"I think maybe you're failing to understand what a monopoly is."
Good points otherwise, but I still disagree that platform diversity and increased installation doesn't "[strengthen] the platform for end users, but does not strengthen the OS itself."
A diversity of platform vendors means a larger market. That means more installations. This means more users of the OS. This translates into a "better OS" because there is more software for the OS, and a larger and more diverse user base provides more pressure on the OS makers to refine it.
" I think maybe you're failing to understand what a monopoly is.
I'm using the dictionary definitions, all of which mention the "monopolist" having sole control ("exclusive", "sole control"), not just one option out of many something that happens to be very strong. Logically, if Microsoft met several the most common definitions, there would not even be an OSX.
"This is increadible they are taking one of the LEASE PLEASANT ASPECTS OF REAL LIFE and imprinting it on the virtual world... for no reason, they can just tax the sale of the goods!"
Well, maybe we can have it go both ways. The real world might be improved by having guys dressed like Gimli scattered over the lawn killing rabbits. Or we can have crowd of griefers lurking at the key entrance points to all of our cities and towns (instead of just at Detroit like we have now). We could have real-life gold farmers making goods for real cheap in China.... oh wait.
"The OS would be strengthened by needing to support more, less centrally controlled hardware?"
Exactly. Multiple platform vendors compete with each other to provide hardware features that satisfy users. There's much less of a problem with one vendor deciding that a useful port (for example) is not needed anymore even if the users still need the port. You end up with a more versatile hardware platform with more features (likely costing a lot less too because companies compete for the customer dollar). With such competition, you get a significantly larger user base. Much more interest in the OS being refined/improved, and a lot more software available for the OS.
"One of the few ways to get around a monopoly's power in the market without bowing to it is to maintain a complete, separate, vertical chain including a "competitor" for the monopolized product, but not actually competing."
In other words, you fight it with another monopoly???
"Fix the political system, legal bribes, and replace the justice dept. officials with honest men, then demonstrate that the laws will be enforced and then and only then might it make sense for Apple to compete with MS directly."
Why rely on frivolous lawsuits and punishing companies for having too many features in their software? Why not just let the options compete, and let the users decide?
"I'm still waiting for the in game Radio Shack salespeople that follow you around for hours while you play asking if they can help you find what you're looking for"
The same guys that give you the third degree and have you fill out a 3 page form when you try to buy just one battery? I had one of those refuse to sell me something because the fake zip code I gave for the zip code question was not a real code.
"You are talking component design, more than industrial design. Industral design is how it all fits together, and what the end result looks like. Apple still has a very distictive look."
You are right; the main desktops (iMacs) really stand out. It's less so with notebooks, where extravagent design flourishes are less tolerated. Remember the orange toilet seat notebook computer? Not one of their best moments.
In other words, I don't like the idea at all that a platform computer makes the decision that it is immoral to use a certain type of peripheral plug, and excludes it for that reason. With competing platform makers, such anti-user decisions get marginalized.
Is "forcing of the USB transition" this really so important unless you happen to be in a company that sold USB plugs, cables, and devices?
"And there were quickly cheap third-party solutions to connect ADB and serial devices to USB ports."
Or maybe you were in a dongle company at the time. Having both kinds of ports (unless you have a tiny laptop without the room) is a lot nicer. It also frees up USB ports.
"Unfortunately they never get rid of ancient tech. Most new computers still come with floppy drives and parallel ports"
Is this a problem unless you have a real tiny laptop? It is not like you have to use them, or that they get in the way at all on a desktop machine. The reason they are still there on many machines is that the market (the users) still need them, although in dwindling numbers now.
"Apple only has two unique things at this point: their industrial design, and their GUI. They are competing on both with everyone else"
On the first, the "uniqueness" has eroded a lot, as the platform has evolved to be able to take the same mice, monitors, and plug-in cards everyone else uses. Used to be that this wasn't the case. As such, this uniqueness was never really a strength.
"It would make the platform cheaper, but probably not stronger. There's only one brand of hardware that OSX is ever supposed to run on, which surely contributes to its stability / supportability."
Only a little. Do you really think that OSX security would become something full of holes because it had to run on a variety of platforms? You'd also avoid "forced from on high" design errors, such as the time Apple shipped machines with nothing but USB ports when most Apple users had printers that would not plug into them: multiple competing vendors would be much less likely to make such unfortunate decisions. (and, in this example, would only have phased out USB ports *after* the users had no use for them anymore).
