Richard Ganbrell wrote:

Bruce Toback wrote:
...
>
> It's precisely that incident last year that I was thinking of when I got
> Ken's news. Didn't that tell them something? Not to mention the
> unpleasant idea of the US Navy being held hostage by Microsoft.

So, let me see if my Dilbert glasses are functioning:
The DOD awards a monopoly to Mr Gates for military IT preparedness and
capability, using the most complex O.S. on earth, while the DOJ sues Mr Gates
for monopolizing...

Surely Boeing and Lockeed should be permitted, or encouraged, or even
required, to merge so that all planes can be standardized to benefit military
preparedness.  Of course, they would all have to run on NT.

Wonder what is would take to make Linux FIPS compliant?

--
Richard Gambrell

-----------------------Reply Separator----------------------

If you ever questioned why MS is involved in a DOJ investigation,
take a look at the "Halloween Papers". The URL was posted by
another list member a few days ago. I first took these with a
grain of salt - thinking they were just too outlandish to be
true.

I have since found one published article that seems to give
authenticity to the documents. The November 9th issue of
Inter@ctive Week has an article on page 8 titled "The Inside
Microsoft Line On The Linux OS".  Eric Raymond is mentioned in
the article as the recepient of the leaked memoes and the source
who posted them on the Internet. There is also a sidebar with
interesting excerpts from the document. Oh yes, so that this
isn't completely off-topic, HP is mentioned in the last sentence
of the article.

Before the release of these documents and the DOJ investigation,
could it be that MS success was based on sound (albeit
underhanded) marketing strategy? And now, that the underbelly has
been exposed, could it be that organizatons will be guided by
fear of a dictatorial MS?  IMHO, the DOJ outcome could be one of
the most profound historical events to directly affect future
development in the IT community. Those who support the notion of
"free interprise at any cost" should take heed of what's
happening here.

Steve Barrett


    Steven P. Barrett    [log in to unmask]
    Systems Analyst
    Fairfax County Public Library     (703) 222-3132 - Voice
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    --- The opinions expressed here are mine alone . ---

    If God had meant for us to have distributed systems, he
    would have put little brains in our hands and in our
    fingers.  (Unknown Author)