OT: Microsoft layoffs

Fri Jan 23 07:03:26 MST 2009

Just a side note on perceptions. I use to do consuner support and the
general population doesn't know what they use. Internet explorer is
the big blue e or simply the internet. I have heard windows hp office
xp I dunno windows and no its a compaq to describe the os. My wife
doesn't care as long as there is a fox on the desktop and it takes her
to her email and games. It is truely only geeks who put much thought
in to this

On 1/23/09, Bob Elzer <bob.elzer at gmail.com> wrote:
> They probably just layed off the Vista People :-)
>
>
>   _____
>
> From: plug-discuss-bounces at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
> [mailto:plug-discuss-bounces at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us] On Behalf Of keith
> smith
> Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 10:10 AM
> To: Main PLUG discussion list
> Subject: Re: OT: Microsoft layoffs
>
>
>
> I think we tend to look at Microsoft and a $150 license fee for XP or Vista
> as a lot of money.  There are other costs to consider.  What is your time
> worth?
>
> Most people do not have the need nor the desire to learn Linux.
>
> I personally like the Windows operating system for my desk top.  I run Linux
> on my LAMP dev box.
>
> To me, as it probably is for most people, is a simple business decision.  I
> was M$ free for 8 months in 2000.  Last year I tried it again.  My favorite
> code editor only runs on Windows.  I hated running IE in wine (I need it for
> cross browser testing).  I spent tons of time configuring my Linux network
> and spend lots of time to make it work efficiently.  In the end I re-loaded
> XP on my desk top and have enjoyed the mix of M$ and Linux, each meeting q
> specific need.
>
> Why buy a nail gun at extra cost when a hammer will do the same job for
> less?
>
> Two comments on pirating:
>
> 1) The creators of dBase found out in the late 80's that pirating actually
> improved sales.  During the time most software came with a copy protection.
> The copy protection made installs more tedious and difficult.  Several
> applications were developed to make by passing the copy protection possible.
>
> In the end most software companies removed the copy protection.  Ashton-Tate
> the creators of dBase stated their sales when up once the copy protection
> was removed.  They attributed this increase to people sharing their copy of
> dBase with others giving them a chance to try the product.  Once they saw it
> was something they could use they bought it.
>
> 2) Pirating hurts everyone just like shoplifting cost all of us.  There is a
> lot of quality free software out there.  And there is a lot of quality
> proprietary software out there. I do not see a day when ALL software is
> free.  For one cooperate America would not have it that way.  The real model
> I see emerging is the two feature set software.  The lower or lesser
> featured application is free.  The upgraded software is fee based.  I think
> this is a great model that provides simple software for a simple need.  It
> also creates a revenue stream and an incentive for the developer.
>
> Think of this.  What if M$ offered a very slimmed down version of office for
> free and a more feature rich version for a fee.  That would be a great thing
> in that I could have what I need in Office, simple word and simple excel,
> while meeting the needs of people who need all those advanced features.
>
> On a side note I do not want to purchase office, however, those I work with
> send me office documents.  As a work around I use the free reader provided
> by M$.  Not as effective as I would like.  Office is $400 full retail.  It
> is purely a business decision.  Is it worth my time to copy those documents
> to Open-Office?  At this point it is.  If I received documents daily it
> would not be.
>
> Please no flames.
> ------------------------
> Keith Smith
>
>
> --- On Thu, 1/22/09, James Finstrom <jfinstrom at rhinoequipment.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> From: James Finstrom <jfinstrom at rhinoequipment.com>
> Subject: OT: Microsoft layoffs
> To: "Main PLUG discussion list" <plug-discuss at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us>
> Date: Thursday, January 22, 2009, 9:26 AM
>
>
> http://www.alleyinsider.com/2009/1/microsoft-layoffs-live-msft
>
> I lived a short while in Washington and knew many Microsoft employees so in
> a general sense Microsoft laying off 5000 people sucks but in another sense
> I would like to think that this is partially our (the Linux world's) doing.
> Having to compete with (free as in beer) software and pirates it really is
> hard to keep going. This shows a flaw in strategy for the Redmond folks.  I
> would say if they did a survey especially of the 30 and under crowd about
> piracy 80+% would see nothing wrong with it and would not morally classify
> it as stealing. this mind set is really going to be the death of sold
> software. It is often said people don't adopt Linux because because there is
> no reason too when they can get the other stuff free too.  We live in an age
> where information/data is free (as in beer) weather that was the intent of
> the creator or not.  Just amaizing that one of the richest companies in the
> world is not sucking it up and eating loss for a few years. I do have to
> wonder though if bill gates was still at the wheel if they would eat it.
> Bill gates love him or hate him is a verry generous person and I believe he
> would have fought this over all.
>
>
> James Finstrom
> Rhino Equipment Corp.
> http://rhinoequipment.com ~ http://postug.com
>
>
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James Finstrom
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