Time for another look back at all those attempts by Microsoft to
spread Windows beyond its ever-shrinking desktop niche, only to have
to retreat in humiliation and defeat because Linux got there first
or ended up doing it better.

Windows Server -- Microsoft has lost its enthusiasm for selling
on-premises Windows Server; instead, the platform is retreating more
and more into the cloud. This is because a Linux box running Samba +
OpenLDAP + Kerberos + the usual Linux things can do pretty much
everything Windows Server can do, without nickel-and-diming customers
to death with “CALs” restrictions.

And the irony of that is Linux already dominates in the cloud. And
this includes Microsoft’s cloud. So even within Microsoft’s world,
Windows Server is surrounded on all sides and doomed to eventual
extinction.

Windows Server HPC Edition -- Microsoft’s attempt to gain a foothold
among the most powerful supercomputers in the world. It was so bad, I
suspect they were giving it away rather than actually selling it. That
effort didn’t last long, and the market is now 100% Linux.

Windows Home Server -- remember Microsoft’s ill-fated foray into
trying to offer some sort of consumer-level server appliance? I think
only HP got conned into offering actual products with this OS. Trouble
is, little NAS boxes running Linux (sometimes BSD) with Samba did it
all, much more cheaply and flexibly, and also much more compactly and
efficiently.

Windows Media Center -- this time, Microsoft was trying to stake out a
presence in the entertainment centre, in the living room. And again,
it failed to compete against Linux-based solutions like the popular
Kodi boxes you can get today. Microsoft kept talking about the
“10-foot interface” (a display on your TV set that you could operate
via a remote control), but only Linux was able to offer one that
actually worked.

Windows Mobile/Phone/RT -- the early Windows Mobile enjoyed some
success as long as there was no real competition. But once Android
came in, with its Linux-based versatility and flexibility, Microsoft
stood no chance.

Windows on ARM -- Microsoft has been trying to get Windows running on
ARM for decades, right since those mobile efforts mentioned above. But
it cannot solve the apps problem: vendors of proprietary apps find it
difficult and expensive to port their products to different
architectures, which is why they so rarely do it; so they won’t bring
out ARM-native ports of their Windows apps unless there is proven
customer demand for it. But conversely, the customers see no benefits
(and quite a few drawbacks) in these ARM-based Windows boxes, unless
there is already a whole lot of native software already available for
it. Result: impasse.

Windows handheld gaming -- This is an interesting saga that is playing
out right now. Now that all the business areas are covered, the last
area of software where one might say Windows enjoys an undisputed
advantage over Linux is in games. But compatibility layers like WINE
and ProtonDB are spreading their reach into running Windows games on
Linux. And products like Valve’s Steam Deck, that are built on these,
show the advantages that Linux offers in being able to adapt to new
form factors better than Windows can manage. Sure, there are
Windows-based alternatives, like the Asus ROG Ally and the MSI Claw:
but even with the promise of better game compatibility, they simply do
not offer as good a user experience as the Linux-based king of this
new market.

I get the feeling my little compilation of Microsoft failures got
overlooked in among all the irrelevant crap about Dumbfuckistani domestic
politics, so I thought I’d give it a bump.

On Mon, 9 Sep 2024 21:32:40 -0000 (UTC), Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:

> I get the feeling my little compilation of Microsoft failures got
> overlooked in among all the irrelevant crap about Dumbfuckistani domestic
> politics, so I thought I’d give it a bump.
>

Good bump.

The most relevant point is that Linux is the overwhelming choice
for HPC (e.g. supercomputers).

The original raison d'etre for computers was math/physics computation
and all computer science concepts (e.g. von Neumann architecture)
were based on this need.

Thus, HPC is primordial computing and all else is just a cheap
appropriation of this basic purpose.

Linux, and NOT Microsoft/Apple, is world renowned for its ability
to support the primeval function of HPC:

https://uwm.edu/hpc/software-and-operating-systems/

This is just ONE example of many, many, many HPC organizations
that adopt Linux ans the ONLY choice.

Microsoft/Apple are reserved for the brain-dead MBAs and
retarded secretaries of the world.

--
Systemd: solving all the problems that you never knew you had.

Farley Flud <ff@linux.rocks> wrote:
>On Mon, 9 Sep 2024 21:32:40 -0000 (UTC), Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:
>
>> I get the feeling my little compilation of Microsoft failures got
>> overlooked in among all the irrelevant crap about Dumbfuckistani domestic
>> politics, so I thought I’d give it a bump.
>
>Good bump.
>
>The most relevant point is that Linux is the overwhelming choice
>for HPC (e.g. supercomputers).
>
>The original raison d'etre for computers was math/physics computation
>and all computer science concepts (e.g. von Neumann architecture)
>were based on this need.
>
>Thus, HPC is primordial computing and all else is just a cheap
>appropriation of this basic purpose.
>
>Linux, and NOT Microsoft/Apple, is world renowned for its ability
>to support the primeval function of HPC:
>
>https://uwm.edu/hpc/software-and-operating-systems/
>
>This is just ONE example of many, many, many HPC organizations
>that adopt Linux ans the ONLY choice.
>
>Microsoft/Apple are reserved for the brain-dead MBAs and
>retarded secretaries of the world.

