[CS-FSLUG] Ballmer Blames Software Piracy on Spendy Hardware

[Don Parris]

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 18:10:21 -0500, Bradly McConnell
<bradly.mcconnell at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 16:55:08 -0600, N. Thompson <n.thomp at sasktel.net> wrote:
> > I can't believe I'm hearing such ridiculous things from Microsoft, no
> > decent general-use home computer could cost as little as USD $100 and
> > there is absolutely no possible way Windows which costs CAD $299.99 for
> > XP home is going to sell any better just because a computer will come
> > out for USD $100. Unless Microsoft is going to port Windows to
> > calculators I don't see how they are going to even be able to get their
> > OS to run on such a cheap computer.
> 
> They have - they are called PocketPC's.
> 
> 
> 
> > I can almost see the e-mails coming in now, people saying that $100 will
> > get a decent computer for simple things like browsing the Internet and
> > reading e-mail but lets be realistic here, a lot of people use their
> > home computers for other stuff such as programming, playing games and
> > using OpenOffice.org. Who is going to be able to do any of that and have
> > a media player such as QCD running in the background at the same time
> > and to take into further consideration how will a machine at that price
> > handle KDevelop, or Dev-C++ for the dual booters among us, how about
> > compile times, I wouldn't like having to wait several minutes for a
> > simple program to compile when it should only take a few seconds or a
> > minute at most.
> 
> Think about it this way - that person buying a $100 computer will not
> be someone who spends their time programming.  $100 computers would
> not be much more than the "thin client" type set top boxes that were
> attempted a few years ago that ran Windows CE.  If the people can only
> afford the $100 computer, then I'm sure they will wait the needed time
> for a program to compile.  Remember, there have not always been the
> powerhouse computers we take for granted today.  Think of the pre
> drive days when someone went out, bought a book full of basic
> programs, and happily puched away to put that program in to watch a
> ">" character shoot a "." across the screen to another "<".
> 
> Also consider that without Windows, a large HD, or a lot of RAM, you
> can easily pick up a decent computer (enough to do day to day tasks,
> but not play UT2004) for less than $400, and that's with a monitor,
> keyboard, mouse, and most of the time a printer.  So the $100 mark is
> not quite that far off - assuming costs of hardware only.
> 
> 
I think MS should lower its price on Windows to @ $5.00 (to cover the
cost of the CD & shrinkwrap).  That's about all it's really worth in
my book.  I mean, honestly, you can't do squat with it.  Think of
low-income folks who get a computer with Windows (either used or
donated).  They can't afford to buy Quicken to manage their money
with.  They can't afford the tools to learn programming if they so
desire.

To me, GNU/Linux represents that mythical "even playing field" that so
many claim to want - at least where computers are concerned.  I can't
claim the computer has made me rich, but I can say I have learned a
great deal.  I'm actually beginning to offer half-way sound assistance
to others these days.  Give me a little more time, and I might even
qualify for a real job - assuming they aren't all in India.

Point is free software empowers us.  Anyone who desires to take
advantage of it can do so.  If you want to get out of the slums, and
your'e willing to put your nose to the grindstone, you can take
advantage of free software.

Don
-- 
DC Parris GNU Evangelist
http://matheteuo.org/
gnumathetes at gmail.com
Free software is like God's love - 
you can share it with anyone anywhere anytime!