| Thinker : Computers : Fix the OS | |||||
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I woke early one morning recently with a single clear thought: My operating system should be what I want it to be. I want to have choice in operating systems the way I have choice in image editing programs. I want to be able to run any OS I want on any hardware. Further, every module of my OS should be swap-able with modules made by other creators: the Look and Feel should be a module that I can buy from Adobe, Microsoft or the guy next door. Same for the Finder, SCSI controller, etc., etc. Every aspect of the OS should be open to the user for preferential settings: When I double click a file, does it open in MSIE (!!@#@) or in an application? And, I want scripting access to all of the OS.
Is this possible? I have no doubts that it is. Is it realistic? No: what super-power developers would ever support a standard that doesn't provide them a revenue stream? Something is wrong with the world we live in. The products that survive are not the best necessarily. Good ideas die. Bad ones live. What's the answer? Let's dream a little. Bring the OS back to the people. |
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First written Fri, Dec 19, 1997 Last published Wed, Jun 2, 1999 |
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