Solar wrote:
Once upon a time, there was a real choice of operating systems. MacOS, AmigaOS, RiscOS, AtariTOS - the competition fueled quantum leaps in OS design, look & feel, functionality, and interoperability.
question is, was that choice a good thing in terms of standards?
For OS hobbyst, I believe it was great.
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OpenSource showed a way how this monopoly could be broken - until that path was monopolized by the GPL/Linux community in their own, special way. Well, at least their pressure made Microsoft move again, but as far as choice is concerned...
It wasn't monopolized by GPL/Linux...there's just cannot be 10 more OS on the "market". People
chose Linux as a flag carrier of OpenSource. It isn't Linux's fault...
If it wasn't Linux, it would be something else.
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Well, we're stuck with "pay-per-view" Windows (with the "pay-per-view PREMIUM" bastard MacOS), and "wontfix" / "works-as-designed" Linux.
umm...MacOS...
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And that won't change anytime soon, if at all: You play proprietary, Microsoft will crush you with patent sues as soon as you show up on the radar. You play OpenSource, Linux will assimilate you.
Not sure what assimilate means in this contex, but it largley depends on who or which company is using Linux and which distribution. Linux is in mess, but it's getting cleaner and cleaner.
The goal is: If I buy brand new PC, I really don't want to give extra 100$ just to make it run. OS should be standard, like any other open standard in the industry. I don't care weather it's Linux/MacOS/MSWindows.
It should come with free compiler, documentation, browser, CD/DVD/BR burner....everything to make the damn machine usable...and every other specialized app. like Autocad, Maya, Photoshop...should be payed and OpenSource alternatives will just force them to be better and cheaper products. Thats good, thats healthy economy environment.