Re:Linux didn't really advance computing ... (Score 1)

"This is an extrodinarily narrow view. You know, at one point in time hobbists contributed greatly to WinDOS. You might say they are even responsible for the rise of WinDOS as a platform. You don't have to be someone like Linus or Alan to be a "hobbyist". You can simply be a specialist in another discipline: like the folks who invented the spreadsheet."

Great example! I take it you're implying that some corporate programmer (not like Alan or Linus) invented the spreadsheet on WinDOS? Except that it wasn't. It was Dan Bricklin, and he invented it on an Apple ][ to help him with his college course on accounting. After it was done, he decided to sell it and VisiCalc was born.

So basically, another "hobbiest" invented the spreadsheet. I'd say that it was pretty important technology.