[Novalug] Off-topic -- Job market -- Current state of -- Was "SSN use"

[Bryan J Smith]

On Fri, 2009-10-02 at 20:48 -0400, James Ewing Cottrell 3rd wrote:
> And as passionate as I am about M$ vs Anything else

FYI, the acronym is ABM (Anything But Microsoft).

The problem is that ABM undoes everything professionals like myself try
to do.  Instead of arguing ABM, I can quickly point to a history of
"major risk" when it comes to select solutions.  I don't even need to
bring up Microsoft because the items of "major risk" quickly point
directly to them.

"Proprietary" isn't "bad."  But Microsoft doesn't even qualify as
"proprietary."  It's called Abandonware/Hostageware for a reason.  ;)

I prefer to call "proprietary" software "commerceware," because you're
taking on a commercial engagement/partnership with the firm.  You then
have to look at the risk of proprietary standards and/or source code
from the standpoint of your data.

> , it kinda pales in comarison to the Really Hard Problems he is facing,
> so it's more of as low priority.

Not to get political, but how is that different than the alleged "Green
Economy" argument?  The "Open Standards/Source Economy" argument is no
different.  At the same time, it can be political and without merit as
well.

I.e., just "going open source" is about as useful as just "going green."
You actually have to look at the real solutions, factors and impacts to
see if it's going to make a difference.

> You know, there was a Directive in the 80s that said all computer had to 
> be Posix Compliant ... maybe they should roll back to that.

No, the US Federal Government -- especially the military -- recognizes
that was one of the biggest errors it ever made.  Because companies like
Microsoft can play that game.

No, most deparments in the US Federal Government now grills vendors and
expects them to ...
1)  Not lock them in, and
2)  Be a resource on any solution, not just theirs

Now who does that play well into?  ;)


-- 
Bryan J  Smith         Professional, Technical Annoyance 
Linked Profile:       http://www.linkedin.com/in/bjsmith 
-------------------------------------------------------- 
Only engineers can solve the growing needs of consumers
Stop being "aware" (that's so '70s) and start supporting
real solutions that actually work and sustain the planet