Solitaire: A Consumer Comparison

Given Xpat2's clear ease-of-play advantage, availability of source code, user-friendly license and far greater choice of games, we would have to rank the free software product a clear winner over the captive software product.

So the next time some PHB wants to know why Linux is superior to Microsoft products, remember: PHBs aren't capable of abstract thinking. That's why they're PHBs instead of software engineers or philosophers. Don't explain, just sit the PHB down in front of a computer or two capable of running Microsoft Solitaire and Xpat2 and invite him/her/it to play a game of cards. What could be simpler?

And while the PHB is figuring out how to use the mouse, you can get some actual work done. Or do something useful, like play cards.

Products: Xpat2; SolitaireVendor: Heiko Eissfeldt and Michael Bischoff; MicrosoftOperating System: Linux, Linux-like OSes; probably others WindowsLicense: Partially GPLed, see the man page; Copyright by Microsoft and defended by the largest army of lawyers in the world, including the Justice Dept.Pretty girl?: Yes; NoComes bundled with: Many Linux distros; probably others WindowsGame(s) played: Klondike, Spider, Gypsy, Free Cell, Haven, Idiot's Delight, Monte Carlo, etc.; Las Vegas or StandardSmart cards: Yes; YesAccepts user-supplied cards?: Yes; NoPrice: Often bundled with Linux distros, free on the Net; Bundled with WindowsLatest version: 1.07; ??Documentation: Yes; YesRPM package: Yes; You're new here, aren't you?

Ursula K. Penguin lives in a small Oregon college town, where she teaches creative literature when she isn't dodging trees on the highway. She is the author of a number of excellent work avoidance tools, like the popular The Drill Press of Heaven computer game. She is currently avoiding work on an update of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, The Pirates of Penguins, about the titanic struggle between Microsoft and Linux.