Microsoft at the power point [why Linux is slandered at FR]

The Economist ^ | 13 September 2003 | Economist staff

[Russian Sage]

This is because private ownership stimulates innovation

Yes. But as we have also understood since Adam Smith, monopoly stifles innovation. OS's are a natural monopoly, more or less, and Open Source, for whatever reasons, is the only force that has been able to offer badly needed competition.

[TomServo]

Bravo!!

[elbucko]

I agree with the facts of all three points you make. The basic invention of these basic discoveries were not exclusively American. However, in the case of Daimler Benz, they did not have the commercial success that Ford did when he developed the assembly line. The model "T" became the wheeled "operating system" of the world. And it was "open", as well as privately owned.

As for aircraft, much of the worlds aircraft companies built airplanes by hand until WWII and automobile assembly line methods could be integrated into aircraft manufacture. The US again took the lead. In 5 years, the US made more aircraft in one month in 1945, than it did all year in 1940. Private companies (using taxpayers money) on an "open" production line.

[First_Salute]

We tend to install W2K Pro on a FAT32 formatted partition.

That partition is the larger of two partitions, one big (around 32GB), one small (around 8GB) on the Master IDE hard drive. Then we also have two same-sized partitions on a second hard drive. All are formated FAT32.

We visit the hardware maker's website and download ALL the updates --- we do not use the hardware updates from Microsoft.

To Install W2K Pro, we do roughly the following:

(1) After the OS appears to have successfully installed from the CD, we restart four times.

(2) After the fourth restart, we set the energy savings; we do not use standby or hibernate --- the machine will either be ON or OFF and nothing else. Here, we also check the virtual memory page settings --- often we find that the installation of additional RAM has not properly been taken into account by the OS, so we adjust the setting(s) --- we'll usually put the "swap file" on one of the second hard drive's partitions.

(3) We then get the latest ROM upgrade and install it, followed by any related hardware updates from the maker.

(4) We install Norton SystemWorks, chiefly for Norton Utilities and Norton Anti-Virus.

(5) The Microsoft Windows Updates follow.

(6) Then we complete the installation of the maker's updates.

(7) For steps 5, 6, and later, after each software application's installation, followed by two restarts, we run Norton Utilities WinDoctor and then another restart.

(8) Every step of the way, we try to keep it as clean an installation as possible.

I have seen hardware tests completely miss bad hard drive or keyboard or mouse connections, but usually, these kinds of marginal connections are indicated during startup --- failure to repeat "the same old startup."

In your place, I would install another CD player and read the install discs from it.

[the_daug]

I never used Mac's because of the way Apple went after companies that made machine that ran like a Mac in the courts. I have this problem with the software industry in general. I don't like being called a thief. I've wondered how many pirated versions of software sold someone on a licenced product or got tossed in the can? I like Linux cause I'm not called a thief for useing it. I want to sue Microsft on ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) grounds for being dyslexic and haveing to type in so many characters to activate thier software. I bought a Windows XP Pro upgrade for my laptop that had WXPHE on it (glorified Win98). The laptop was stolen so used the upgrade on my desktop. I hate the internet activation and figured I would have to fight MS on the phone. Went through no problem. May be MS is wising up. Naw!

[the_daug]

Speaking of pirated {I know I'm off subject} I found decent music I wanted and bought when I had Napster. Now I only buy what I'm sure of and I'm sure of nothing now.

[Nick Danger]

Europeans and Japanese are marvelous in improving the production process and reverse-engineer the existing process. But what about the ideas themselves, the new products? Why is it that they invariably come from the States?

This is because private ownership stimulates innovation.

It's not clear what you are trying to say here. You start with a false premise, the old canard about the Japanese not being able to invent anything (the second-largest holder of U.S. patents is a Japanese company, Canon).

From there you proceed to tell us that the advantage we have over these other guys is the idea of private property. What on Earth makes you believe that the concept of private property is unique to the U.S.? The Japanese had a whole generation of entrepreneurs (Honda, Matsuda at Mazda, Akio Morita at Sony, etc.) who followed trajectories very similar to those of Henry Ford or David Sarnoff. All built very large private corporations and became fabulously wealthy men, just as any successful entrepreneur here would.

