Re: Supporting MS, or not

[Chip Richards <chipr@tomquartz.niestu.com>]

On Mon, Jan 26, 1998 at 10:30:38PM -0500, Steve Cohen wrote:
   
   You replied to Chris, but it may as well have been me.

Actually, I was replying to all those people down through the years who've
ended discussions about software with the words "But what are you gonna do?"
Chris was just playing the role of straight man.

I have heard it thousands of times--people say that they gotta use
Microsoft, they have no choice.  I just want people to think, to explore the
boundary of "gotta", to determine whether they do indeed have *no* choice.

   I have applied for jobs on unix platforms - I'd even prefer it, I think -
   but I don't have the experience and my resumes get into the circular
   file.

Learning Unix is easy.  Install Linux on a cheap PC and teach yourself.
There are thousands of young squirts on the net who are dying to show off
their expertise to you.

   Recently, I got to put the GUI and the MFC aside for a little while and
   work on the guts of the system my employer sells.  Just dealing with
   algorithms, logic, down and dirty C++.  What a liberating relief it was!

I can imagine.  On the other side of the fence, GUI programming under Unix
is kinda exciting (and sometimes a bit frustrating) because there are so
many competing GUIs to choose from.  Currently I use OpenGL with Ada for my
own personal efforts.

   But the point is, I'm not in full control.  You may be, and if you are, I
   envy you.

I am in control of my life outside my day job.  That life doesn't include
Microsoft software at all.  I understand that this makes me different from
the majority of computer users.

And in my day job, I push the limits every chance I can.  Yes, they have
jumped hard on the NT bandwagon.  As I feared, they have paid a heavy
price--they committed to the PowerPC platform, which was discontinued just
after they had spent twelve million dollars in research and development on
it.  Now, as the software starts to hit the field, they're paying new
prices.  I have continued to refuse offers of juicy NT projects, and have
stuck to my Unix guns.  And guess what, now it's gradually starting to pay
off for me.

   I think constantly about what a hold one company has on me.

Good.  That's what I want people to do.  Further, I want them to *do*
something about it, and to *tell* others that they are doing something.

   That's why I do what 99.9% of the population would consider a
   self-indulgent waste of time - participating in this discussion ...

At least you (and Chris) are doing *something* besides just acting like
sheep.

   It isn't a question of what system I buy.  After all, I buy a system no
   more often than every four years.

I'd argue that it *is* very much a question of what system you buy.
Microsoft has been building this stranglehold for at least the past sixteen
years, so that's four systems you've bought that have funneled money into
Bill Gates' pocket.  Every time you buy from Dell or Gateway or Compaq or
any other vendor who refuses to sell systems without Windows installed, you
boost Microsoft, and you boost the perception that Microsoft is the only
choice.  Next time you buy a system, consider an alternative.  If you don't
know what the alternatives are, I'd be happy to list some for you.

   And except for the "one developer at a time" thing you mention above it
   doesn't make a damn bit of difference in the scheme of things.

Sure it does.  It's all a self-reinforcing pattern.  More word-of-mouth
means more users mean more developers mean more vendors mean more press.  So
that when Joe Bob looks in the paper to decide what computer to buy, all he
sees are WinBoxes.

   You almost sound as if you blame people like Chris and myself for
   perpetuating Microsoft's monopoly.  But hey, there's a lot of us in this
   boat, and you're not going to get anywhere by alienating us.

I apologize to you and to anyone else who has gotten this impression.  I
certainly intended no disrespect of you or your choices.  I understand that
I am in a fortunate position, being able to forego Microsoft completely.
But the fact that you have to be *fortunate* to do so galls me.  And I want
to call back from the top of the ridge and say "Hey, you can climb up here,
too!"

The last thing I want to do is alienate anyone, even those dedicated to
Microsoft.  I want to keep an open discussion going, and you can't do that
when people are pissed.  I hope they and we can disagree whilst still
communicating.

Most Windows users are complacent, happy enough with what they've got and
unwilling to risk the status quo.  I try to jostle people a bit, and that
sometimes comes off as rude.  Again, I am sorry for any offense I may have
given.

   You can use Microsoft OS's and even Microsoft tools on a daily basis and
   still be committed to ending their monopoly.  I know I am.

Agreed.  And as another member here has noted, you can fight the monopoly
one program at a time.  But many people think (or act like they think) that
there really is *no* choice.  When I suggest using something other than
Microsoft, they chuckle wistfully, like you do when someone suggests that
you become an Olympic athlete--yeah, sure, you might *like* to do that, but
come on, it isn't really in the realm of possibility, now is it?  That's
crazy talk.

It's very difficult to pursue the subject without people becoming defensive,
as you have to a degree in your response.  But I keep pushing, hoping that
maybe one more person will stop and ask themselves "What's the worst that
*could* happen?"

Let me also be quick to point out that choosing MS alternatives won't come
without sacrificing something, possibly a lot.  Adhering to your principles
usually exacts some sort of price.  Using Linux on my desktop, for example,
means I can't see Shockwave stuff on the web.  No Vivo video for Linux, so
much of the excellent CNN site is dead to me.  And games--don't get me
started.  Before I stopped using DOS (I never actually used Windows--I went
straight from DOS to Linux) I was an avid flight simulator fan.  Now, there
are exactly three sims that I know of for Linux, and not one of them is a
patch on the ass of Chuck Yeager's Air Combat.

What I wanted to do with my original message was to get people to see that
they are also making sacrifices by sticking with Microsoft.

-- 
Chip