OT: Is Bill Gates the Anti-Christ?

[Instar]

I could see a mix of systems working out. Maybe Linux running all the server boxes and WinXP for desktops, and maybe another lite distro of Linux for "appliances" as I would call them (file server kinda things, like the guy who made a giant 1.2 TB firewire drive)

[deccan]

Good article on open-source, Microsoft and government use of software:

http://www.economist.com/displaystor...ory_id=2054746

[Thermodyne]

Originally posted by deccan:

quote:

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Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:

quote:

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Originally posted by Loser:
Powertoys rule! Check them out.

I will second that.

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They do seem interesting, but they seem to be, well, toys, more for coolness and fun than anything else. I was thinking more along the lines of sites like this:

http://www.tweakxp.com/

and this:

http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/winxp...es/index.shtml

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If you want tweaks, then you play with toys. If you want hard core mods, then learn to like the registry.

[Fyron]

Originally posted by deccan:

quote:

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Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:

quote:

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Originally posted by Loser:
Powertoys rule! Check them out.

I will second that.

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They do seem interesting, but they seem to be, well, toys, more for coolness and fun than anything else. I was thinking more along the lines of sites like this:

http://www.tweakxp.com/

and this:

http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/winxp...es/index.shtml

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Actually, the TweakUI part gives access to all the hidden settings that you can not access normally in Windows. It is much more than a toy.

[Baron Munchausen]

More evidence that Bill Gates is, in fact, the Anti-Christ....

http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~lambert/...ers/tanks.html

New 'think tanks' funded by Microsoft are sprouting up like mushrooms, and all spreading the same anti-Linux FUD borrowed from Gates/Ballmer speeches we heard a few years ago. No one seemed believe it then, so why would anyone believe it now? Guess Bill thinks it will sound better of lots of other people repeat it than if he repeats it himself. What worries me is that MS may start citing all of these 'independent' sources when lobbying Congress, and if Congress doesn't know it's astroturf we may be facing some nasty legislation.

[freduk]

Antichrist Schmantichrist, he's just an excellent businessman.

That's all there's to it.

[dmm]

The article referenced does not claim that Gates is the Antichrist. It points out yet another trend in our society (or new technology) that would allow biblical prophecies to come to pass. It wasn't all that long ago that doubters had a great time making fun of biblical prophecy, pointing out how ridiculous it was to think that:
a) anyone could control world finance and commerce to the degree predicted;
b) horrible painful sickness could be spread by flying things with people inside;
c) 1/3 of humanity could be wiped out in a single calamity;
d) people all over the world could watch events in Jerusalem as they occurred;
e) the antichrist could be fatally wounded, yet live (heart transplant?, clone?, AI?, something else?);
f) the "king of the east" could field a million-man army; or
g) the West would trade democratic freedom for safe dictatorship.
I could go on, but you get the point. Regardless of your religious views on the Bible, the prophecies are at least no longer funny.

[dmm]

Regarding the technical side of the discussion:
Gates is again doing proprietary bundling to "make things easier for the end-user" and, oh yes, incidentally kill off the competition and force upgrades. (I read somewhere recently the following very insightful comment: for MS, forcing upgrades is now equivalent to killing off the competition, since at this point MS's main competion is older Versions of MS software.)

I am equivocal about MS: I hate its tactics, but it seems to be one of the few remaining American exporters.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Originally posted by dmm:
The article referenced does not claim that Gates is the Antichrist. It points out yet another trend in our society (or new technology) that would allow biblical prophecies to come to pass. It wasn't all that long ago that doubters had a great time making fun of biblical prophecy, pointing out how ridiculous it was to think that:
a) anyone could control world finance and commerce to the degree predicted;
b) horrible painful sickness could be spread by flying things with people inside;
c) 1/3 of humanity could be wiped out in a single calamity;
d) people all over the world could watch events in Jerusalem as they occurred;
e) the antichrist could be fatally wounded, yet live (heart transplant?, clone?, AI?, something else?);
f) the "king of the east" could field a million-man army; or
g) the West would trade democratic freedom for safe dictatorship.
I could go on, but you get the point. Regardless of your religious views on the Bible, the prophecies are at least no longer funny.

Consider also the possibility of identification bar codes on your hand or forehead...eliminating the need for credit cards...and allowing the government to instantly id you.

[Stone Mill]

Originally posted by narf poit chez BOOM:
Consider also the possibility of identification bar codes on your hand or forehead...eliminating the need for credit cards...and allowing the government to instantly id you.

At least I'd get through the checkout line quicker. But I'd imagine my forehead would get sore from rubbing against the scanner.