Sorry for saying people would call you a nut then.  While I may respect 
and even share the views of certain nuts among Linux user (or GNU/Linux 
as one such nut insists), I have as little patience with their ranting 
as I think most people would.  Glad to see you were just playing up the 
bit some there.  I've had quite a bit of success with the renting vs 
owning argument myself.

Vaughn Treude wrote:

>I meant to put a smiley after the "world domination" bit.   I didn't want to 
>get too far into the details, particularly since I don't know how much time 
>I'll have to talk.   What I was planning to say, given the chance, is that 
>the US vs Microsoft antitrust suit was a waste of time, and probably 
>counterproductive, since MS has switched from abusing its OEM's to supporting 
>anti-consumer laws such as the DMCA, CBDTPA, and UCITA, and in the ultimate 
>bit of silliness, has even tried to tie open source to the threat of 
>terrorism.  I do appreciate your suggestions - especially about their rental 
>schemes.  I see Linux as a way that people can maintain control over their 
>own systems and their own data.   That's why Munich chose Linux, even though 
>the offer Microsoft made them was cheaper.
>
>Vaughn
>
>On Tuesday 15 July 2003 18:40, you wrote:
>  
>
>>I think painting Microsoft and a company out for "World Domination" will
>>only make you look like a nut.  While us geeks make get a smile and a
>>laugh over pictures of Hitler redone with Bill Gate's face, the average
>>commuter will probably tune you out as just another extremist on a
>>soapbox.  You have to get people to understand how Microsoft's control
>>over their computer will affect their bottom line and their quality of
>>life.  (Particularly quality of life as people understand that their
>>bottom line will normally take a hit to guarantee them comforts.)
>>Discuss the ideas of having software that you only buy once and then are
>>generally freely upgraded for life.  (Telling them it's free to get in
>>the first place may trip the too good to be true off switch in their
>>minds.  And Linux requires time to either install or order pre-installed.)
>>Perhaps talk about Microsoft's need to have their computers phone home
>>when a person is surfing the Internet and checking their honesty and
>>integrity.
>>Talk about Microsoft's recent problems with spammers using Windows to
>>send out porn and leaving the unsuspecting computer owner (don't use the
>>word "user") taking the blame for sending it.
>>Talk about Microsoft's plan to have people renting their operating
>>system, so even after they spend several hundred, if not thousands of
>>dollars buying a computer, they still won't be able use it to do
>>anything without paying Microsoft rent.  [Rent vs the appearance of
>>ownership (the current perpetual licensing scheme) usually raises
>>hackles of people.  Most people would rather own something than rent it.]
>>
>>I'm sure others on this list can give you some good alternatives to
>>coming on and talking about Microsoft's mission of world domination.
>>
>>Vaughn Treude wrote:
>>    
>>
>>>Hello everybody:
>>>
>>>Just letting you know that I talked Ernest Hancock into having me on his
>>>radio show this coming Friday, July 18th.  It's on KXAM 1310 AM from 7 to
>>>9 in the A.M.  I'll be talking about Linux vs. Microsoft and the latter's
>>>quest for world dominance.  The other guest will be Stu Krone, a computer
>>>security expert who will be examining the issue of vote fraud on
>>>computerized polling systems.  If you're up that early, I invite you to
>>>listen.
>>>
>>>Vaughn Treude
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>>>
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