An otherwise excellent discussion of the problems confronting the Open Source community in the light of Microsoft?s deals with Novell and Xandros was derailed when one contributor took my comments personally and accused me of slamming Microsoft?s products and clients. As if I would!
Offense was taken when I likened Microsoft to a motor manufacturer. It went like this: ?You bought a shiny new car called XP (or maybe Vista) only to find that there was a wheel missing. When you went back to the manufacturer for the missing/defective part they supplied a ?new? one, but the tyre was flat?
I?ve used it before but it struck a cord with at least one contributor who compared Microsoft to Jaguar in the 1970?s. My experience was with a Lotus that kept losing wheels at inconvenient moments.
Sadly, the discussion reached its maximum load. Have you noticed that it always happens when there?s something interesting going on?
So, to lighten everybody?s day I?d like to ask if anyone has an analogy that they?d like to offer to describe the antics of any company or product in the computer world.
Sometimes, one needs a little light relief. A sense of humour helps too.