[plug] [link] a lawyer Switches

[Craig Foster]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Peter J. Nicol [mailto:PeterNicol at vrl.com.au] 
> Sent: Friday, March 07, 2003 6:30 PM
> To: plug at plug.linux.org.au
> Subject: RE: [plug] [link] a lawyer Switches

<snip>

> >  It's common business sense to manufacture as few disparate 
> products as
> >  required - and repurpose them to suit customers needs. It 
> cuts down on
> >  stocks (esp. at end of financial year) and makes sales so 
> much easier.
> 
> Sure, and there is no argument.  Argument is about artificial 
> restrictions that you have to pay to remove, in order to get an
'upgrade'.
> I don't think you examples quite apply.  Is there anything stopping
people 
> upgrading the machines you are talking about?

If there's no argument, so why are you persisting? Why not 'upgrade' all
these IBM customers yourself - the tools are there already... (couple of
jumpers and a debugger). 

Important Point :- The customer *NEVER PAID* for the *full* worth of the
hardware. They paid a subsidised price based on the restriction (or
lack) of abilities. 

Those restrictions are there because it's too damn hard to keep making
all these different processors, and it's easier to sell the one part set
to run at different speeds, high to those that can and low to those that
can't afford the full worth of the machine. People can buy replacement
parts for the computers I spoke of because the spare parts are available
retail. I don't see Austin or PLE selling S/390's CPU spare parts
retail. Then again, I don't see a P4 doing the (designed for) job of a
S/390.

Lastly, since when has Linux freed your hardware? It doesn't make a P3
600B run at 866MHz *like it can if it had the restriction removed*. It
frees you to see what's happening underneath the veneer of your
applications and system software, and to modify the software in any way
you see fit (provided you pass on the amendments to the author - Do
you?). 

Sheesh, let's apply some common sense sometimes. Business does not owe
the world it's product at little or no cost. Some of you are spoilt
because Linux (and gnu in general) defers it's true cost to the software
writer's(s') personal enjoyment. The kernel developers' employers *made
money* off others, to pay (the wages) for the food and lodgings of those
people. Sometimes it pays to look at the picture beyond that painted in
this list sometimes. 

And I'm spent....

Craig Foster
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