[OT] Cringely on BootCamp's future

[Bob Warren]

Stephen Barncard wrote:

 >Hell, I don't want to start a platform war on this list  - the thing
is that Rev brings us together - and platform wars are boring and
stupid.

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Yes, we're all a bit up tight. But I wouldn't call a mildly 
argumentative discussion "war", at least not yet! The great thing about 
the difficult art of democracy is that we become united through our 
differences.

Though I have no experience of Macs, if I lived in a first-world 
country, it would be one of the first things I'd buy, hoping that the 
higher price would bring me advantages in terms of quality and 
stability. But I don't live in a first world country. Even a much 
cheaper PC represents a year's salary to the majority of the population. 
Macs ARE used, but only usually by companies etc. who have the need and 
the means to make the investment. Until my American neighbour brought 
back a Mac from the States, I had never even SEEN a Mac!

Stephen Barncard wrote:

 >As far as price of Macs in Brazil; I'm sure that Brazil imposes
severe tariffs placed on computers from the USA, and I think that the
Brazil PC 'manufacturers' would get quite an advantage - even though
made from parts from 'over there'.

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I am not disputing what you are saying, because I really don't know. But 
what I would like to know is why PCs imported from the United States 
(among other places) do not seem to suffer the same tariffs. (Or is that 
wrong too?) Of course, if you have good reason for affirming that Brazil 
imposes severe tariffs placed on computers from the USA, then I would be 
very interested in knowing what that reason is.

The only point I am interested in making is that as far as I see it, 
PC+Linux is the only viable future solution for ordinary users in a 
country like Brazil, and I fully intend to help them achieve it. And the 
more support I get for this movement in terms of reliable programming 
under the Linux OS, the better I like it.

Regards,
Bob Warren