[SATLUG] Pokes at Microsoft (off Topic)

[Walt DuBose]

I can't help myself...so here goes.

I have had the opportunity to talk with some of the greatist minds in the world. 
   Men who have made major contributions in their academic areas of expertise 
and in areas where they were simply interested.  A couple were in the U.S. and a 
couple in Europe and one from Asia.  All spoke at least two languages and were 
active in art, literature (poetry mostly), or music or all of these.

There are(were) NOT computer people and in fact only two used a personal 
computer.  One finally moved to using an electric typewriter in 1995.  Most 
wrote everything in and engineering/professor hand writing.  Most had advanced 
degrees (more than one) in physics, math, music, art, astromery, chemistry, 
biology, etc.  And then had interest in and were considered experts in other 
areas of science, math, the arts and humanities.

To a person, they felt that the development of and use of Microsoft's software 
had held back the development of the sciencies, math, the arts and humanities.

Note that they were not totally unaware of Microosofts legal problems and the 
problems they were causing.

When asked them about Unix/Linux and after having to explain to them the Unix 
was developed by mainly by AT&T and Linux by one individual in concert with many 
others and about the open source movement, they all completely agreed that this 
confirmed their belief that the development of and use of Microsoft's software 
had held back the development of the sciencies, math, the arts and humanities 
and that had the human race adopted the open source path in the development of 
computer science that humanity would be much further ahead in solving some of 
the world's biggest problems and would have brought together nations more than 
any political venture could ever do.

If I named two or three of these individuals, you would know them instantly and 
if you googled the others you would know of their works and status.

Thus I am lead to believe that they are(were) correct in their assessment of the 
world's use of Microsoft.

As a final note, all were what today we would consider religeous individuals and 
at least two were active in a local "House of Worship".

I believe that they would all have enjoyed attending a SATLUG meeting or at 
least socializing with SATLUG members.  We would have learned so much.

Best Regards,

Walt