On Wed, Dec 09, 2020 at 10:25:36AM -0500, Larry Linder wrote:
> 
> Everytime I am forced to use Windows 10 my neurons rebel at the moron
> aware SW.
> 

I am sorry you are in the position where you are forced to use Windows,
I feel lucky that I can "just say no!".

> 
> As the supporters of GNU retire and die off - the new generation has no
> desire to stay the course.
>

This works both ways. I used to think Richard Stallman was a cook and a crank.

Today I see his apocalyptic predictions for evils of "unfree" software
come true (and then some) in the cell phone universe.

If we live through covid, I may yet become an FSF card carrying member! (Likely
with the Torvaldskist schismatic branchnicks who refuse to say "GNU/Linux").

> 
> The bright side is that there is no automatic self destruct mechanism in
> Linux so even when the official support is ended we can still user what
> we have but not be able to upgrade our applications.
> 

So true, if not for C++11, I would say "SL6 forever!".

>
> ... the cost of just dumping 50 systems and install new OS's and
> applications is beyond our budget. ...
> 

Even for people with deep pockets, administrative, logistics, downtime
and man power costs make it impractical, except for "once every 5-10 years".

People who just invested in a migration to el8 to be told now that
they have to migrate again next year must be severely unhappy right now.

I cannot fathom how Red Hat did not "ask around" before going public
with their decision. (unless the decision was forced on them externally).

>
> So the sword had many sharp edges.
> 

Well, it is the dull sword that is most dangerous (to the user). Join
your local Iaido club and find out for yourself.

-- 
Konstantin Olchanski
Data Acquisition Systems: The Bytes Must Flow!
Email: olchansk-at-triumf-dot-ca
Snail mail: 4004 Wesbrook Mall, TRIUMF, Vancouver, B.C., V6T 2A3, Canada