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FT on Europe's Open Source Option
Anonymous Coward writes "The Financial Times offers a very interesting read about Linux, its possibilities for business, and its threat to Microsoft. Also a second article about "Europe's open-source option"."
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ho ho ho Indeed!
This is old news that no one gives a rats ass about.
NEXT!
The U.S. is homosexual and HIV ridden.
Yes, and from the Gulf War, Bosnia, and Afghanistan we could see what an excellent defense industry you have. Europe couldn't take a piss without the help of the American military.
So there is less of a clash of culture when considering open source, Europe understands why co-operation is good, that is how much of the European defence industry works already.
Hmm.... Europe certainly doesn't have much of a history of co-operation. World War I and II started in Europe (and the US had to come in and save you guys). Marxism and Nazism both came from Europe and between them resulted in over 100,000,000 deaths (mostly in USSR and China).
The European defence industry is a joke, which is one reason Europe has to call on the US to clean up its problems even today (anybody remember the Kosovo war?). Europeans today seem to imagine that internationial protocols and agreements are all that are necessary to solve the problems of war and aggression. Of course, they had *the same opinion* right up until the start of World War I.
As far as considering open source, I don't think that is much of a culture clash. There is lots of open source in use in the US. In fact, I would say that companies tend to use what (in their often flawed decision making process) will be best for them.
I have worked in Europe and the US, and worked for European companies. The main difference I see is that the European *companies* were more stratified and stultified, and less aggressive.
Meanwhile:
The violent crime rate in many countries in Europe is now significantly higher than that in the US. You are far safer walking the streets of New York City than those of London.
The European GDP/capita is 2/3 that of the US.
Europe is going to be unable to care for its elderly since its population is way below replacement rate.
Let's face it... the reason Europeans are so happy to attack the US today (and these attacks are increasing in the press and here on slashdot) is because Europe used to be the center around which the whole world rotated - militarily, in matters of culture, and economically. Now it is the US, and Europeans have great trouble with that (until they need our help fending off military threats).
But enough Europe bashing.... I just do it because I hear so much America bashing (and ignorant Bush bashing) on here...
The only good weather is bad weather.