   
      
   So let them.   
      
   > > and can buy it. Those who don't want a Windows computer can buy a   
   > > computer without Windows. Whether the supply of Windows computers is   
   > > greater than the supply of non-Windows computers doesn't matter, as the   
   > > supply matches the demand.   
   >   
   > Sure, maybe.  Where a predatory monopolist doesn't hold sway.   
      
   The "monopolist" can't change that fact.   
      
   > > If there is demand for non-Windows computer, there will be a supply of   
   > > such.   
   >   
   > No there won't, not as long as this Administration treats this predatory   
   > monopolist with kid gloves.   
      
   Oddly enough it is possible to buy non-Windows computers.   
      
   > >> A technical user, whether it be of souped-up cars   
   > >> or souped-up computers, can always find a path to what he/she wants in a   
   > >> niche market.  The average user, even if they know of the niche market,   
   > >> do not have the savvy or the desire to work out how to use the   
   > >> niche market to their advantage.   
   > >   
   > > The average user isn't looking for an incompatible computer. The average   
   > > computer needs a random computer to be compatible with the largest   
   > > selection of other random computers.   
   >   
   > The average user does *not* need a computer to be compatible with   
   > anything.   
      
   Apparently he does.   
      
   > The average user needs to be able to deal with arbitrary   
   > content, media, and applications in a manner compatible, no matter what   
   > the computer.   
      
   Again, you are describing a computer compatible with the largest   
   selection of other computers.   
      
   > Do not confuse OS-land and hardware-land with user-land.   
      
   No such confusion happened.   
      
   > >> The point is that Microsoft has forced all other OS vendors into the   
   > >> niche market.   
   > >   
   > > The customers have forced all other OS vendors into the niche market.   
   >   
   > Bullshit.  Learn some history.   
      
   What have Microsoft done that would have affected the other OS vendors   
   even if customers had not made the decision not to buy from these other   
   vendors?   
      
   > > Operating systems rely on the network effect to become most valuable.   
   > > More than one standard is simply not efficient and will be rejected by   
   > > most customers.   
   >   
   > No it won't.  Why do you think we still have manual versus auto   
   > transmissions?   
      
   Because transmissions are not subject to a network effect like operating   
   systems are?   
      
   > Or completely incompatible cell-phones?   
      
   How many incompatible telephone networks are you aware of?   
      
   > > Most customers do not want a non-standard PC.   
   >   
   > No shit, Sherlock.   
      
   So you accept that fact but you do not accept that this means that   
   people will want a Windows computer?   
      
   > >> And the current U.S. administration told the D.O.J., "Hands off".   
   > >   
   > > And I suppose that is wrong because you disagree with the decision?   
   >   
   > No.  It is wrong because one branch of government cynically aborted the   
   > decision of another branch.   
      
   I am sure the supreme court will do something about that if it is really   
   wrong.   
      
   > Now what are you doing on the net?  Get back to work, Microslave.   
      
   Have you tried insulting people about this? Did it complement your   
   arguments?   
      
   --   
   Andrew J. Brehm   
   Marx Brothers Fan   
   PowerPC/Macintosh User   
   Supporter of Chicken Sandwiches   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)