There is nothing the commercial OSes offer than surpasses what the
open-source community has given us, whether on a laptop or a
supercomputer. I don't need Winblows, I don't need Mac, it's all
second rate but more costly. Fuck 'em.

--
Joel W. Crump

Amendment XIV
Section 1.

[...] No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.

Dobbs rewrites this, it is invalid precedent. States are
liable for denying needed abortions, e.g. TX.

On Tue, 10 Sep 2024 16:19:35 -0400, Joel wrote:

> There is nothing the commercial OSes offer ...

Linux *is* a commercial OS.

Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> wrote:

>> There is nothing the commercial OSes offer ...
>
>Linux *is* a commercial OS.

I mean, iterations of it can be, yeah, but I didn't pay a dime for
what I'm using, they don't even request voluntary monetary donations.
I was talking about "commercial" in the sense of walking into Best Buy
or some other store, and purchasing preconfigured gear.

--
Joel W. Crump

Amendment XIV
Section 1.

[...] No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.

Dobbs rewrites this, it is invalid precedent. States are
liable for denying needed abortions, e.g. TX.

On Tue, 10 Sep 2024 17:06:30 -0400, Joel wrote:

> Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> wrote:
>
>>> There is nothing the commercial OSes offer ...
>>
>> Linux *is* a commercial OS.
>
> I mean, iterations of it can be, yeah, but I didn't pay a dime for what
> I'm using, they don't even request voluntary monetary donations. I was
> talking about "commercial" in the sense of walking into Best Buy or some
> other store, and purchasing preconfigured gear.

Guess what: I have bought several “commercial” Linux systems, in that
sense. And possibly you have, too, without realizing it.

Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> wrote:

>>>> There is nothing the commercial OSes offer ...
>>>
>>> Linux *is* a commercial OS.
>>
>> I mean, iterations of it can be, yeah, but I didn't pay a dime for what
>> I'm using, they don't even request voluntary monetary donations. I was
>> talking about "commercial" in the sense of walking into Best Buy or some
>> other store, and purchasing preconfigured gear.
>
>Guess what: I have bought several “commercial” Linux systems, in that
>sense. And possibly you have, too, without realizing it.

You mean my phone? Yeah, it's an Android model, and yes Chromebooks
exist, we know. But GNU/Linux can be obtained just by a free
download, without "activation" like M$'s OS.

--
Joel W. Crump

Amendment XIV
Section 1.

[...] No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.

Dobbs rewrites this, it is invalid precedent. States are
liable for denying needed abortions, e.g. TX.

On 9/10/2024 4:10 PM, Farley Flud wrote:

> Microsoft/Apple are reserved for the brain-dead MBAs and
> retarded secretaries of the world.

"I am currently building a project management database for my current
employer using MSFT tools." Feeb, Feb 2016

Did that inefficient db design and clunky interface and bad VBA get you
fired?

DFS <nospam@dfs.com> wrote:
>On 9/10/2024 4:10 PM, Farley Flud wrote:
>
>> Microsoft/Apple are reserved for the brain-dead MBAs and
>> retarded secretaries of the world.
>
>"I am currently building a project management database for my current
>employer using MSFT tools." Feeb, Feb 2016
>
>Did that inefficient db design and clunky interface and bad VBA get you
>fired?

Larry is a basket case, it's plain to see, his Gentoo install sucks,
he openly talks about pirating Windows when he needs to use it, while
assailing it. Just a weird mother fucker.

--
Joel W. Crump

Amendment XIV
Section 1.

[...] No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.

Dobbs rewrites this, it is invalid precedent. States are
liable for denying needed abortions, e.g. TX.

On 9/10/2024 8:14 PM, Joel wrote:
> DFS <nospam@dfs.com> wrote:
>> On 9/10/2024 4:10 PM, Farley Flud wrote:
>>
>>> Microsoft/Apple are reserved for the brain-dead MBAs and
>>> retarded secretaries of the world.
>>
>> "I am currently building a project management database for my current
>> employer using MSFT tools." Feeb, Feb 2016
>>
>> Did that inefficient db design and clunky interface and bad VBA get you
>> fired?
>
>
> Larry is a basket case, it's plain to see, his Gentoo install sucks,
> he openly talks about pirating Windows when he needs to use it, while
> assailing it. Just a weird mother fucker.

That's our Feeb.

He's an IT loser that had grandiose plans for a career in computer
science or programming, but abandoned them when he discovered he's no
match for a 16-year-old coder.

It once took him 2 days to figure out a simple Access issue, during
which time he made 16 cola posts blaming his idiocy on Microsoft.

A sadder sadsack can't be found, around here at least.