Nice to see that you still have many different companies competing AND cooperating in an open fashion on the PC platform. The Mac OS world would be greatly strengthened if you have such an open and responsive situation of multiple hardware vendors making machines to run Mac software.
"And THIS is why I support emusic [emusic.com], that is DRM-free. "
Last time I checked emusic, not only did it lack DRM, but it lacked ANY artist I was looking for. Now it looks like I have to complete a lengthy enrollment process just to get to the search screen to see what it has.
"Then again, the average Slashdotter probably doesn't own an iPod and/or Mac. So society is still protected from the basement dwellers.:P"
How do you know? Have you done a poll on Slashdot? You know, the one that will inevitably tell you that 38.6% of Slasdotters responded to the "Do you own an iPod or a Mac?" question with the answer "Cowboy Neal" ?
"Okay, who thought it was a good idea to put solar arrays so fragile that they can't "withstand small rockets firing on a station" that is equipped with those rockets?"
But if the attacking ships use phasers instead of rockets, the solar arrays can take it.
""After bringing more mass than ever before up to the ISS, one of the gyros has failed"
Perhaps this might be because the left the mayonnaise-laden sandwiches sitting in the back of someone's station wagon for 3 days before loading them in the shuttle.
"how can the iPod lose its popularity with Dick Cheney and Queen Elizabeth owning one?""
They own one? That must explain the earphone sharing, and all the trans-atlantic plane flights. You'd think that each would be rich enough to afford their own iPod.
I don't like Howard Stern, nor do I like to listen to or watch his programs. However, I realize the power of the dial or channel/changer is enough. I merely change the station, and don't go into a hissy fit because someone somewhere likes Howard Stern, and I don't try to get legislatures and government bodies to force my personal listening preferences on others.
Slashdot Mirror
"I think maybe you're failing to understand what a monopoly is." Good points otherwise, but I still disagree that platform diversity and increased installation doesn't "[strengthen] the platform for end users, but does not strengthen the OS itself."
A diversity of platform vendors means a larger market. That means more installations. This means more users of the OS. This translates into a "better OS" because there is more software for the OS, and a larger and more diverse user base provides more pressure on the OS makers to refine it.
" I think maybe you're failing to understand what a monopoly is.
I'm using the dictionary definitions, all of which mention the "monopolist" having sole control ("exclusive", "sole control"), not just one option out of many something that happens to be very strong. Logically, if Microsoft met several the most common definitions, there would not even be an OSX.
"This is increadible they are taking one of the LEASE PLEASANT ASPECTS OF REAL LIFE and imprinting it on the virtual world... for no reason, they can just tax the sale of the goods!"
Well, maybe we can have it go both ways. The real world might be improved by having guys dressed like Gimli scattered over the lawn killing rabbits. Or we can have crowd of griefers lurking at the key entrance points to all of our cities and towns (instead of just at Detroit like we have now). We could have real-life gold farmers making goods for real cheap in China.... oh wait.
Congress is awash in money. The only problem is that they waste so much of it. Is there really a need to find new ways to rob us?
"The OS would be strengthened by needing to support more, less centrally controlled hardware?"
Exactly. Multiple platform vendors compete with each other to provide hardware features that satisfy users. There's much less of a problem with one vendor deciding that a useful port (for example) is not needed anymore even if the users still need the port. You end up with a more versatile hardware platform with more features (likely costing a lot less too because companies compete for the customer dollar). With such competition, you get a significantly larger user base. Much more interest in the OS being refined/improved, and a lot more software available for the OS.
"One of the few ways to get around a monopoly's power in the market without bowing to it is to maintain a complete, separate, vertical chain including a "competitor" for the monopolized product, but not actually competing."
In other words, you fight it with another monopoly???
"Fix the political system, legal bribes, and replace the justice dept. officials with honest men, then demonstrate that the laws will be enforced and then and only then might it make sense for Apple to compete with MS directly."
Why rely on frivolous lawsuits and punishing companies for having too many features in their software? Why not just let the options compete, and let the users decide?
"I'm still waiting for the in game Radio Shack salespeople that follow you around for hours while you play asking if they can help you find what you're looking for"
The same guys that give you the third degree and have you fill out a 3 page form when you try to buy just one battery? I had one of those refuse to sell me something because the fake zip code I gave for the zip code question was not a real code.
What about Dan Rather and Jayson Blair? They'd be perfect for a place like this!
"If you don't like it, don't play it". Keep this in mind and laugh the frivolous lawsuits out of the courtroom, please.
