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From: msohnius@novell.co.uk (Martin Sohnius)
Subject: Re: Unix for PC
Sender: news@novell.co.uk
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Date: Mon, 12 Dec 1994 14:12:44 GMT
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Organization: Novell Europe
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J. R. Valverde (4423) (txomsy@ebi.ac.uk) wrote:
: So what's it, Moronius? Are you just trying to take away a competitor
: off the market...
Yes.
: ...just by using disinformation tactics?
No.
: Has Novell fall so low as to need to recruit people like you?
Yes, apparently.
: I don't think so, but you really need to think twice before opening your
: mouth. Look, it is as simple as this:
: 1) We are speaking of free software. And of a free software
: that provides a good quality level. It's difficult to beat such a
: cost/performance rate, but that's no excuse to begin a disinformation
: campaign.
It wasn't me who reported on the particular procedure used, in at least
this particular case, by Linux development.
: 2) It is well known for many free wares (not only LINUX) that
: there are "stable" versions, "beta" versions and "development" versions,
: just like it happens with any commercial ware.
Agreed.
: 3) Both, commercial and free providers make copies of their
: development and beta wares to interested parties. Only that getting a
: commercial one is *rather* difficult, and getting a free one is *very*
: easy.
There are many reasons and categories by which the distribution of beta
test software is restricted. In your case, I could well imagine that the
need for at least a minimum of integrity on the part of the business
partner might be a problem.
: 4) The system is thought to work with "persons", not "morons".
: A person, and specially a professional selects the appropriate version
: he or she needs. And knows how to deal with his/her decisions. So there
: is no problem.
This, of course, is exactly the attitude which keeps many commercials sites
from ever touching any free software. A developer who anticipates even
a minimum of brain on the part of the user is on the wrong track. Not
because users are actually stupid, but because this attitude on the part
of the developer leads to faulty software and usually just indicates plain
laziness.
: - A "professional" knows if he/she needs a stable version
: and does not care to get the latest, still buggy, development venture,
: neither in the commercial nor the free world. So far for v#.0 versions.
If you don't start out by striving to achieve a stable version the first
time around, you'll never get one.
: - And he/she also knows when he/she needs more advanced features
: or if s/he can afford the risk, or be in the leading edge, and then gets
: the betas (like developers for Windows, AXP, OSF, etc...). Knows that
: they will still be buggie, but prefers the bugs to be late in his/her
: deadlines. No worry about betas. They *need* them.
: - And a bery good pro may use an stabilished version but be
: willing to know about internal, new developments or want to suit the
: system to his/her needs. Then s/he goes for development versions or
: sources (something *REALLY DIFFICULT* in the commercial world). And
: euther studies the sources or develops new things.
Learn to write! Gender neutrality can be achieved without losing context,
content, grammar, spelling, and meaning.
Sources, by the way, are as easy to get in the commercial world as a
railway ticket: just add a few zeroes to the figure on the cheque (but,
no, we don't accept VISA).
: 5) In any case a "pro" works constructively with the appropriate
: tools. Only a moron goes ahead into troubled waters even when advertised
: of the risks and then flames others for his/her irresponsibility. Know in
: which rank are you placing yourself with your stupid messages?
I'm getting the impression you have made that placement on my behalf
already. You are obviously very professional yourself.
: So far for morons. You look like the guy that installs MK87 of
: Mach in an unsupported platform and expects it to work better than any
: full blown OSF version and to have Real Time support, live voice and
: video and nice 3-D harlots to suck him out of the screen, and when any
: of these fails begins flaming all over the world and saying that he should
: have stuck with MeSh-DOS.
I am afraid all of your "he/she" above did not prepare me for this
crassness. Showing true colours, aren't we?
: Know your place. Know your limitations. Use the appropriate tools.
: And some day you might become a true professional.
: Dot.
: Don't expect me to follow discussing. It's no use with someone
: who still thinks grey matter is that which sticks to shoes when it rains.
JR, I am afraid you got the wrong guy here... But be assured, I'll
remember you! (And I may be closer to home than you think.)
--
+----------------------------------+
Martin Sohnius | "If you can't be funny, |
Novell Labs Europe | at least be interesting." |
Bracknell, England | - Harold W. Ross |
+44-1344-724031 +----------------------------------+
(I speak for myself, not for Novell or anyone else.)