Hans-Christian Andersen
hans.andersen at phulse.com
Wed Jun 20 12:38:23 CDT 2012
You are doing gnu's work, Jim... there is a huge inefficiency in the world as it is today. many small businesses have no need for windows and office (and the $costs involved) and will be quite happy using linux + open office, etc. there is still the injustice of the microsoft tax, but perhaps things will change as linux gains more usage. Hans On 2012-06-20, at 8:59 AM, Jim Lawrence wrote: > I think Microsoft will be well advised to stop trying to make one OS all > things to all people. > > It is time their OS was split up, Win8 for tablets, subversion of Win8 for > SmartPhones, Basic GUI for their server/cloud-server and other commercial > systems and finally a pretty GUI for their PC development, business use and > game playing systems. > > I do think the public is going to do just that, pick their OS, whether MS > wishes it or not. Right now there are some excellent, user friendly versions > of Linux just waiting for Microsoft to either drop or abandon their PC > support. > > It has now been almost three months since I converted half of a client's PCs > to Ubuntu 12.04 and there is hardly been a problem. On site, one bright > young lady has taken over the Linux support and she loves it. I think all it > will take is a few similar sites, Microsoft leaving behind their PC base, > the fading of the fear of Linux distros and if the tide turns... > > Jim > > -----Original Message----- > From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com > [mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Hans-Christian > Andersen > Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 9:35 PM > To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues > Subject: Re: [dba-Tech] MS launch of Surface range > > > A tablet of any sort, keyboard or not, surface or alternative, is always > going to be a very poor environment for software development. The hardware > isn't going to be powerful enough to do serious programming (ie. running > Visual Studio or SQL Server) and from what I can tell from the pictures, the > keyboard was designed with style in mind rather than function - which is > fine for casual use, but I imagine any serious developer will find it > frustrating, perhaps to the same extent as with a tiny netbooks keyboard and > why thats not a good platform for software development. > > If you have the money to blow and you are a huge Microsoft fan, then this > looks to be a decent tablet and a good attempt by MS, but I honestly would > not call it anywhere near the best that is out there and there is nothing > ground breaking here. There are plenty of android tablets out there that are > pretty good, if an ipad is not your thing and they all have really cool > keyboard addons. > > I am only puzzled why MS let the price be so high, because this is going to > be a major sticking point for consumers and when faced with a choice of > Windows RT and an iPad or any Android tablet, I think any consumer would go > for Android/iPad hands down, because that is what everyone else is using and > they have a much more developed eco-system. This is the same reason why > Windows Phone 7 is struggling to even make a dent in the mobile market ( ie. > its in the 'Other' category meaning it only takes a portion of the 4.8% in > this category - from source: > http://www.slashgear.com/android-and-ios-swallow-global-smart-device-market- > 19234683/ ). > > Tablets are not development platforms, that's pretty obvious and you'd want > a laptop or desktop for that sort of stuff. Businesses have use for tablets, > but I guess not in the way you are thinking. I see a lot of businesses > switching their POS clients with ipads or using it for conferences and > meetings. It makes sense, but if you haven't ever even used one, then I can > understand why its a bit hard to imagine. > > Hans > > > > On 2012-06-19, at 8:55 PM, Jim Lawrence wrote: > >> I thought we were discussing products strictly on their costs but because >> the manufactures are so linked it is difficult to separate them from the >> topic. My focus was only on one point, dollar and cents and nothing to do >> with " tribal mindset " or any other side issues. >> >> As soon as you start adding a keyboard the product immediately moves into >> the world of laptops and all the functionality that they provide or in > this >> case, imply they will provide. >> >> Pads of all kinds have their place and they do what they do very well but >> they are not a business or development machine, plain and simple and it is >> a waste of time to make them so. >> >> I think MS is trying to make a pseudo pad/laptop/business machine and I > have >> a hard time getting my head around a product like high-performance racing >> dump truck. ;-) >> >> Jim >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com >> [mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Hans-Christian >> Andersen >> Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 5:48 PM >> To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues >> Subject: Re: [dba-Tech] MS launch of Surface range >> >> I would rather not indulge any irrational and excessive dislike for Apple >> products. I'd rather we talk like serious professionals who