That's what Firefox needs, a generic bollocks filter! Adjustable settings could include stuff like "corporate press release"
Didn't you mean to say Fox News, not Firefox?
"You are talking component design, more than industrial design. Industral design is how it all fits together, and what the end result looks like. Apple still has a very distictive look."
You are right; the main desktops (iMacs) really stand out. It's less so with notebooks, where extravagent design flourishes are less tolerated. Remember the orange toilet seat notebook computer? Not one of their best moments.
In other words, I don't like the idea at all that a platform computer makes the decision that it is immoral to use a certain type of peripheral plug, and excludes it for that reason. With competing platform makers, such anti-user decisions get marginalized.
Is "forcing of the USB transition" this really so important unless you happen to be in a company that sold USB plugs, cables, and devices?
"And there were quickly cheap third-party solutions to connect ADB and serial devices to USB ports."
Or maybe you were in a dongle company at the time. Having both kinds of ports (unless you have a tiny laptop without the room) is a lot nicer. It also frees up USB ports.
"Unfortunately they never get rid of ancient tech. Most new computers still come with floppy drives and parallel ports"
Is this a problem unless you have a real tiny laptop? It is not like you have to use them, or that they get in the way at all on a desktop machine. The reason they are still there on many machines is that the market (the users) still need them, although in dwindling numbers now.
"Apple only has two unique things at this point: their industrial design, and their GUI. They are competing on both with everyone else"
On the first, the "uniqueness" has eroded a lot, as the platform has evolved to be able to take the same mice, monitors, and plug-in cards everyone else uses. Used to be that this wasn't the case. As such, this uniqueness was never really a strength.
"It would make the platform cheaper, but probably not stronger. There's only one brand of hardware that OSX is ever supposed to run on, which surely contributes to its stability / supportability."
Only a little. Do you really think that OSX security would become something full of holes because it had to run on a variety of platforms? You'd also avoid "forced from on high" design errors, such as the time Apple shipped machines with nothing but USB ports when most Apple users had printers that would not plug into them: multiple competing vendors would be much less likely to make such unfortunate decisions. (and, in this example, would only have phased out USB ports *after* the users had no use for them anymore).
"http://goatse.cz/"
Sorry, I don't think that this company was there with their reknowned Goatzway computers (quite well known for their wide-open-port philosophy).
Nice to see that you still have many different companies competing AND cooperating in an open fashion on the PC platform. The Mac OS world would be greatly strengthened if you have such an open and responsive situation of multiple hardware vendors making machines to run Mac software.
"And THIS is why I support emusic [emusic.com], that is DRM-free. "
Last time I checked emusic, not only did it lack DRM, but it lacked ANY artist I was looking for. Now it looks like I have to complete a lengthy enrollment process just to get to the search screen to see what it has.
"Then again, the average Slashdotter probably doesn't own an iPod and/or Mac. So society is still protected from the basement dwellers. :P"
How do you know? Have you done a poll on Slashdot? You know, the one that will inevitably tell you that 38.6% of Slasdotters responded to the "Do you own an iPod or a Mac?" question with the answer "Cowboy Neal" ?
"Okay, who thought it was a good idea to put solar arrays so fragile that they can't "withstand small rockets firing on a station" that is equipped with those rockets?"
But if the attacking ships use phasers instead of rockets, the solar arrays can take it.
""After bringing more mass than ever before up to the ISS, one of the gyros has failed"
Perhaps this might be because the left the mayonnaise-laden sandwiches sitting in the back of someone's station wagon for 3 days before loading them in the shuttle.
"And design is something thet Steve knows something about"
I guess this means that if the Segway had come encased in translucent blue plastic, it would have been a roaring success.
"how can the iPod lose its popularity with Dick Cheney and Queen Elizabeth owning one?""
They own one? That must explain the earphone sharing, and all the trans-atlantic plane flights. You'd think that each would be rich enough to afford their own iPod.
"What is Jobs susposed to say? "I'm scared, help me!!!" ?
This is the same Steve Jobs who shit his pants when someone introduced a battery-operated motor scooter.
"Earphone sharing will prove a more potent force for social networking than the iPod rival's wireless song-sharing feature, he reckons"
Not to mention social diseases as well. "Remember: Wipe the Wax! This public service announcment brought to you by the Department of Public Health".
I don't like Howard Stern, nor do I like to listen to or watch his programs. However, I realize the power of the dial or channel/changer is enough. I merely change the station, and don't go into a hissy fit because someone somewhere likes Howard Stern, and I don't try to get legislatures and government bodies to force my personal listening preferences on others.