| From: | "Ojaste,James [NCR]" <James.Ojaste@**.GC.CA> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: [OT] Euro question |
| Date: | Fri, 1 May 1998 10:32:22 -0400 |
>> The megas would never let Linux get to the point where it is now.
>> They'd nip it in the bud - "Hey, I hear XX has developed a new OS
>> with some possibility of promise! If we can't have it, no one can."
>>
>> Memes are beside the point - most people would never know about the
>> OS, and those that did wouldn't be able to do much. If they develop
>> in secret (very difficult, unless you're the only one working on it,
>> and you're not connected to the net), then it's no threat. If they
>> then release it simultaneously everywhere, Mega #1 ties things up
>> legally while Mega #2 writes virii to combat the OS directly, while
>> Mega #3 kills the author(s) to discourage further development.
>
>Eh? Megacorps don't co-operate. They might do this kind of thing
>independently (each trying to kill this thing) but I'm not sure they'd manage
>to do it simultaneously. Besides, even in
Yeah, I know - I was just making the point that there are several
ways that while even borderline legal, even Microsoft wouldn't try
nowadays.
>Shadowrun, there are plenty of independent outfits with no ties at all to the
>megacorporate community members. It's just plain innefficient to stamp out
>*everything* that isn't Big 8. Much cheaper to co-opt it it it becomes
>popular. Ever hear of an economic term called 'opportunity cost'? Basically,
>compare the costs of what you want to do to the profits gained.
Or rather compare the cost of the operation with the potential loss...
>In short, I don't think the megacorps are going to do much more at the
>beginning of the lifecycle of a product like this to stop it, because they
>can't make decisions fast enough, and by the time they'd see 'Linux' (or any
>other nifty grassroots product)as a threat, it will be established in the
>market niche. At this point, corporate FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) tactics
>can keep the damage minimal, and the corps are running FUD tactics ANYWAY
>against other corps.
>Why send a special ops team when you are already paying your advertizing
>firm?
Linux is fighting an uphill battle against MS - it's had a more
technologically advanced, more stable, more customizable, more
efficient OS for years now and has only got a toehold with MS sticking
to their standard FUD tactics. I was trying to point out that the
megas aren't *restricted* to FUD. They can take the next step if
they deem it necessary - if MS tried that, they'd be toast.
In short, the Megas can do everything that MS can, and more. They
have more money to spend on advertising/astroturf campaigns, the
actual possibility of attacking the people responsible, whatever.
I don't see how a freed OS could hold up against that.
James Ojaste
