Comments on: Douglas Rushkoff on the pain of Vista and the grace of Ubuntu

By: Michael Turro

Michael Turro — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 16:12:48 +0000

No… if you run the numbers going solar has been prohibitively expensive… the only thing it would save is the planet and that just isn't what corporations are interested in doing. Alternative energy is only now starting to become competitive with traditional power in terms of cost and NOW we are starting to see corporations like Wal-Mart commit to it. It will take a few years, but big corporations will slowly go green and go Linux… the finance departments will demand it.

By: robg

robg — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 16:03:45 +0000

Obviously, I hope you're right, but you must understand my skepticism, I mean, all these companies who pay out the ass to power their office complexes could save millions by switching their office parks and buildings over to solar and wind power and they're forever not doing it. Why?
If W is right it's because they're hopeless addicts addicted to oil. What if they're hopelessly addicted to Microsoft too?
Or do they have their hands tied by some high level corporate doctrine which says, 'Don't fuck with the big boys and your accounts with them, or else.'

By: Michael Turro

Michael Turro — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 15:12:48 +0000

No… if you run the numbers going solar has been prohibitively expensive… the only thing it would save is the planet and that just isn’t what corporations are interested in doing. Alternative energy is only now starting to become competitive with traditional power in terms of cost and NOW we are starting to see corporations like Wal-Mart commit to it. It will take a few years, but big corporations will slowly go green and go Linux… the finance departments will demand it.

By: Michael Turro

Michael Turro — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 15:11:19 +0000

They can and will change… it comes down to money. Now that Linux is actually easier for a tech novice to use than Windows and the cost of ownership for companies is so much lower you will start to see movement away from Windows. Tell a CEO he can save millions of dollars by switching to a FREE OS and watch how fast things change.

By: robg

robg — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 15:03:45 +0000

Obviously, I hope you’re right, but you must understand my skepticism, I mean, all these companies who pay out the ass to power their office complexes could save millions by switching their office parks and buildings over to solar and wind power and they’re forever not doing it. Why?
If W is right it’s because they’re hopeless addicts addicted to oil. What if they’re hopelessly addicted to Microsoft too?
Or do they have their hands tied by some high level corporate doctrine which says, ‘Don’t fuck with the big boys and your accounts with them, or else.’

By: Michael Turro

Michael Turro — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 14:11:19 +0000

By: robg

robg — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 05:49:49 +0000

Hum, this is weird. I have noticed of late that nothing is changing. 2007 and well over 90% of the computers, whose owners I meet, are PCs running some version of Windows. Maybe there's a movement somewhere, but I'm just not seeing it. I'm always an oddball with a mac wherever I go. But people are always impressed and look favorably on the mac, but they just don't ever make the switch, ever—they'll buy iPods but not iMacs.
Then I think about that full page ad for a company who wants to convert your home to solar power in a 1978 issue of Sports Illustrated magazine that's in my attic, if you need to see it. Here we are in 2007 and well over 90% of the homes you walk into will still be getting their power from the toxic power factories, because old man Bush had his way with Reagan who had his way with Carter.
The other big one of course is our cars – 2007 and well over 90% of our automobiles are still burning toxic gas to push ourselves around when fuel cells and even diesel engines where known to be a better way to go at least as far back as the 1930s, but old man Ford had his way with the patents.
Oh sure, I can definately see how Microsoft has done it, the same way the auto and oil industries did it (Gates had Clinton, or was it Gore, in his back pocket?). And I definately see how they'll hold on to it, just the same way. It seems to work.
Please tell me things can change. Please tell me we can overcome our oppressors. Just once. Pleeeeeeease…

By: robg

robg — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 04:49:49 +0000

Hum, this is weird. I have noticed of late that nothing is changing. 2007 and well over 90% of the computers, whose owners I meet, are PCs running some version of Windows. Maybe there’s a movement somewhere, but I’m just not seeing it. I’m always an oddball with a mac wherever I go. But people are always impressed and look favorably on the mac, but they just don’t ever make the switch, ever—they’ll buy iPods but not iMacs.
Then I think about that full page ad for a company who wants to convert your home to solar power in a 1978 issue of Sports Illustrated magazine that’s in my attic, if you need to see it. Here we are in 2007 and well over 90% of the homes you walk into will still be getting their power from the toxic power factories, because old man Bush had his way with Reagan who had his way with Carter.
The other big one of course is our cars – 2007 and well over 90% of our automobiles are still burning toxic gas to push ourselves around when fuel cells and even diesel engines where known to be a better way to go at least as far back as the 1930s, but old man Ford had his way with the patents.
Oh sure, I can definately see how Microsoft has done it, the same way the auto and oil industries did it (Gates had Clinton, or was it Gore, in his back pocket?). And I definately see how they’ll hold on to it, just the same way. It seems to work.
Please tell me things can change. Please tell me we can overcome our oppressors. Just once. Pleeeeeeease…