“…Unix was going to wean us from Microsoft’s operating systems
and Intel’s chips. Now Linux (perhaps with the help of Java) is
going to wean us from Microsoft’s operating systems. In the
meantime, Microsoft keeps growing bigger and richer.”
“But Rappaport likes the movement, despite the fact that he has
been around long enough to see its predecessors come and go. One of
his bets: Cygnus Solutions, which has a GNU compiler, the original
open-source compiler. This compiler is a true nerd dream (the GNU
acronym stands for “Gnu’s Not Unix”). And, you bet, Cygnus is
heavily involved in the Linux world. Now all it needs is a new name
(there’s a contest at its site).”
“So why do modern corporations want to give up a standard OS and
standard tools that, while buggy, at least have a rich company
behind them to fix the bugs, maintain standards, provide tech
support and add new features? Especially when Linux users get a
series of programs that they have to tweak and customize
themselves? Is this really the core competence of a company selling
books or cars or magazines?”