On 21 Jul 99 at 15:44, Richard Erlacher wrote:
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tony Duell <ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> <classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu>
> Date: Wednesday, July 21, 1999 2:00 PM
> Subject: Re: Sun Monitor (UK) (2)
>
> >> What irritates me is that I, who have practiced in this industry for many
> >> years as an outgrowth of my hobby, which this was until about twenty
> >> years
> >> ago, since most of my earnings were in a different engineering discipline
> >> up
> >> to that time, recognize the skinflint syndrome among hobbyists more than
> >> I
> >> ever did before.
> >
> >I am trying to work out what the heck you're doing on classiccmp, since
> >your views seem so different to the general idea of the group.
> >
> >FWIW, yes I am frugal. I'll admit to that. This doesn't make me dishonest
> >or a criminal. It doesn't mean I'm an idiot. It just means that for some
> >strange reason I prefer using properly made devices (rather than the crap
> >down the local PC shop), and that I prefer to keep things running rather
> >than to further polute this planet. You can do what you like...
> >
> >>
> >> Those same individuals who lament that vendors won't "document" their
> >> products enough to allow their repair (long after their projected
> >>economic
> >
> >Maybe you're happy with sending a perfectly good device to the landfill
> >for want of a few pence in parts. I am not. For that reason I certainly
> >moan when manufacturers won't provide proper repair documentation/parts
> >(and so far, all you've provided is bogus reasons why they don't).
> >
> >> life, measured in seconds, not years, has ended twice over) because they
> >> (these hobbyists) have no respect for the intellectual property rights of
> >> equipment and software vendors, to wit, they use software they "borrowed"
> >
> >You are lucky I am generally a 'nice guy', or I'd have you in court
> >under whichever of libel or slander applies to mailing lists. FWIW I am
> >using a totally free OS/tools on this PC. Covered by the GNU license. I
> >haven't ripped it off from anywhere. I have a SCO license for PDP11 unix.
> >I've got originals of OS-9, TRS-DOS, Apple DOS 3.3, etc, etc, etc. I
> >don't make a habit of stealing things.
> >
> PLEASE! I didn't mean to imply that you are dishonest, or any other
> negative thing. I was thinking about someone completely different when I
> made the remarks to which I think you are reacting. He does say many of the
> same things as you, but for entirely different reasons. I meant no personal
> reference to you except in the sense that you do often point to the expense
> of a given item. We're all concerned about that to some extent.
>
> You've made your position abundantly clear many times, and, while I don't
> share your views in all cases, I understand what you are saying. The only
> point of disagreement, in this case, is that the fellow who wants to USE the
> SONY monitor he already has, apparently in working condition, has not
> indicated he wants to use it in a restoration project, nor does he
> apparently want to make any other sort of project of it. Instead he wants
> to use it because he already owns it. I wanted to offer a simple and QUICK
> way to get there, starting with how to determine whether he can get there at
> all with what he's got.
>
>
> I had no intention of giving any offense with the remarks I made. They were
> certainly not directed at you. There are people who will pinch software or
> other easily appropriated intellectual property, and they've always been
> among us, and probably always will be. I don't believe in making things any
> easier than necessary for them.
>
> >
> >> and never buy even their most frequently used software tools claiming
> >>that
> >> "better" stuff is "free" by which they mean it didn't cost THEM anything.
> >
> >You're dead right it didn't cost me anything. Now read the GNU Public
> >License to find out why.
> >
> >>
> >> They make excuse after excuse for not parting with a dime, yet see it
> >> perfectly satisfactory to spend a man-year avoiding an expenditure not
> >> much
> >> larger than the price of a common lunch on hardware or software. While
> >> it's
> >> their choice about how they spend their time, if they valued their time
> >> because it was of economic value, they'd better understand the situation.
> >
> >
> I'm unprepared to comment on the situation in the UK, but, since the
> individual who initiated this thread is in the UK, perhaps you could contact
> him and determine whether he wants a fix or whether he wants an education.
Well the original poster WAS in the UK. I am in Canada. I jumped on the
reference to the GDM1950 monitor and asked a simple question. I did get some
answers and will or not act on them if so inclined. Very educational.
While I appreciate the information posted, as usual with anything associated
with Richard it went awry. He has quite an unique talent at ruffling
feathers.
I certainly won't bother denying the implications that I (not Tony but some
undesignated other) am a "skinflint" and/or a software thief.
Since I am not in the "industry" and do not make $$$$ from my pastime of
computer collecting, I won't respond to the suggestions of frittering time
away and not paying attention to the bottom line. I always considered "work" as
something I did to enable me to do more enjoyable things. Occasionally they've
overlapped. My purpose in life is definitely not centred on enriching the
already bloated incomes of computer executives.
I also will resist the temptation to call you a "pompous twit" or to suggest
that your full of yourself and should deal with your obvious frustration with
lack of recognition for your "superior abilities" in a niche of a small, not
really that important to the world, industry.
All that unsaid, thanks, and have a nice day Richard.
BTW I do admit freely to "stealing" the "intellectual property" of the
postings, to enhance my own, but then again I'm an unrepentant GNU-ite.
What would you do, have me lobotomized ?
ciao larry
PS to the list. sorry for all the quote but felt it neccessary.
lwalker_at_interlog.com
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Received on Thu Jul 22 1999 - 00:21:46 BST