22 Jul
1999
22 Jul
'99
12:21 a.m.
On 21 Jul 99 at 15:44, Richard Erlacher wrote:
-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Wednesday, July 21, 1999 2:00 PM
Subject: Re: Sun Monitor (UK) (2)
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.
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(a)interlog.com
Let us know of your upcoming computer events for our Events Page.
t3c(a)xoommail.com
Vintage Computer Collectors List and info http://members.xoom.com/T3C
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.
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.