Paul,

This is obliquely related to Aircraft  perhaps a good metaphor for rotary
engines as well  so enjoy:)


If Operating Systems Ran The Airlines...

UNIX Airways

Everyone brings one piece of the plane along when they come to the
airport. They all go out on the runway and put the plane together piece
by piece, arguing non-stop about what kind of plane they are supposed to
be building.

Air DOS

Everybody pushes the airplane until it glides, then they jump on and let
the plane coast until it hits the ground again. Then they push again,
jump on again, and so on...

Mac Airlines

All the stewards, captains, baggage handlers, and ticket agents look and
act exactly the same. Every time you ask questions about details, you
are gently but firmly told that you don't need to know, don't want to
know, and everything will be done for you without your ever having to
know, so just shut up.

Windows Air

The terminal is pretty and colorful, with friendly stewards, easy baggage
check and boarding, and a smooth take-off. After about 10 minutes in the
air, the plane explodes with no warning whatsoever.

Windows NT Air

Just like Windows Air, but costs more, uses much bigger planes, and takes
out all the other aircraft within a 40-mile radius when it explodes.

Linux Air

Disgruntled employees of all the other OS airlines decide to start their
own airline. They build the planes, ticket counters, and pave the
runways themselves. They charge a small fee to cover the cost of
printing the ticket, but you can also download and print the ticket
yourself.

When you board the plane, you are given a seat, four bolts, a wrench and
a copy of the seat-HOWTO.html. Once settled, the fully adjustable seat
is very comfortable, the plane leaves and arrives on time without a
single problem, the in-flight meal is wonderful. You try to tell
customers of the other airlines about the great trip, but all they can
say is, "You had to do what with the seat?"

Lee, UK


Doug in Japan

That used to be true. Now you don't have to assemble the seat :)
You really need to get one of those EeePC's the next time you come to the
states.

Paul Lamar