From: "Joe Barr" 

On Sun, 02 Mar 2003 16:20:03 +0000, Geo. wrote:

> "Joe Barr"  wrote in message
> news:3e6253d8$1{at}w3.nls.net...
>
>> And you know that how?
>
> see attached, I was watching Linux back when you were still claiming OS/2
> had 10 million users.  Trust me, if Kaiser asked for Linux desktops,
> Gateway, IBM, Dell, would all be falling over themselves to trumpet the
> message that they provide linux desktop preloads.

You mean when OS/2 did have that many users.  IBM says they still have 3
million REGISTERED CORPORATE OS/2 SEATS.  And they don't come near tracking
seats in smaller firms.

That was also the time that OS/2 was outselling Windows at retail. That's
why the bitch Robin Raskin had to pull the sales data from a couple of
consecutive issues of PC Magazine.  She had just pronounced OS/2 dead.

Of course, while you were busy watching Linux, MS was protecting its turf
in all manner of ways to prevent anyone - even IBM - from preloading
anything but Windows.  The sewer scum wouldn't even allow dual booting by
any OEM as recently as last year.

And there you sit, George, and proclaim that with Linux and OS/2 it was all
about user demand.  That's bullshit.


>> Much more likely it is directly the result of MS contracts with the
>> major OEMs, past and present.

>I don't think so, at least not in todays environment.

You didn't think so during the years 19950-2002 either.  But that doesn't
change the fact that it was true.

> Go easy Joe, you're gonna pop a vein . The reality is that today MS is
> facing a situation much like Apple faced hardware wise back in the early
> PC days. Instead of dealing with it they are going the other direction and
> attempting lockin tactics and copy protection and raising prices. I don't
> think that's going to prove a very effective strategy..

I think it's all they can do.  They are very much aware that they have
already lost the war to the free software revolution.  Now it's just a
matter of maximizing whatever profit they can squeeze out of the end days.

> #: 893503 S6/OS Wars/Browser Wars  (CIS:CANOPUS) !   17-May-98  23:15:10
> Sb: NT vs Unix
> Fm: George Roettger [PPE] 76105,20
> To: Richard W. Blalock 70274,1771 (X) Replies: 1    TID: 2329      Par:
> 893382    Chd: 893566    Sib: 0
>
>  > Given the above, what kind of marketshare (total server+desktop) do you
>  > see it  getting in say, three years?
>
> No idea, and I'll explain why.
>
> Linux is not popular because of apps, it's popular because of what it can
> do (see my post about IRC to Rich in this thread). If it gains enough
> popularity it will no doubt get apps (it's already getting office type
> stuff) and that will fuel the fire so to speak.
>
> The big question is, when will it show up on Microsofts radar screen?
> Microsoft could very easily shut Linux down today by making NT more
> desirable to the IRC crowd. All they need is a version of gcc that can
> compile the tcp/ip exploits and linux would be history.
>
> The driving force behind linux is a bunch of kids using it as a playtoy
> and having a linux rules attitude. It's these kids that are setting up
> linux web servers and mail servers for small businesses. Change their
> preference and you change the picture immensely.
>
> So I really don't know this one, it's totally dependant on Microsoft
> taking action or sitting there and doing nothing. If they wait until the
> apps start to flow there will be no stopping it. As an OS, it's quite
> capable.
>
> Geo.

No disagreement from me.  At the time you wrote that, I had been running my
website on Linux for two years.

See ya,
Joe

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