have a > curiosity >> with all things technology, rather than be stuck in a tribal mindset. >> >> The question I was wondering is whether it makes sense to spend that much >> money on a tablet when cheaper, high quality alternatives exist that > satisfy >> whatever your needs are - whether it be a portable development platform >> (laptop) or a handy portable device for general email/chat/web >> surfing/content consumption etc (tablet). >> >> - Hans >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >> On 2012-06-19, at 3:25 PM, "Jim Lawrence" <accessd at shaw.ca> wrote: >> >>> Not that I disagree with you at all but I have been using the very same >>> argument with regards to MAC equipment. Why not just buy a nice laptop >> that >>> performs as good or better at half the price? ;-) >>> >>> Is looks and having the "right" gear that important?...Isn't development >>> production more important? >>> >>> Jim >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com >>> [mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of > Hans-Christian >>> Andersen >>> Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 10:21 AM >>> To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues >>> Subject: Re: [dba-Tech] MS launch of Surface range >>> >>>> Because it will run (my) Windows applications! >>> >>> Not if you buy the Windows RT ARM version. You will have to buy the >> bulkier >>> Intel version, which cost $700-1000 from what I understand. At that > price, >>> you might as well just buy a nice laptop or net book in my opinion. Or 2 >>> iPads/Androids with a keyboard attachment. >>> >>> Best regards, >>> Hans-Christian Andersen >>> >>> >>> On 19 Jun 2012, at 10:06, "Gustav Brock" <gustav at cactus.dk> wrote: >>> >>>> Hi Peter >>>> >>>> Because it will run (my) Windows applications! >>>> >>>> That turns the machine from a toy to a tool. What a difference. And with >>> the beautiful Metro interface when you use it in tablet mode. >>>> >>>> Besides, it is even neater than an iPad. I mailed the pictures to my > wife >>> with minimum comments (busy with other tasks) but she ordered her copy >> right >>> away. >>>> >>>> /gustav >>>> >>>> >>>>>>> peter.brawley at earthlink.net 19-06-12 18:37 >>> >>>> On 2012-06-19 4:40 AM, Gustav Brock wrote: >>>>> Official site: >>>>> >>>>> http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en/us/default.aspx >>>>> >>>>> I want one. >>>> >>>> Why, when you can have an android with all those open source and free or > >>>> nearly free widgets & tools? >>>> >>>> PB >>>> >>>> ----- >>>> >>>>> >>>>> /gustav >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>>>> gustav at cactus.dk 19-06-12 8:18>>> >>>>> Very neat: >>>>> >>>>> http://www.bgr.com/nggallery/page-320/album-all/gallery-529/ >>>>> >>>>> I haven't seen that style of an integrated keyboard before. This way > the >>> unit actually may be useful for real work. >>>>> >>>>> /gustav >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>>>> bheid at sc.rr.com 19-06-12 4:32>>> >>>>> It looks like the pro model has USB 3 on it and maybe a display port. >>>>> >>>>> Is interesting though. >>>>> >>>>> Bobby >>>>> >>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>> From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com >>>>> [mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of DJK (John) >>>>> Robinson >>>>> Sent: Monday, June 18, 2012 8:21 PM >>>>> To: 'Discussion of Hardware and Software issues' >>>>> Subject: [dba-Tech] MS launch of Surface range >>>>> >>>>> The 'mystery' launch of the MS's new Surface tablet has just ended. >>>>> >>>>> Looks interesting - tablet with stand and keyboard. Thin, VaporMag, > but >>>>> only USB2. more than one model: Win8 or RT. >>>>> Nice design, though no info on battery life. >>>>> >>>>> Think I might want one ... >>>>> >>>>> John >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> dba-Tech mailing list >>>> dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com >>>> http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech >>>> Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> dba-Tech mailing list >>> dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com >>> http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech >>> Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> dba-Tech mailing list >>> dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com >>> http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech >>> Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com >> >> _______________________________________________ >> dba-Tech mailing list >> dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com >> http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech >> Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com >> >> _______________________________________________ >> dba-Tech mailing list >> dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com >> http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech >> Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > _______________________________________________ > dba-Tech mailing list > dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > _______________________________________________ > dba-Tech mailing list > dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com