Author: Christophe Theron
Date: 19:56:19 10/27/01
Go up one level in this thread
On October 27, 2001 at 21:03:34, Robert Hyatt wrote:
>On October 27, 2001 at 16:56:26, Christophe Theron wrote:
>
>>On October 27, 2001 at 11:15:41, Robert Hyatt wrote:
>>
>>>On October 27, 2001 at 04:19:47, Christophe Theron wrote:
>>>
>>>>On October 26, 2001 at 20:43:14, Tom Kerrigan wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>On October 26, 2001 at 19:12:03, Christophe Theron wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>OK, then you definitely work for MS. Most observers mention the need to have
>>>>>>256Mb of memory and a very fast processor in order to run XP.
>>>>>
>>>>>Question the observers. Most memory companies have gone so far as to say that XP
>>>>>will only run well with 512MB RAM or more. Hmm, I wonder why they say that? And
>>>>>if you see an article saying something similar, ask if the author is only saying
>>>>>it because of the noise that memory companies have made. The Register has
>>>>>written a few columns on how much memory XP really needs, and the consensus is
>>>>>that it will perform just fine with 64MB, which I have witnessed personally and
>>>>>consider to be true.
>>>>>
>>>>>>Windows 95 runs on my 386sx 20MHz, and it has only 5Mb of memory. I just have
>>>>>>to
>>>>>>wait a little minute every time I want to open an explorer window. But I swear
>>>>>>W95 works on my 386sx 20MHz notebook.
>>>>>
>>>>>I don't doubt that. But I remember running 95 on a 486/80 (WAY faster than a
>>>>>386sx) with 8MB RAM and it was a DOG when running any more than one program.
>>>>>
>>>>>WinXP will run just fine on any Pentium (including 60MHz) with 64+MB RAM. I have
>>>>>seen it myself running just fine on a P5/133 and a P5/60 isn't so much slower as
>>>>>to make it unusable.
>>>>>
>>>>>>Why should I let a chance to Microsoft to have a look at what's going on
>>>>>>inside
>>>>>>my computer?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>The question "are they going to have a look or not" is totally secondary.
>>>>>
>>>>>By running a Microsoft OS, you are giving MS the opportunity to do that no
>>>>>matter what, whether you like it or not. MS could upload every single keystroke
>>>>>you enter without your knowledge, if it wanted.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Hey, you finally got it!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Same for any other operating
>>>>>system you might use.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Please mention another operating system I could use.
>>>
>>>There is an alternative. I don't run windows on _anything_ I personally
>>>use. From the laptop I am using right now to post this, to the quad in
>>>my office, to the file servers and firewalls at the office, to the
>>>workstations used by faculty there...
>>
>>
>>
>>Yes, I know someone would point out Linux, and I do not disagree with you.
>>
>>However it is not an alternative for me.
>>
>>I write programs to be sold to as many customers as possible. When I look at the
>>current state of the market, it scares me.
>>
>>I have a relatively reliable way of evaluating which OS my potential customers
>>are using. I look at the statistics of my Chess Tiger site (www.chesstiger.com).
>>At least it gives me a picture of my market segment.
>>
>>What I see on today's statistics is:
>> Windows 97.0%
>> MacOS 1.3%
>> Unknown 1.0%
>> Linux 0.7%
>> WebTV 0.3%
>>
>>Does it make any sense for me to use Linux then?
>
>It definitely does. There are two issues: (1) what system do you use for
>_development_ and (2) what system(s) do you target for sales?
>
>My program runs just fine under windows. But it is developed and tested
>under linux...
My program is developped under DOS. I could use a free alternative to DOS, or
even use that DOS in emulation mode under Linux.
Tiger is written in C, so I could also simply use Linux command line boxes (I
don't know how they are called). I don't even need DOS.
I don't feel that I am forced to use Windows because there are no other usable
alternatives.
I feel that I'm forced to use Windows for the reasons I have explained below,
which is in essence that I can't afford to be disconnected from my customers by
using a totally different working environnement.
