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:   
   > >   
   > >> > 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.   
   >   
   > That was profound.   
      
   Perhaps.   
      
   > >> 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.   
   >   
   > I am.  Microsoft isn't.   
      
   Ok. What exactly are Microsoft doing to prevent, say, me from buying a   
   Linux computer in a computer store in Germany or a Walmart in the US?   
      
   > >> 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.   
   >   
   > Okay, then.  Go into Office Depot and buy a non-Windows computer.   
   >   
   > C'mon, I dare ya!   
      
   I don't know Office Depot. Go to an Apple store and buy a Windows   
   computer. Perhaps some stores do not have the products you want?   
      
   > >> 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.   
   >   
   > No sir.  I am talking about applications and data, not computers.   
      
   And you don't think that the question whether one computer is compatible   
   with another has something to do with that?   
      
   > >> Do not confuse OS-land and hardware-land with user-land.   
   > >   
   > > No such confusion happened.   
   >   
   > Yes, it did.   
      
   I am sure it will be more clear to you soon.   
      
   > >> 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?   
   >   
   > Googoo for DOJ+Microsoft.   
      
   You don't know or didn't understand?   
      
   > >> 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?   
   >   
   > Bzzzzzt.  Wrong.   Transmissions are just as subject to a network   
   > effect.   
      
   Like operating systems? Cars with different transmissions might not be   
   able to interoperate or use the same roads?   
      
   > Yet there are still significant numbers of manual   
   > transmissions out there.   
      
   Yes, that's because the value of the transmission does not depend on   
   using the same transmission system as everybody else.   
      
   You can still use the same roads.   
      
   > >> > 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?   
   >   
   > Exactly.  You and I define standards differently.   
      
   So perhaps you disagree that compatibility with Windows programs is a   
   standard?   
      
   > People want a PC that does standard things, like support email and word   
   > processing.   
      
   People can have that. Any Windows PC or Mac or Sun box or Linux box will   
   do that.   
      
   > You want to define standards as "adhering to Windows".   
      
   I don't. I don't care about Windows compatibility, not much anyway. But   
   most people do. Try and sell them a Mac and they will ask whether it   
   runs Windows programs. Try it.   
      
   And if they don't ask that, sell them the Mac.   
      
   > >> 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.   
   >   
   > You are too trusting.   
      
   But you trust government to get it right with solving the problem of   
   Microsoft's market share?   
      
   > >> 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?   
   >   
   > Feh.   
      
   I see.   
      
   > > Andrew J. Brehm   
   > > Marx Brothers Fan   
   >   
   > You're pretty staid for a Marx Brothers fan.   
      
   It takes an adventurous man to oppose current gospel on anti-trust laws.   
   But thank you.   
      
   I am actually pretty laid-back, that's why I don't worry much about   
   Microsoft. I am more concerned with government interference, because I   
   cannot avoid its influence by simply buying elsewhere.   
      
   > > PowerPC/Macintosh User   
   >   
   > So whay aren't you using a standard (Windows) PC?   
      
   Because nothing can make me use one at home. I don't like Windows, find   
   it thoroughly annoying. I use Windows at work though. I began to like   
   Windows as an office platform. Active Directory is handy. But the GUI is   
   annoying.   
      
   I haven't bought a Windows computer since 1994. Switched to OS/2 shortly   
   after I saw Windows 3.1. Bought computers with Warp Connect and without   
   operating systems in the 90s, then switched to BeOS, then GNU/Linux,   
   then Mac OS X.   
      
   It was then that I learned that Microsoft forced me not to buy anything   
   but Windows computers. I was surprised.   
      
   > > Supporter of Chicken Sandwiches   
      
      
      
   --   
   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)