*BSD News Article 79945


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From: Ken Bigelow <kbigelow@www.play-hookey.com>
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.misc,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc,comp.infosystems.www.misc
Subject: Re: Unix too slow for a Web server?
Date: Sat, 05 Oct 1996 06:49:13 +0000
Organization: Erol's Internet Services
Lines: 48
Message-ID: <325604E9.5024@www.play-hookey.com>
References: <323ED0BD.222CA97F@pobox.com> <51pog8$1gj@newsbr.eunet.fr> <324E80B3.21F4@www.play-hookey.com> <52p6tn$g9@anorak.coverform.lan> <3252155A.6258@www.play-hookey.com> <530juv$ab3@tracy.nacs.net> <32559200.53CA@www.play-hookey.com> <slrn55c9t8.5gl.Alain.Knaff@hal.inrialpes.fr>
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Alain Knaff wrote:
> 
> In <32559200.53CA@www.play-hookey.com>, Ken Bigelow <kbigelow@www.play-hookey.com> wrote:
> :You left out the other half of the obligatory thinking, here: cost.
> :Those $$$$ are also highly important. The concept of "doing the job"
> :also implies "at an appropriate cost," although that isn't always stated
> :explicitly. However, you have begun talking about a Yugo vs. any other
> :car as if the price tag were irrelevant. It isn't.
> :
> :Thus: I drive the car that best suits my needs at a cost I can afford.
> :The same holds true for my choices of computers, printers, etc., and
> :software.
> 
>  I hate to burst your bubble, but we're speaking about _free_ software
> here.  Thus cost is a non-issue.
> 
>  And if cost were an issue, it would actually speak _against_
> netscape: most "real" newsreaders are free for everybody, whereas you
> are legally only allowed to use netscape free of charge if you meet
> certain conditions (educational institution, or non-profit
> organisation, or evaluation, ...).  Moreover, netscape demands more
> Ram, which also costs money.  It seems that the more adequate tool
> actually costs less.
> 

And since we're only talking free whatevers, your choice of cars as a
metaphor is completely inappropriate to the discussion. In any cast,
cost (as you just pointed out) is measured in many ways, including the
cost of RAM to support what you're doing.

It also means hard drive space and several other things that are less
measurable but equally real: convenience *for the user,* ease of use
*within the context of the user's preferences and requirements.,* etc.

Since you do not know my precise circumstances, you are in no position
to judge my choices of even free software. I have no problems with you
or others making suggestions or indicating other software that they
might want to try for whatever task. But when you start sneering (or
even implying a sneer) at anyone based on the software they're using,
even to the extent of saying they're "wrong" to use thet're choice, you
have stepped outside the bounds of polite behavior. This is unworthy of
you.
-- 
Ken

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