Something in the vein of OS/2 Warp, at the time it was offering compatibility
with Windows 3.1, would be what I call a good alternative for me. Provided that
it works... But that does not exist.
Christophe
>>This has nothing to do with the quality of the OS. I consider Linux (and Unix in
>>general) as THE reference OS of all times. After all, Unix and its flavors have
>>successfully been used since more than 30 years on many different platforms.
>>What other OS can beat that?
>>
>>Naturally I could use Linux to develop my chess algorithms and port the
>>resulting code to Windows when it is ready. But coding Chess Tiger only takes a
>>marginal amount of time (testing it is what takes 90% of the developpement time,
>>but most of this is done with automated procedures).
>>
>>Tom was joking about "living in the woods". Well, using Linux would be like
>>living in the woods. I don't want to live in the woods, because I need to live
>>the same life as my customers. I have to live the same experience as they do, so
>>I can feel their needs and improve my products accordingly.
>>
>>If all my customers are using Windows and I'm using Linux, I don't think I am
>>living the same experience as they do. If I do that, then I live in the woods,
>>and they live in town.
>>
>>I do not know what to do about this situation, and that's why I hate it.
>>
>>I am forced to use an operating system which is 90% driven by commercial
>>considerations: forcing people to buy more powerful computers to do the same
>>thing as they did before (bloated OS), directing people to use selected
>>commercial services instead of cheaper or even free alternatives (the ".NET"
>>propaganda, Windows Media Player hold up, forcing people to download selected
>>partners updates and services), forcing people to pay regularly to renew their
>>software license (which allow to get money without actually improving the
>>software), and so on...
>>
>>But as you only use Linux, you probably do not have any idea of what I am
>>talking about. Lucky you... :)
>>
>>
>>
>> Christophe
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>>Hint: there is no other alternative.
>>>>
>>>>Still not understanding my concerns?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> The question is not whether or not you're giving them a
>>>>>chance to do it, it's what they're actually doing. And it has been independently
>>>>>confirmed that MS is NOT uploading personal information about you. Just a hash
>>>>>of your hardware.
>>>>>
>>>>>>>I'm the last person to tell somebody to use Windows, but if you don't use it,
>>>>>>>I'd prefer that your reasons be based on accurate information. :)
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Come on. I have seen where Microsoft is taking us over the years, and as the
>>>>>>justice is not willing to stop them, the only way to keep a little bit of
>>>>>>privacy and control over our information systems is to realize what's going on
>>>>>>and to resist.
>>>>>
>>>>>Or just use something else. I don't see why you're getting so worked up about
>>>>>this product activation scheme (which is presumably what you're talking about).
>>>>>Look at it from other viewpoints.
>>>>>
>>>>>1. A lot of the more expensive software requires dongles. Would you prefer a
>>>>>dongle over a fairly harmless/painless "product activation" scheme? Or how about
>>>>>programs that require you to insert the CD every few times you use them?
>>>>>Microsoft doesn't make you do that, either. In terms of copy protection, the
>>>>>product activation scheme is not as bad as many alternatives in use by companies
>>>>>that you would probably consider less evil than MS.
>>>>>
>>>>>2. If MS does not take actions within their means to prevent piracy, it becomes
>>>>>legally very difficult to prosecute pirates. In effect, our legal system is
>>>>>_forcing_ MS to do something in the vein of product activation.
>>>>>
>>>>>I often enjoy reading your posts a lot because I think they are very well
>>>>>thought-out, balanced, and objective, but that doesn't seem to be the case here.
>>>>>If you really believe in all this Brave New World, Orwellian sort of stuff about
>>>>>Microsoft, you are free to go live in the woods and send letter bombs to people.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>If I express my concerns so loudly it is precisely because I do not opt to live
>>>>in the woods and act as you say.
>>>>
>>>>It beats me to see how the sheep tries desperately to protect the wolf.
>>>>
>>>>Stockholm syndrom?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Christophe
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