Something worth a read....

Recently I read an essay on hackers & open sourcing....which are i must admit my current passions.....it was titled "In the Beginning of The Command Line"--By Neal Stephenson.
Though it was written over a decade ago & in this ever dynamic in world of software this essay might just sound a little out-of-date....it is still worth a read....especially if u are really into hacking....
Here is a catchy abstract out of it....a typical conversation between a layman blindly going for MS Windows (reffered to as a wagon) & a guy who wants to give away an open source OS (like linux-reffered to as Batmobile or a tank) to those opting for Win....

The group giving away the free tanks only stays alive because it is staffed by volunteers,
who are lined up at the edge of the street with bullhorns, trying to draw customers'
attention to this incredible situation. A typical conversation goes something like this:

Hacker with bullhorn: "Save your money! Accept one of our free tanks! It is
invulnerable, and can drive across rocks and swamps at ninety miles an hour while
getting a hundred miles to the gallon!"

Prospective station wagon buyer: "I know what you say is true...but...er...I don't know
how to maintain a tank!"

Bullhorn: "You don't know how to maintain a station wagon either!"

Buyer: "But this dealership has mechanics on staff. If something goes wrong with my
station wagon, I can take a day off work, bring it here, and pay them to work on it while I
sit in the waiting room for hours, listening to elevator music."

Bullhorn: "But if you accept one of our free tanks we will send volunteers to your house
to fix it for free while you sleep!"

Buyer: "Stay away from my house, you freak!"

Bullhorn: "But..."

Buyer: "Can't you see that everyone is buying station wagons?"

Isnt that interesting??....n i assure there is more to it....
if u want the full essay...just leave ur mail id as a comment to this article....i'll make it a point to send it to u as soon as possible......have a god read....!!