[clug] A most interesting read, most interesting

[Peter Anderson]

Colleagues,

Why do we beat ourselves so much over this hoary old chestnut?

As a "computing social democrat" I understand and like the philosophy 
behind Linux and the Open Software movement (since CPM and early MS-DOS 
days I have always supported shareware over more commercial products) I 
also understand but dislike the philosophy behind Windows (and its 
fellow travellers). The really good thing, from my perspective, is that 
we have a choice. For me, Linux IS a viable choice to the proprietary 
alternatives (Windows AND OS-X -- as an aside, why do many of us put the 
boot into Micro$oft but ignore Apple; as a previous owner of three 
Macintosh computers, I feel much more hostility towards Apple because of 
their predatory practices and total disregard for their customer's 
investment).

Why can't we just be thankful that there are alternatives and that we 
have the opportunity to use what we prefer. We ought to be putting our 
energies into more productive endeavours - don't you think?

I hope you all have a very good 2007.

Regards,
Peter
-- 

Peter Anderson

E: peter.anderson at internode.on.net
W: http://www.users.on.net/~peter.anderson/ 
<http://www.users.on.net/%7Epeter.anderson/>
P: +61 (0)2 4472 2274
M: +61 (0)418 249 648

There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to 
conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the 
introduction of a new order of things — Niccolo Machiavelli, /The 
Prince/, ch. 6