[techtalk] Re: [issues] Standards?? PHOOEY!!!

[Julie]

From: Lothan <lothan at newsguy.com>
> > From: issues-admin at linuxchix.org [mailto:issues-admin at linuxchix.org]On
> > Behalf Of Fan, Laurel
> > Sent: Friday, June 30, 2000 8:16 AM
> > To: issues at linuxchix.org; 'techtalk at linuxchix.org'
> > Subject: RE: [issues] Standards?? PHOOEY!!!
> >
> > There are no standards in the computing world.  They're all agreements.
> > There is no authority saying "you can't do this.  you must do this".
> > They're all agreements of the form "all devices/programs wishing to
> > interoperate can't do this, must do this".  If your device/program does
> > not wish to interoperate, go right ahead, you just can't talk to anyone.
>
> The American National Starndards Insititute (ANSI) and the International
> Standards Organization (ISO) have several standards (and authority) on
> computer devices and languages (QIC tape hardware and protocols, and the C
> and C++ languages are examples of ANSI standards). The Internet
Engineering
> Task Force (IETF) also has authority to set standards for Internet
protocols
> (IPv4). Like it or not, Microsoft is the standards authority for Windows
> protocols (OLE, ActiveX controls).

Methinks she is referring to people with guns and clubs who have the
authority to make you use certain programs and protocols.

And no, Bill Gates hasn't bought the US Army yet.  Next week, maybe.
But so far he hasn't.

-- Julie.