Top 10 Vendor Definitions of Open Systems ----------------------------------------- 10) Unix System Laboratories: "If you pay us for the license, it's open." 9) IBM: "You want open systems? We've got 13 of them. Which one do you want?" 8) Microsoft: "Open systems? Isn't that a laxative?" 7) DEC: "A palatable way to sell Unix. No, really, we like Unix. Honest, we do." 6) OSF: "Anything IBM and DEC can both agree on must be open." 5) Apple: "If we can't sue them, it must be open." 4) SCO: "The politically correct way to retain dominant market share." 3) POSIX: "We'll form a committee and give you a definition in six months." 2) Sun: "Give me an 'S'...Give me a 'P'...Give me an 'A'... Give me an 'R'... Give me a 'C'...What's that spell? OPEN!" 1) ACE: "ACE is the place with the helpful hardware spec. If you don't see what you want, just join."