DFS <nospam@dfs.com> wrote:
>On 9/10/2024 8:14 PM, Joel wrote:
>> DFS <nospam@dfs.com> wrote:
>>> On 9/10/2024 4:10 PM, Farley Flud wrote:
>>>
>>>> Microsoft/Apple are reserved for the brain-dead MBAs and
>>>> retarded secretaries of the world.
>>>
>>> "I am currently building a project management database for my current
>>> employer using MSFT tools." Feeb, Feb 2016
>>>
>>> Did that inefficient db design and clunky interface and bad VBA get you
>>> fired?
>>
>> Larry is a basket case, it's plain to see, his Gentoo install sucks,
>> he openly talks about pirating Windows when he needs to use it, while
>> assailing it. Just a weird mother fucker.
>
>That's our Feeb.
>
>He's an IT loser that had grandiose plans for a career in computer
>science or programming, but abandoned them when he discovered he's no
>match for a 16-year-old coder.
>
>It once took him 2 days to figure out a simple Access issue, during
>which time he made 16 cola posts blaming his idiocy on Microsoft.
>
>A sadder sadsack can't be found, around here at least.

He's brain-damaged, it seems.

--
Joel W. Crump

Amendment XIV
Section 1.

[...] No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.

Dobbs rewrites this, it is invalid precedent. States are
liable for denying needed abortions, e.g. TX.

On Tue, 10 Sep 2024 19:50:49 -0400, Joel wrote:

> Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> wrote:
>
>> Guess what: I have bought several “commercial” Linux systems, in that
>> sense. And possibly you have, too, without realizing it.
>
> You mean my phone?

And various embedded devices. Like the OSMC Vero V I recently bought. I
had a WDTV device before that, and even though it wasn’t advertised as
such, I’m pretty sure it was built on Linux as well. As is the addon box I
use to access Freeview DTT through my old TV.

> But GNU/Linux can be obtained just by a free download,
> without "activation" like M$'s OS.

Sure. And the Kodi software used in that Vero can be obtained freely, too.
Does that make their business any less “commercial”? I don’t think so.

On Tue, 10 Sep 2024 19:55:56 -0400, DFS wrote:

> Did that inefficient db design and clunky interface and bad VBA get you
> fired?

“Nobody ever got fired for using Microsoft” just doesn’t sound reassuring
enough anymore, somehow.

How about:

“Nobody ever got stripped naked, smeared with honey and stretched out
tethered to pegs on top of an anthill in the hot desert sun for using
Microsoft.”

“Nobody ever got their skin flayed off, their raw bleeding carcass covered
with salt and thrown into boiling oil for using Microsoft.”

“Nobody ever got locked in a room with speakers concealed in the walls
playing an endless loop of the Daft Punk remix of Steve Ballmer’s
“Developers! Developers! Developers!” chant (the Rick Astley “Never Gonna
Give You Up” orchestral version) at maximum volume for using Microsoft.”

OK, maybe that last one was a bit harsh ...

In article <34o1ej11nbmhkss7nc8hqcrierl5hlo4fd@4ax.com>, joelcrump@gmail.com
Joel says...
> Just a weird mother fucker.
>
>
https://postimg.cc/1nW086MB

On 9/10/2024 4:10 PM, Lameass Larry Pietraskiewicz wrote:

> On Mon, 9 Sep 2024 21:32:40 -0000 (UTC), Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:
>
>> I get the feeling my little compilation of Microsoft failures got
>> overlooked in among all the irrelevant crap about Dumbfuckistani domestic
>> politics, so I thought I’d give it a bump.
>>
>
> Good bump.

It's very sad, and very dishonest, and I'll get to Larry D. after I take
care of Larry P. (you).

> The most relevant point is that Linux is the overwhelming choice
> for HPC (e.g. supercomputers).
>
> The original raison d'etre for computers was math/physics computation
> and all computer science concepts (e.g. von Neumann architecture)
> were based on this need.
>
> Thus, HPC is primordial computing and all else is just a cheap
> appropriation of this basic purpose.

-bioinformatics / gene sequencing
-indexing/searching the www
-collecting and cataloging info (Wikipedia, YouTube, archive.org)
-language translation
-data visualization

All "cheap appropriations of computing"?

You're an ignorant IDIOT.

> Linux, and NOT Microsoft/Apple, is world renowned for its ability
> to support the primeval function of HPC:
>
> https://uwm.edu/hpc/software-and-operating-systems/
>
> This is just ONE example of many, many, many HPC organizations
> that adopt Linux ans the ONLY choice.

Hardware specs
https://uwm.edu/hpc/specifications-3/

Success Stories (2)
https://uwm.edu/hpc/success-stories/

Incredible amts of processing power and they have only 2 success
stories? Well, that's 2 more than you have.

You and those researchers spend all your fighting that hobbyware.

> Microsoft/Apple are reserved for the brain-dead MBAs and
> retarded secretaries of the world.

MBAs set your low salary. And you're still way overpaid for the value
you bring to whatever it is you do.