Re: [News] Choose Windows, Double the Cost of Your PC

[Jamie Hart <usenet@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Erik Funkenbusch wrote:
> On Tue, 18 Jul 2006 15:30:23 +0100, Roy Schestowitz wrote:
>
> > Microsoft Landed On Us
> >
> > ,----[ Quote ]
> > | Windows XP Professional OEM - £98.08
> > | Microsoft Office (Small Business Edition) OEM - £157.74
> > | Paint Shop Pro - £67.85
> > | 
> > | This yields a grand total of £323.67. In one fell swoop, I doubled the
> > | cost of the PC... I simply couldn't believe it at first; it seems
> > | illogical that to do absolutely everything I can do for free with Linux,
> > | in order to do the same with Microsoft, I?d have to spend twice as
> > | much.
> > `----
> >
> >                                 http://www.linuxextremist.com/?p=47
>
> You can't do everything you could do in Linux.  For example, Paint Shop Pro
> can use any photoshop plug-in available, can the Gimp?  On Windows, you
> can, with pspi, but not Linux.
Actually you can, but that's not the point.  The GIMP has its own 
plugins and scripts, it doesn't need photoshop ones.

Do a google for gimp scripts and you'll find lots of image manipulation 
scripts (like photoshop filters) or google for gimp plugins for loads of 
plugins that extend the GIMP in all kinds of ways.

Can't find one to do what you want?  You can write one yourself, or pay 
someone else to write one.  If you do, please release it back to the 
community so others can benefit from it.

> Ok, so maybe such a machine could do everything YOU want to do in Linux,
> but that's not the same thing.
It is for me.  And it is for the thousands (possibly millions) of people 
who's needs are similar to mine. Not to mention the thousands who's 
needs are completely different to mine, but are still covered by the 
software in linux distributions.

> Consider that it costs more to fuel a car for it's lifetime than the cost
> of the car (even if you include interest paid via loans).

That's a dud analogy, software is more like the steering wheel or the 
brake pedal.  It allows you to use the car.  Petrol is more like the 
electricity that computers need.

> Why would it
> seem strange that the software for a PC might exceed the cost of the PC?

Because it doesn't have to?

Actually, some people brag about the cost of the software they have. 
There's a thread going in here at the moment where people are bragging 
about their computers, either the number of screens or the number of PCs 
they have.  In other forums and newsgroups I've seen threads bragging 
about who's got the most expensive software.

So some people like to have lots of expensive software, big deal. Me, I 
have other priorities.