On Sunday October 5 2003 03:08 pm, ed tharp wrote:
> > That's not bad as a general rule, but I still think there is a
> > place for MS-related posts when there is a relevance to
> > Linux/OSS, as in the case of the Phoenix BIOS post.
> >
> > BTW, please delete the reply-to field in your mail client!
> >
> > Sir Robin
>
> Just so long as I don't have to acknowledge any M$ product as
> 'the alpha male'. I might even go so far as "anti-anything"
> messages should be kept to the barest possible minimum. lets work
> for 'positive' and pro-active solutions....
Hell, if we couldn't rant on about M$ B$, a lot of threads would
lose a bunch of substance. Most of y'all attack the sloppiness of
Billy's software, but fail to see how much M$ influence has
degraded desktop hardware quality and ability over the years. If it
keeps up I'll probly need to buy server racks to keep runnin Linux.
M$ comments should be embedded in (intending to be) 'helpful' Linux
use replies.
New users' queries to newbie about Linux shouldn't be overly
scared away with posts about "windoze hardare and software"
crapiness an questionable suitability for Linux. After all the
Linux community is workin very hard to deal with proprietary
hardware, even M$ software. And doin better each an every day.
There I agree, tryin be positive an not derogative in replies to
new Linux users. Problem is, so is the dark side, an they're gainin
ground. More'n more hardware (even firmware) is becoming more'n
more M$ and/or proprietary dependant. To quote M$ and many other
hardware vendors, 'It only works with Windows (XP)'.
I didn't join in to the M$ bios thread because I considered it a
'borderline' OT subject, but the recent stories (really old news)
about M$/bios integration .... is nothin new. IBM, Apple, and some
others have long ago adopted that strategy. Difference is they did
it with OPEN standards. I doubt M$ will do so since they've tried
to corral anything they can get a foot in the door with, and EEE
(extend, embrace, extinguish .... or control). IOW's ... CLOSED.
The real shame is the hardware (or specially in the case of
win-hardware) SUX! (btw, the worst bios, Phoenix... has for
several years since they bought 'em, owned the best .. Award. Think
of it as OEM it's probly Phoenix, quality it's still Award)
I too noticed the "alpha male" remark. It's part of M$'s
successful brain washin. They've got a lot of the world's
population thinkin they were the beginning ... and will be the end
all. Neither of which is/will be true, in spite of many not even
being aware of anything else, before or after. But OTOH, most new
Linux users wouldn't be here unless they've already suspected M$
veracity an capability.
As to the subject, there's only one solution. Ignore, don't
participate in OT for the list threads. If ya wanna spout about
topics semi or completely unrelated to Mandrake Newbie, please join
us at http://mdw1982.dyndns.org/mailman/listinfo/mandrakeot
Please realize that newbies are the most important Linux users, with
their testing, questions, complaints an suggestions. Without them,
there'd only be M$, and viable much better alternatives would be
only for a few, an certainly not single desktop users.
I was reluctant to reply to this thread, as I thought it at least
semi off topic. BUT this list needs to seriously reduce OT posts.
Please post Linux accomplishments and or M$ failures to the OT
list. Specially political, even religious topics. Nobody will bite
your head off ... you might even convince somebody or two.
--
Tom Brinkman Corpus Christi, Texas
Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft?
Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
