[ale] petition

[Geoffrey]

Benjamin Dixon wrote:
> As scary as MS and the thought of anything MS on linux is, these comments
> are just as frightening. While MS may have been cunning in their
> questionably legal marketing manuevers, let's face it, they've played the
> business game the best of anyone. Their code, no matter how evil, is not
> a random occurrence but is the product Microsoft's investment in time and
> money to create a product. If they don't want you to see the gears, thats
> their decision. Its their code, they should be able to do what they want
> with it no matter how much of a "threat" they pose.

You are just plain wrong.  They have broken the law, therefore different 
rules apply.  They have destroyed companies, and along with them peoples 
livelyhoods.  It would be different if they were just very good at 
software design, but they are not.  They have destroyed the OS market 
with there illegal dealings.  Just as a convicted felon loses some 
rights, so must Microsoft.

There's a huge difference in being a good marketeer and being an illegal 
monopoly.  They are both.

Ultimately its the
> people who continue to buy into their monopoly that are causing the
> problem.

That's easily said, but the fact that they are so imbedded makes it 
impossible.  More companies would go out of business if they just flat 
out quit using M$ products.  Customers would complain, there would be a 
huge cost in converting existing M$ formatted files to some other format.

If you're worried about nefarious things going on inside the code
> that you don't know about, which is undoubtably the case, don't buy their
> products for linux, windows, or any other operating system.

Some folks don't have a choice.  And I, will not deny my 10 year 
daughter the opportunity to play games that are only windows based.

It's not black and white.

> 
> Ben
> 
> On 14 Feb 2002, James P. Kinney III wrote:
> 
> 
>>I would prefer to have Microsoft forced to publish every line of code
>>for every OS they have released since DOS 1.0.
>>
>>I don't want MSOffice on my linux boxes unless it too is fully
>>documented with full access to every line of code. I simply don't trust
>>the vulture of Redmond. 
>>
>>The code doesn't have to be GPL. They could have a redistributon
>>prohibition clause on binaries. I want to see what they are doing when
>>my network shows traffic and I'm not doing anything. (kids windows box)
>>I want to see how my personal data gets handled. I want to see how the
>>difference between the published API and the purchased API. 
>>
>><side note - how much $$ does Microsoft make from licenses with Norton
>>and MacAfee virus software?  Whose cash-paying interest would be served
>>by closing the security holes?>
>>
>>On Thu, 2002-02-14 at 20:43, Geoffrey wrote:
>>
>>>I've come to the conclusion that we need to get the word out. I've heard 
>>>that the hold out states on the Microsoft trial want Microsoft to port 
>>>Office to Linux.  I don't know about you, but I don't want Office taking 
>>>my Linux box down.  I think the proper solution is for Microsoft to 
>>>publish their file formats.  What do you folks think?  I want to get a 
>>>petition going.  I've dead serious about this.
>>>
>>>Anyone know how you would go about this, from the legal standpoint?  I 
>>>can throw up a site for this purpose on no time, but how do I get it to 
>>>the right people, so that it can be 'heard?'
>>>
>>>-- 
>>>Until later: Geoffrey		esoteric at 3times25.net
>>>
>>>"...the system (Microsoft passport) carries significant risks to users that
>>>are not made adequately clear in the technical documentation available."
>>>- David P. Kormann and Aviel D. Rubin, AT&T Labs - Research
>>>- http://www.avirubin.com/passport.html
>>>
>>>
>>>---
>>>This message has been sent through the ALE general discussion list.
>>>See http://www.ale.org/mailing-lists.shtml for more info. Problems should be 
>>>sent to listmaster at ale dot org.
>>>
>>>
>>-- 
>>James P. Kinney III   \Changing the mobile computing world/
>>President and COO      \          one Linux user         /
>>Local Net Solutions,LLC \           at a time.          /
>>770-493-8244             \.___________________________./
>>
>>GPG ID: 829C6CA7 James P. Kinney III (M.S. Physics)
>><jkinney at localnetsolutions.com>
>>Fingerprint = 3C9E 6366 54FC A3FE BA4D 0659 6190 ADC3 829C 6CA7 
>>
>>
>>
>>
> 
> Today's Random Quote--------------------------------------
> 
>  "Dont critisize a man till you've walked a mile in his shoes, 
>  that way when you critisize him you're a mile away and have his
> shoes."
> 
>     - unknown
> -----------------------------------------------------------
> 
> 
> 


-- 
Until later: Geoffrey		esoteric at 3times25.net

"...the system (Microsoft passport) carries significant risks to users that
are not made adequately clear in the technical documentation available."
- David P. Kormann and Aviel D. Rubin, AT&T Labs - Research
- http://www.avirubin.com/passport.html


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