There's nothing wrong with a little rah-rah, but lying to ourselves about our competitors having weaknesses that they don't have is the first step toward getting complacent and losing to them. The compact disk was invented by Sony and Philips; the DVD by a British company. We certainly have our share of ideas, but let's not kid ourselves: ideas can happen anywhere.

[PokeyJoe]

doood - you've never seen a netcraft descriptionof "Free Republic" have you?

OS, Web Server and Hosting History for www.freerepublic.com

OS	Server	Last changed	IP address	Netblock Owner
Linux	Apache	25-Jun-2003	209.157.64.200	Verio

Linux

unknown

24-Jun-2003

209.157.64.200

Verio

Linux

Apache

28-Mar-2003

209.157.64.200

Verio

Linux

Apache/1.3.27 (Unix) (Red-Hat/Linux) mod_gzip/1.3.26.1a

12-Mar-2003

209.157.64.200

Verio

Linux

Apache/1.3.27 (Unix) (Red-Hat/Linux) mod_gzip/1.3.26.1a mod_perl/1.26

10-Mar-2003

209.157.64.200

Verio

Linux

Apache/1.3.27 (Unix) (Red-Hat/Linux) mod_perl/1.26

5-Mar-2003

209.157.64.200

Verio

Linux

Apache/1.3.27 (Unix) (Red-Hat/Linux) mod_perl/1.26

5-Mar-2003

209.157.64.200

Verio

Linux

Apache/1.3.22 (Unix) (Red-Hat/Linux) mod_perl/1.26

26-Feb-2003

209.157.64.200

Verio

Linux

unknown

25-Feb-2003

209.157.64.200

Verio

Linux

Apache/1.3.22 (Unix) (Red-Hat/Linux) mod_perl/1.26

12-Mar-2002

209.157.64.200

Verio

[E=MC²]

From the looks of nearly all the posts on this thread, LINUX is WORSHIPPED on FR, NOT slandered. For my part, any OS that GOVERNMENTS pant after can't be all good.

[autoresponder]

Good comparison to Indy cars.

Years ago John Schultz's AC Bristol spun it's 3rd set of bearings after three major welding/linebore/rebuilds by a former Indy master mechanic.

Driving back from Miami to Pompano Beach one night he gripped about the massive expense, inconvenience, and probable next wipeout after a 4th fix.

As I had a Duntov cammed dual quad 270hp(+++) 'Vette in my sleeper Impala 4ht with a PowerGlide (???) I mentioned nothing is really impossible.

When we got to his house he opened his garage door to show me his expensive oversized paperweight.

I asked if he had a yardstick to measure the AC Bristol's underhood engine compartment; esp. the width.

One week later John's AC 'Vette rolled out of a local shop that mostly repaired trucks and farm tractors.

Six months later while John and I were at an Opa Locka AFB SCCA race where Carroll Shelby was racing a Birdcage Maserati.

Shelby hit up Ed Cole at GM for a deal on Chevy engines but Cole nixed the deal as Chevy was trying to push their street 'Vettes using their stock SCCA 'Vettes and the Duntov SS racers.

Shelby talked to Ford and Ferrari fortunes went south quickly.

Going back well over those 25 years as you say; the right workable and reliable fix can do wonders.

Let's remember that the old Ford 289 was zipped into a Lotus with a stock rocker arm design that wiped out by the end of that Indy 500 mile race. That it won.

Today's big block V-8 racing 'Vettes are again stomping on V-10 Vipers and V-12 Ferraris.

Bells and whistles ain't always gettin' it.

Like the California recall and erection, 2nd and 3rd place only works if you are betting on the horses.

Incidentally, I'm watching HBO pip on the lower right corner of my virus and worm proof MSN-TV from Bill Gates and Microsoft on an RCA Plus internet receiver that cost under $200.

My expensive computer is not being used on FR at all.

I have added an RCA VCR/DVD player, a big plasma wall screen, and a vintage Marantz stereo receiver/tuner/amp pumping thru monster speakers.

Kinda like a warmed over Corsa I had once with a zipped up boost stock TRW toy under that rear engine compartment lid.

Well before Indy made smokers work right.

