[H-GEN] [SLUG] The Real Facts About NT (fwd)

Wed Aug 27 23:50:04 EDT 1997

I thought this might be of interest to some.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 1997 21:29:28 +1000 (EST)
From: Rachel Polanskis <rachel at juno.virago.org.au>
Reply-To: r.polanskis at nepean.uws.edu.au
To: slug <slug at slug.org.au>
Subject: [SLUG] The Real Facts About NT (fwd)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 1997 04:05:24 GMT
From: Nigel Allen <prosmart at bigpond.com>
Newsgroups: aus.computers.linux
Subject: The Real Facts About NT

Greetings,

While browsing the UnixWorld online site earlier this week
(http://www.unixworld.com/unixworld),  I noticed that there was an
ad-link on the front page (and others) advertising "The Real Facts
about NT". When I followed it, you can imagine my horror to be greeted
with the opening line:

> "Fact is, Windows NT Server delivers better performance and value than
> UNIX servers. For your mission-critical, enterprise applications,
> Windows NT Server is the only way to go".

Evidently the Unixworld site is now running ads for Microsoft. I
emailed the editor, 'Becca Thomas and told her (rather heatedly) what
I thought about the ad. 'Becca was kind enough to respond politely
(shaming me) and explained that she had already complained to the
publishers. Here is an abbreviated copy of what transpired:

>Regarding your message dated Sun, 24 Aug 1997 12:41:43 +1000:

>> I still don't believe what I just saw!
>> An ad for NT on the Unixworld site? - Okay - there's no reason why two
>> operating systems can't co-exist - and many reasons why they should - so
>> I followed the link and find:
>> 
>> "Fact is, Windows NT Server delivers better performance and value than
>> UNIX servers. For your mission-critical, enterprise applications,
>> Windows NT Server is the only way to go".
>> 
>> Not to start a jihad here but is this a complete sell-out of Unix or
>> what?

To which Becca responded:

>You'll need to write the publisher (who has control over the ads
>that run on UWOL, not me); perhaps you can have an influence.
>(I've already protested, but to no avail). Let me know and I'll
>provide you with contact information.

>I'd like to acquire an article refuting false claims made by
>Microsoft in that ad.  If you don't have the time to pen such a
>piece, perhaps you know someone who might.  (I'll pay $500 for a
>1000-word article).

>Thanks for your thoughts ...
>Rebecca "Becca" Thomas

And after my apology to Becca for my "enthusiasm" I received this:

> ><apology>
>> Sorry for the misplaced broadside - too late at night, too much 
>> coffee... </apology>
>> 
>> Sure - I would love to write to the publishers - now my anger has 
>> reduced to a gentle simmer I might be able to manage coherence :)

>Perhaps, if you penned a thoughtful essay, an analysis of the
>situation, discuss the irony, without rancor, anger, or else
>she'll just ignore you.  The publisher of LAN Times (and thus
>UWOL) is:

>Jennifer Neale
>1900 O'Farrell St.
>San Mateo, CA 94403
>415-513-6807
>Fax: 415-513-6985
>jneale at lantimes.com

>as revealed on:
>http://www.lantimes.com/lantimes/customer/ltsales.html#1a

>PLEASE send me a carbon copy.  Thanks.

>> Is the offer for the article public knowledge? Or would you prefer to 
>> keep the compensation low-profile?

>We do pay around 50 cents per word for solicited editorial.

>> We have some _very_ literary gifted *nix accolytes here in .au.

>I'm looking for an article that compares use of Unix versus NT
>for the applications discussed on the page the banner points to
>(http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/promo/info13/), but, the
>article needs to be written fairly and objectively to maximize
>credibility.  Sure Sun hardware costs more than PCs, and for that
>reason cost-conscious providers are switching to Unix on PCs. But,
>my guess is that Linux/Apache on the right PC hardware would be a
>potent combination to beat by any NT system.  We'd need tables
>that compare costs and performance.  If done right this article
>isn't simply a rant, but will take some research and careful
>presentation, thus the compensation.

Question is - who would like to take time out to write an intelligent,
well-though out article as outlined above. (And earn US$500.00 at the
same time). If you are interested, and can write coherently without it
degenerating into a slanging match or jihad, have a go.

Apologies for the length of this one - but I think that you will agree
- this is way too important to let go.

Nigel.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nigel Allen                               phone: +61 (0)2 9450 2690
Senior Consultant                         fax:   +61 (0)2 9450 2691
ProSmart Consulting Pty Ltd               mob:   +61 (0)41 112 1092
48 Tiarri Avenue                          email: prosmart at bigpond.com
Terrey Hills, N.S.W. 
Australia 2084
                    "Powered By Progress"
                "Certified Progress Developer"
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--
Rachel Polanskis                 Kingswood, Greater Western Sydney, Australia 
grove at zeta.org.au                http://www.zeta.org.au/~grove/grove.html
r.polanskis at nepean.uws.edu.au    http://www.nepean.uws.edu.au/ccd/
 "Yow!  Am I having fun yet?!" - John Howard^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H Zippy the Pinhead
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