Hi,
while initially I didn't want to get into that discussion, I feel the need to tell anyway:
Saborion2, please make an effort to not incorporate your replies into the entire quoted block. It makes it tedious to find out what I wrote in comparision to where's what you wrote.
That said - thanks for the ball, let me serve:
Do you care to read the article which can reached by following the attached link:
"IBM denies re-entering PC market with Russian deal"
http://www.news.com/IBM-denies-re-entering-PC-market-with-Russian-deal/2100-1003_3-6233782.html
I did. Here's what I draw from it:
> so-called "Open Referent" systems, based on Red Hat Linux and the
> company's own Lotus Symphony software
Wow. Cool.
Ehh... where's the mention of eCS in it?
Now, are "...you (beginning to) get the picture (of OpenOffice for OS/2, eComStation...)? 
Looking at the articles referred to by you? No.
What I see is a desparate attempt to grab a little sunlight into the darkness of eCS. I see "OpenOffice" and "no Windows" and "open source". Yes. I see eComStation on these machines? No. Do I see any chance that they will install eCS? No. Why should they? RedHat is cheaper than eCS - unless you find someone at Serenity or Mensys reliable and capable enough of selling you that amount of Notebooks with eCS preinstalled at special conditions. -> see what I wrote in the other post regarding "people"...
Question: Being just a little bit curious....
Have you ever "personally" put a project up for international financing? 
That depends on what you call "project". As for non-profit "projects", I did fund the start of warpstock.eu and warpevents.eu. Does that count? From a professional point of view (in the company I work for:
www.sapient.com) I did not. However I seem to have "some" experience with international projects... to put it that way. You might call me someone who contributes nothing to the community but keeps on ranting... note that this is not the case (for the rant... it is.

): Until some time ago I was a regular contributor to the VOICE newsletter and assure you that I still love OS/2 and eCS. But in the end of the day, I want something that I can switch on and works as a tool, not something that I use for the benefit and purpose of itself and that keeps my busy fiddling with files (the major reason why I don't like Linux) ;-) .
Saborion, I don't what is going on here:
- I started telling that eCS currently is not suited (for several reasons) to be installed on ATMS.
- Then the thread shifted to Hydropower and Bauxit deals offering chances for eCS. I said no.
- Now we are talking about Notebooks that come with not-Windows preinstalled. again, I say no.
Heck. What is next?
Regarding your above question again: What is it that you

want

me

to

tell

Okay, heck! Perhaps "No, I did never personally put a project up for international financing" - whatever this means in the depth between words. Did you? You did? Congrats... but what the heck does that relate to what we are talking about? If you did - share your experience with Mensys, eCoSoft and Serenity... that might really help them. Two years from now I'll meet you at the club. the club of frustrated ranters who once had bright ideas until they were disappointed to death by unprofessionalism and bullshit blabla. Do you want me to gain understanding for these poor people because their job is soooooooo hard, or what? To hell with them, I know jobs that are REALLY hard and some even have to do with IT. This task is not hard if only you have a brain. Is it difficult to deal with international financing and putting up projects? Ohhh... I apologize. All my sentiments are with these poor stressed people. Oh come on!
IF THEY CAN'T DO THE JOB, WHY DON'T THEY ASK FOR HELP OR ASK SOMEONE WHO CAN?? That's how "consulting" works, that's what makes out a professional approach. Know_your_limits_first! Nobody forced them to do everything on their own! They do because they think they can. Perhaps they don#t wanto to invest the money needed. So to hell with them.
People don't buy operating systems (except for zealots like you and me ;-) ). What they buy is a box or a special piece of
application software. (Note: This is not an OS). Call it a "solution" if you want. It does the things they want to do. Ideally -if you happen to have used a similar box before- the new one can open your old files. Or not.
Example - what do you think would sell more copies of eCS to corporate users:
- A "maul publisher PC" that comes with eCS and Maul preloaded, ready-to-run out-of-the-box
- A shrinkwrapped bundle of Maul and eCS in a PC store bookshelf
- The same bundle with install and support service though a authorized reseller
You will find that #2 will sell the least copies - but: Surprisingly enough, THAT is exactly what the current "marketing" of eCS is based upon... except for the fact that they even leave out the shrinkwrap bundle part: They sell a copy of eCS in the bookshelf and a copy of Maul publisher somewhere else in the bookshelf.
(Yep, I know a trial copy of Maul is included in eCS - but do they advertise this or any other stuff?)
As a business consultant with at least a little experience in these regards, I can assure you that eCS has an incredible potential to become *the* solution for a lot of needs. (Yes, it's still me talking...)
Unfortunately its future is in the hands of a bunch of headless chicken that have no (master or any) plan and no clue as to how approach the challenge. I don't talk about "timelines", "roadmaps" or "vision" statements, what I'm talking about is a PLAN: Have an idea for something and/or find demand - do marketing and development - sell it (and: support it!!). And I'm not talking about "Piano launchpad is increasing productivity of business user". Whatacrap... What I'm talking about is a box that you hook up and it controls machines, controls (network) traffic, acts as a ZeroConfig server box or even as a set-top-box interface for whatever or a self-service internet or media terminal. Some people call this a "product". Heck. So much could be done if people get their arses off their seats and their heads out of their bosses arses.
I have some ideas in mind and I'm pretty much convinced that these can be done already today with only little efforts. Unfortunately it takes however some basic attitude of professionalism and that is lacking from the current "stakeholders" in eCS. I could go on and talk for hours about my experiences from the past decade at Warpstocks and developer workshops... things that I promised to keep for myself regarding Mensys (that's why I don't tell in public here) or how interface developers are unable to understand what I talk about when showing them a real chance to turn their home-soldered devices into a ready-to-market zero-configuration blackbox if only they could provide an API DLL. ("Oh, this is not difficult. I can do this, someone else can do it too. Yes, but what do you need it for? It already works and does all one might need.")... yawn. I'm fed up... these people have limited minds. They see their piece but don't see the whole.
As a consultant, I usually am paid a king's ransom for "look, understand, improve". And I do this very good, believe me... (Also because I know where my limits are and I'm not afraid to admit that I have no clue when I have no clue... another attitude in professionalism that is lacking in the eCS world. Everybody seems to know everything - at least he knows "better than anybody else"...).
Mind you, I'ld be willing to do my job for free for my beloved OS... but no one is listening. So why not let them drown with their ship for heaven's sake if these ignorants think they are so pretty brialliant to do everything on their own. Yep, go on. Make yourself comfortable in the house of mediocracy and failure. As long as they make their share, it's OK for them. That's the problem. Instead of beating the shit out of these bilterhing idiots, people let them get away with it. I don't want to be part of that freak show, it's a waste of time. In this case, I prefer reading a picture book with my 1-year old son, go to cinema with my daughter, cuddle my cats or even watch TV with my wife. All this are priceless and precious moments in time - especially when compared to "working on eCS".
And finally - here's your ball back.
It's getting dark and mom told me to come home when the lights turn on.
Maybe you'll find someone else that you can throw the ball at - I don't want to play this game any longer. I don't even care what the score is, because in this game nobody actually wins: If it goes on like it's now, we're all nothing but losing in the end.
(That'll learn me to enter an "OT thread" ever again... ;-) )
Cheers
Thomas