Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 18:43:27 -0500 (CDT) From: Frank Pawlak <fpawlak@execpc.com> To: grog@lemis.com Cc: freebsd-advocacy@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Andreessen: Linux use growing Message-ID: <199804292343.SAA01552@darkstar.connect.com> In-Reply-To: <19980428145348.09007@papillon.lemis.com>
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On 28 Apr, Greg Lehey wrote: > (moved to -advocacy) > > On Fri, 24 April 1998 at 13:26:53 -0500, Frank Pawlak wrote: >> On 24 Apr, Dennis Reiter wrote: >>>> From www.news.com : >>> >>> Netscape Communications' vice president of product development Marc >>> Andreessen sees an economic shift on the horizon as freeware and >>> Linux grow in popularity. He made his comments at the Massachusetts >>> Software Council meeting in Boston today, saying that other than >>> Windows NT, Linux is the only operating system currently gaining >>> market share. In retrospect I feel my comment to a bit on the strong side. It was made out of frustration with Andeessen's appearent bow to the Linux camp,and all of the issues of the free software summit. Maybe he is correct that Linux and NT are the only current OS's that are gaining market share, or in my mind that carries the implication that we are not. As the VP of product development at Netscape he has to be aware of us, BSDI and the other BSD platforms, yet the browser that they produce for BSD platforms never makes it out of the development directory on their web site. It is included with statements that this is esentailly untested software, and there it stays. This carries the implication that BSD platforms are not taken seriously enough to provide a shipping product, as they do for Linux or for that matter SUN etc., which by implication are loosing market share and or not viable alternatives to NT. So it is probably not that the Linux people have done something wrong, however there is a large element within the Linux community that would be delighted if BSD were to fall off the free OS radar screen. Occasionaly I read their NGs and very often that message is made loud and clear. These people may or may not be the majority voice of Linux, but I suspect that they might be. It is just tough to know there are excellent alternatives to both Linux and NT and not get recognized by folk that develop apps for that product. Add to that my sometimes fiery nature and sparks can and sometimes do fly. However, most times I refrain from being a losse cannon, >> >> Pardon the harsh language. But godamnit this shit pisses me off. Can't >> wait till I get some burning issues off my plate and am able get back >> into the foray, and work on some things to shove that attitude down >> their collective throats. >> >> Wish to hell that these Linux groupies would get their heads out of >> their asses and realise that the central issue is UNIX vs M$ no matter >> what flag the various UNIX versions fly. > > Sorry, I don't really understand. What have the Linux people done > wrong? > >> "At no time is freedom of speech more precious then when a man hits his >> thumb with a hammer." > > Which thumb was it? :-) Depends, are you right or left handed? ;-) > > Seriously, I can understand people being disappointed that Linux is > doing so much better than FreeBSD. But you shouldn't be angry at them > for it. In this you are correct and we can agree. But if Andreessen is expecting to replace NT on the desktop with Linux he must be smoking something that interferes with clear thinking. Can't say that browsers are used on servers a whole lot. So by implication he is considering their server software getting ported to Linux. This is another blow to our cause. In my opinion this is an area on which we need to work very hard as a group. Have some ideas germinating that I will post soon. Till then I'm off the stump. Comments please. Frank > > Greg -- ----------------------------- "At no time is freedom of speech more precious then when a man hits his thumb with a hammer." -- Marshall Lumsden To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-advocacy" in the body of the message
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