TV and plasma monitor are both on at once right now as I type this from 8' away on a wireless keyboard that also controls my TV channels, volume, and PIP location, TV full screen button, and PIP off.

Like that AC Bristol, the best results are not always the most expensive; a 'Vette transplant will often smoke the others.

No software problems (no software!), free periodic updates by MSN, 6 email accounts, no email viruses or worms, no slavery to a mini computer screen and wired keyboard, no sitting close to the monitor screen at my dumb computer desk, no "patches", no repairs, no trips to get upgrades (no hardware!), no foolin!

I may use my computer tomorrow.

I may not.

It has lots of negatives, no matter what computer, what software, what trick stuff is purchased, installed, or messed with.

It's like a stable of cars; I drive what I want to according to the race I drive in.

Incidentally, my '65 Corsa Turbo got "installed" in a VW Karman Ghia by the Darien CT mailman that bought it from me for 8 times what I paid for it.

"Source" indeed!

Interesting thread.

Back to my satellite TV movie and the next thread; time for another Corona too.

My time machine always works!

[Dimensio]

Free Republic is hosted on Verio? *shudder*.

Not good knowing that mail from Free Republic is already blocked at the router by quite a few admins, and may be blocked by many more in the future.

[Wonder Warthog]

"*sits in the corner with his Mac and watches the show; got no dog in this hunt*"

Actually, there is. WHY doesn't Apple release a version of their new "Unix-based" OS that runs on Intel hardware?? There is a lot of information that says they have developed one.

[flamefront]

Now tell me about Andy Granatelli and the turbines that wooped all the big companies once only to be forced of the track.

[Gorzaloon]

IMHO, we are entering a new era in software. The big 3 applications are becoming mature and have more features than users need. Microsoft has grown large and unwieldy.

More features than users WANT. I have been running Windows since W3.1, and have really not had any trouble with it, and have not seen a crash in years and years- Just by excercising common sense about what I allow to install and run.

But XP's embedding of the unwanted Messenger, among other things, like Media Player's defaults, etc. have made me no longer trust MS, and I am no longer comfortable running their programs, simply because many of the bloated new "features" were NOT written for ME, or MY use...They were written for other reasons, some of which I consider sinister.

Two machines here converted to RH9 Linux, five to go.

[gore3000]

Somebodies brother just got a nice hunk of change to sell something that cost him nothing to distribute.

Could you kindly explain how a company that distributes software essentially for nothing can out-corrupt a company like Microsoft with some 40 billion dollars in its bank account?????????????

[TopQuark]

You're confused.

That is quite possible.

It sounds like you've bought the weird MS propaganda that Open Source is some kind of Communist thing.

No my friend, it is apparently for you that these are the only sources of information. I simply know some industrical organization and economics of R&D. This is where, I said, the issue belongs. Perhaps you should postpone further arguments until you avail yourself of that knowledge.

[TopQuark]

understood since Adam Smith, monopoly stifles innovation

1. No, Adama Smith did not address the problem of innivation in a monpolistic market.

2. Your view of monopoly as something negative is a common misunderstanding based on what you (mis)heard in Economics 101.

3. A dynamic monopoly may produce results completely different from what you expect.

4. Our society celebrates monopoly and PROTECTS thousands of monopolies each year in the form of patents.

Read something beyond Adam Smith. You'll be a real sage then.

[Quix]

THANKS. I appreciated your good, clear post.

[TopQuark]

You start with a false premise, the old canard about the Japanese not being able to invent anything (the second-largest holder of U.S. patents is a Japanese company, Canon).

"Cannot invent aything" is a strong statement. You made it; I did not. Yes it is an old fact that the Japanese have perfected the already existing ideas, and that in itself requires innovation. That innovation was marginal (and a lot of marginal increments can produce a large, even infinite integral, as you know), and you cannot possibly compare any of their corporations to our automobile or aviation in their respective infancies.

As to the private property, again, I did not say that it is unique to the U.S. -- you assumed that. The ease of business formation is still unparalleled in the U.S.

What also had in mind is that, placed in the public domain, the servicing of a product acquires feature of a public good. I do not think that, say, N years out, the provision of support for it will not fizzle. I have more confidence that a private good will be provided by the market.

[TopQuark]

ANd the relevance of this to the topic at hand is...?