From: "Adam Flinton" 


"Paul Ranson"  wrote in message
news:3e49487c$1{at}w3.nls.net...
> "Adam Flinton"  wrote in message
> news:3e493e1b$1{at}w3.nls.net...
> > > But which also means investing huge effort in competing with MS in
their
> > > current space may be futile, 'Unix' has a niche in the server end but
I
> > > think pursuing if for general purpose desktops on PCs is a hobby.
> > >
> >
> > or conversely makes MS competing with free / OSS software futile.
>
> MS are already there. 'free/OSS' is struggling to catch up. I'm not
> convinved that 'free' is long term stable as long as the assumption is
that
> it will be developed by people working for free.
>

I don't think that. Partly it's people kicking in free time/work but also
it's where comps are willing to cooperate on doing bits of the
"infrastrucure" they need e.g HP'es work on Itanium porting,
IBM'es work on PPC porting, many comps (inc HP & IBM) on clustering
etc. WRT the desktop I think it may end up being the actual major hardware
vendors (Dell, Sony et al) who end up driving that (as they should).

> > Fine so get the Apple & BeOS people to help build a new gui.
>
> Apple have the right approach. IMO.
>

I reckon the new thoughts re GUI'es on Linux are coming from / going to
come from other directions e.g. the mediaPC/home elec devices &
especially the small devices/PDA'es where X is vast overkill etc.etc. My
guess is that there will be some sort of pseudo Aqua coming out from
someone like Sony (or paid for by them) for their Vaio's/Media PC'es when
they move over to Linux.

> > Operating Systems: Design and Implementation?
>
> That's the one.
>

It's between my Spider Unix manual & the "Tao of Objects" in
the shed 

> I think Minix and MicroWindows could be worth examination.
>

I reckon re GUI'es it will be things done by people like trolltech for
things like the Sharp Zaurus......& will end up being the linux kernel
top to bottom..

But.....I'd like to see Plan9 & inferno etc aslo gain traction but hey.

Adam

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