Well, this goes along with my comment about the Killer App.
Aguably (and I'm sure some will) when comparing word-processing, presentation, printing, etc features, MS Office beats StarOffice.
HOwever MSFT has given StarOffice a serious advantage with regards to 'IT/Desktop configuration & control' due to it's insidious XP registration process.
Which reminds me... isn't this pretty much the way Word and Excel stomped WordStar and Lotus into the dust back in the 80's ? That is, it wasn't until they dropped their copyright protection schemes that they successfully wacked the competition.
Certainly, the MSFT FUD-Packing Hype Machine is something to be reckoned with. Especially as it takes aim at GPL-licensed software.
However, no matter how much hype it spews, isn't worried as long as entries in the SourceForge trove are missing that one essential thing...
The killer app... and/or the killer programming language or language interface development environment (IDE for you app only folks !-)
Back in the old-days, what made CP/M driven Apples and Trash80's sell was VisiCalc and dBase II.
Part of what drove the popularity of MS-DOS was the ability to conjure up software with wonderful language tools such as Borland's then light but powerful TurboC compiler & IDE (please note, I am not not to saying that there weren't killer apps that helped MS-Duh along).
Similarly, with the successful port of MS-Word, Excel... and with the invitation of programming for the (uncleansed) masses via Visual Basic... Windows 95 flourished... albiet with some crappy and dangerous, but really inexpensive and often useful home-brewed applications.
For Linux and it's ilk to survive, it needs that killer app and language IDEs. Note, I didn't say killer languages... I mean who doesn't have fun shooting themselves in the foot with Java, Perl and a host of other tools ?
NO, I'm talking about something that would compel Joe blue-suit and Grandma Jones to invite little Billy to their keyboard, low-level format or partition their drive, and install some form of a Linux variant because they just can't live without a particular application.
I think, in the nerd community, should show Hormel some respect for backing off. One sure way would be to buy a can SPAM and send it to ISPs who are notorious for spam.
It would financially reward Hormel, while giving the errant ISPs something to chew on.
I agree with those who opine that much Flash content sucks so bad, that Vincent Flanders has created an entire category for it (e.g. MMN).
What seems to be missed is that Flash could be used to replace dynamic content, not just replacements for DuHTML, but for database driven content, albiet through DBI&Perl or PHP&MySQL.
Meaning, I could present content without having to reload the darn page every time I query... problem is, most actionscript developers I know don't think along these lines.
Amazing, just amazing. How hard is it to PERL together a solution to plug-in a thesaurus (or LEXX if you're a real stud) that changes key words and phrases ?
I mean think about it, if the teacher reads and remembers enough phrases that pay, you're going to get caught... or in this case, if he GREPs your sorry lazy butt.
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Aguably (and I'm sure some will) when comparing word-processing, presentation, printing, etc features, MS Office beats StarOffice.
HOwever MSFT has given StarOffice a serious advantage with regards to 'IT/Desktop configuration & control' due to it's insidious XP registration process.
Which reminds me ... isn't this pretty much the way Word and Excel stomped WordStar and Lotus into the dust back in the 80's ? That is, it wasn't until they dropped their copyright protection schemes that they successfully wacked the competition.
However, no matter how much hype it spews, isn't worried as long as entries in the SourceForge trove are missing that one essential thing ...
The killer app ... and/or the killer programming language or language interface development environment (IDE for you app only folks !-)
Back in the old-days, what made CP/M driven Apples and Trash80's sell was VisiCalc and dBase II.
Part of what drove the popularity of MS-DOS was the ability to conjure up software with wonderful language tools such as Borland's then light but powerful TurboC compiler & IDE (please note, I am not not to saying that there weren't killer apps that helped MS-Duh along).
Similarly, with the successful port of MS-Word, Excel ... and with the invitation of programming for the (uncleansed) masses via Visual Basic ... Windows 95 flourished ... albiet with some crappy and dangerous, but really inexpensive and often useful home-brewed applications.
For Linux and it's ilk to survive, it needs that killer app and language IDEs. Note, I didn't say killer languages ... I mean who doesn't have fun shooting themselves in the foot with Java, Perl and a host of other tools ?
NO, I'm talking about something that would compel Joe blue-suit and Grandma Jones to invite little Billy to their keyboard, low-level format or partition their drive, and install some form of a Linux variant because they just can't live without a particular application.
Then again, I could be wrong.
It would financially reward Hormel, while giving the errant ISPs something to chew on.
I agree with those who opine that much Flash content sucks so bad, that Vincent Flanders has created an entire category for it (e.g. MMN).
... problem is, most actionscript developers I know don't think along these lines.
What seems to be missed is that Flash could be used to replace dynamic content, not just replacements for DuHTML, but for database driven content, albiet through DBI&Perl or PHP&MySQL.
Meaning, I could present content without having to reload the darn page every time I query
I mean think about it, if the teacher reads and remembers enough phrases that pay, you're going to get caught ... or in this case, if he GREPs your sorry lazy butt.