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Subject: Re: chessbase to become the microsoft of chess

Author: Dann Corbit

Date: 21:08:22 11/01/98

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On November 01, 1998 at 23:14:03, Don Dailey wrote:
[snip]
>I like linux a lot and is my OS of choice.  But even linux is old
>technology.  I think we should have had something much better by now than
>either OS but Microsoft clearly held the market back for years.  Unix
>is not for everyone, but it is for me, for right now.  I just can't see
>myself ever wanting to use Windows and I even tried to like it but
>couldn't.   It just seems broken after using a real OS.
Actually, you are very even handed for a Linux guy.  I actually like Unix
myself, but my favorite is OpenVMS.  I am under no illusion, however, that it
will ever become the OS of choice for the many.

The problem with copyleft stuff in general is not suitability or capability.  It
is that it is impossible to use it for profit.  That is why I prefer public
domain.  I do not deny the utility of copyleft.  For students at a university,
it probably the very best option most of the time.

Now, as to whether Chessbase is somehow in control, I don't think so.  They have
no ability to dictate.  This is especially true as chess interfaces are largely
public specifications.  PGN, FEN, EPD etc. as universal inputs are not
controlled by any commercial entity (thankfully).  Monopoly control comes from
controlling and hiding information.  If all facets of information transfer are
openly known, there can be no monopoly.

Some degree of monopoly can be a benefit.  A hundred different divergent
pseudo-standard ways to do things is a pain in the posterior for programmers.
If one player becomes large enough to take the lead, it can lead to
standardization.  On the other hand, total control of an industry is clearly
bad.



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