Re: A Tale of Two Apples

[spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

In article bjblackbear@ibm.net (B.J. Major) writes...

>Mitchell Spector <spec@vax2.concordia.ca> wrote:
>
>>     It should be interested to see how you react over the next few
>> months, as Microsoft becomes more of an influence on Apple Computer
>> as a direct result of the deal. You will no longer be able to hide
>> in your "Microsoft-free" uptopia. The whole concept of the Macintosh
>> being a Microsoft free zone has been totally shattered if you haven't
>> noticed. Already Microsoft Explorer is now the default web-browser
>> the Macintosh will install in System Software. :)
>
>Your information is not totally accurate.  Athough Apple will ship MIE
>with new versions of System software and it *may* be the "default" one,
>Netscape will still also be on there for installing as well.  Although
>MS does not believe in choice, Apple still gives people a choice of what
>to install (or uninstall as the case may be).  And even if it were not,
>no one is going to tell me which browser I have to use!

    I said it is the default web-browser System Software will install.
You have to _tell_ it you want Netscape on your system instead. I do
not like MS Explorer myself, my own preference is Netscape (although
I still keep MIE handy when Netscape crashes and gets on my nerves,
which is does quite often). You having to toggle default installation
settings is just the start, I would not be surprised if future MacOS
updates have Microsoft code in them.

>Further, I am not "hiding" in an MS free utopia.  I am MS free of my own
>free choosing.  Applications (and OSs for that matter) exist that are
>superior to theirs and use much less memory to boot.  Considering how
>that company does business, I consider myself fortunate that I can be MS
>free--and I will continue to remain so.

    That is being sensible, but what I consider not sensible is when
you absolutely refuse to even try (or install) a Microsoft program
merely based on the fact it came from a company you dislike. What
will you do if they helped write a future MacOS release? Are you
going to never upgrade and just sit there with your arms crossed?
I also find it foolish you would not even consider a PC today mostly
because you think Microsoft is ingrained in that system. You are
just limiting yourself by shutting doors (and don't tell me know
all about what PC's are about, since you've proven in this thread
you do not fully understand them. Like DOS still running under
Windows 95 for example? PC's don't support true multitasking?
Macs have superior sound compared to PC's? Shall I go on...?) 

>>     Finally, I do not believe in or worship Microsoft. I am not even
>> a fan of their software products, though if they've written something
>> I find _useful_, I will run it. I really am not concerned with WHO or
>> WHAT wrote the software that runs on my computers, I judge it on how
>> well it works and if it does the job I need. This doesn't just apply
>> to my PC, but my Apple IIgs as well. Blindly boycotting software is
>> foolish, your only short changing yourself. Your boycott of Microsoft
>> is a wasted effort, if you really want to boycott productively, go
>> boycott companies that clear cut the rain forests, or do product
>> testing on animals or countries (like France) that test detonation
>> of nuclear weapons. Those are more serious issues than software
>> monopolies, and are real problems, not fantasy ones.
>
>And no one *but yourself* is comparing boycotting Microsoft to achieving
>world peace or the elimination of nuclear weapons, saving the rainforest
>or any other such noble cause.  But the protection of the consumer
>market from monopolies such as this one is important, and not fantasy.
>The easiest way for a giant to take over is for everyone to sit back and
>do nothing.

    I am not comparing them, I am saying it is MORE PRODUCTIVE to
put effort into boycotting those above things than something as
intangible and meaningless as computer software! I have better
things to do with my time that organize boycotts against Microsoft
and worrying in bed at night that Microsoft is creating a software
monopoly. Trust me, Microsoft is _well_ at the bottom of my list
in terms of fears and worries about the future.

    So long as Microsoft isn't planning to take over the world and
create a "1984" like society or something (which you make it sound
as if that is what they are planning) and take away my freedoms
and rights, I couldn't care less about them. If they write software
that is trash or bloated for no reason, it stays off my hardrive.
If they write something I find useful (e.g. Windows 95 or NT) I
will use it. I wouldn't even think of boycotting them unless they
were comitting racist acts or psychically exploiting people (and
no, not montearily speaking by overcharging for software updates).

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca