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Money matters: How good a job is your advisor/broker doing?
Graham Macdonald
MBMG International Ltd.
Generali International recently conducted an analysis
to assess how well its clients’ investments were actually performing.
One piece of data that this highlighted was that those clients who were
advised by Independent Financial Advisors (IFAs) achieved average
annualised returns more than 2 percent higher than those who had no
advisor appointed (i.e. advised themselves).
Every year since opening its doors for business almost
10 years ago MBMG International has compared its own forecasts and
advisory results with those of the big multinational investment
organisations like Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley. Additional analysis
at that time showed that in terms of portfolio allocation advice, many of
the big boys were failing to achieve average sector performance.
The difficulty of course for any client of these
organisations or indeed of any other organisation is knowing how well
their investment has really performed. The industry has shown great
creativity in producing a multitude of ways of proving what a great job it
does in terms of added value, not least the dreaded ‘benchmarking’.
Both private investors and the majority of pension
plans have historically favoured traditional investment assets that have
been allocated in line with and whose performance has been assessed in
relation to selected benchmarks.
The last 3 years have, however, highlighted that such a
benchmark-driven process can be extremely inappropriate in situations
where the performance of the selected benchmark can be at such odds with
the delivery of returns that is actually required by the investor. This
applies equally to either a fund of a pension programme of several hundred
thousand employees, or an individual endowment policy designed to repay a
home loan. Not only does a portfolio that generates 10% per year for 2
years achieve a 5% higher return that one which makes 20% one year and
then loses it another, but it delivers these returns in a way that allows
greater security of budget planning and less sleepless nights whether
you’re a pension fund manager, financial planner or private investor.
It probably doesn’t do much to promote the invasive
omnipresence of business media, such as CNBC, but we wouldn’t
necessarily see that as a drawback. If each day’s events can have such a
dramatic impact on your strategies as the newshounds would like to imply,
then you probably have the wrong strategy! Information is undoubtedly a
good thing. However we find the random presentation of the spurious,
side-by-side with the insightful, adorned with liberal dollops of
self-interest and self-promotion about as appetizing as those Vegas casino
breakfasts where jam, honey, muffins and whipped cream are served up with
bacon & eggs.
Few investors expect the equity market returns of the
past decade to return anytime soon. Hence there has been increasing
recognition that benchmarking is an unsatisfactory strategy. MBMG
International has argued this long and loud for many years, even during
the bull run, but sadly it often takes a bear market to allow reflective
re-assessments to take place.
In this new paradigm, investors should now be seeking
to identify strategies that can provide additional returns and create
greater consistency of delivery of these returns, by broadening their
investment flexibility. Moving expectations from benchmark-driven to new
evaluation methodologies is a difficult process. In some cases this has
required small steps at a time, including the use of the “portable
alpha” concept and core-satellite approach, both of which reflect the
additional freedom in asset allocation that can stem the control of risk
that comes with the use of market neutral strategies.
Ultimately we hope to arrive at the Nirvana of enhanced
indexing that was discussed in recent articles, but until then, our aim
has to be all out war against a method of performance measurement that
allows an advisor to say that losing 20% of your portfolio in 2001 was a
good performance, when you might not readily agree! If it’s a positive
return that you require year in, year out your advisor should be flexible
enough to design a portfolio that delivers that, but if that’s not on
offer because you’re only asked which benchmark you want to compete
against, then maybe you’re being offered the wrong menu because you’re
dining at the wrong restaurant.
Investment flexibility is out there, but the biggest
institutions don’t need to offer it when they can achieve record profits
by serving the same fare all the time and telling you that’s all there
is. Investments shouldn’t be a short order menu!
The above data and research was compiled from sources believed to be
reliable. However, neither MBMG International Ltd nor its officers can
accept any liability for any errors or omissions in the above article nor
bear any responsibility for any losses achieved as a result of any actions
taken or not taken as a consequence of reading the above article. For more
information please contact Graham Macdonald on graham@mbmg-international
.com
Snap Shots: How to get great holiday snaps!
by Harry Flashman
A camera is one item that just about everyone takes on
holidays, but the results when you come back home may not be all that you
hoped. This is particularly so if it is an overseas trip and you can’t
just dash back and take the shot again. This of course is one advantage of
digital photography over conventional print film - however, it is very
difficult to see just how good or bad the shot really is when squinting at
an image 2x2.5 cm in size. You certainly cannot judge sharpness, for
example.
 Girl
on a bicycle at Siem Reap bridge (Photo by Ernie Kuehnelts)
However, to come back with some cracker holiday shots
is not all that difficult, it just needs some thought and time. Not taking
the correct amount of time in shooting is probably the number one reason
for getting disappointing results. The corollary is that by taking time,
you will get good results!
Take a look at the shot of the Cambodian girl on the
bicycle. This was taken by keen amateur Ernie Kuehnelts (whose results are
getting more professional every year) and took one hour. No, he did not
get the girl to cycle back and forth for 60 minutes, but he stayed in
position (in the shade) close to a bridge in Siem Reap for one hour.
During that time he snapped interesting looking subjects and this shot was
one of the best. It is a wonderfully evocative shot that shows the life of
a Cambodian peasant girl. By the way, the shot was taken on an AF Nikon
using the follow focus facility, and it certainly worked well. Ernie
showed me the shot blown up well past A4 size and the eyes remained sharp.
 Battambang
Temple (Photo by Ernie Kuehnelts)
The second shot is one of a temple, again in Cambodia
in Battambang, and again taken during Ernie’s last holiday there. This
shot is notable for the use of the ‘frame within a frame’, picturing
the temple framed by the entrance gateway. Frame within a frame always
works in my book, and Ernie moved around until he could get the framing to
his satisfaction. Verticals were difficult, but he has done a great job.
What is worth noting from Ernie Kuehnelts’
photographs is that he has come back with images of Cambodia, not
photographs of “me beside a temple” or “me taken with our guide”.
Your camera should be used to record the place you visited, not just you
on your holidays. The former kinds of photographs are interesting. The
latter are not!
A perennial question with going overseas is when do you
process your film? Every time you go through a security check in an
airport, they X-Ray your baggage. Sure, there’s little signs up which
say “Film safe”. Don’t believe them! By the time your film has been
through a few of these checks, it has had a significant dose of rays, and
the effect is additive. One pass may be OK, but a few passes are not.
The answer is to process as much film as you can
“over there” before you come back. Of course, if you are holidaying in
Iran or Nigeria, I’d take the risk and bring the film back here for
processing.
Finally, think about how you are going to present the
results. It is always a huge temptation to bring out folders of photos as
soon as you get back. Wait! Sort them, keep the good ones, throw away the
bad. Show only your best shots and everyone will be amazed at your superb
photographs! Like Ernie’s friends!
Modern Medicine: P’d Off! - Preferable to being P’d on!
by Dr. Iain Corness, Consultant
My stimulus for this week’s article was
being pee’d upon by my young daughter while she sat peacefully (peesfully?) on
my knee. I am assured by her mother that this is a show of affection, but I
think I am being led by the nose up the proverbial garden path. At two months of
age, you just pee any time you want to - something like the local song taew
drivers!
There are many euphemisms for urinating (to use the
‘correct’ term). One I really do love is having a twinkle! It is amazing
just how many words are used by the average Anglo-Saxon family to describe one
of nature’s most basic and instinctual acts. From pee-pee, to passing water,
to number ones, to doing a “wet” - the list is endless. When asking a young
child about bladder habits I always speak to the parents first saying “What do
you call it in your house?”
And that roundabout beginning leads us to Urinary Tract
Infections, otherwise known as UTI’s in the med bizz. This is a condition
which can result in Cystitis, another very common in women. This is an
inflammation of the bladder and the body responds by sending you messages that
you have to quickly go to pass water, but all you get is a burning and scalding
teaspoonful and half an hour later it is a repeat performance.
It is said, and probably with some correctness too, that the
female short Urethra (the tube from the bladder to the outside world) is the
reason for this, while the male, with the longer Urethra does not have the
problem. One wonders if this was the start of the so-called “penis envy”?
The usual symptoms of a UTI are burning and scalding and
frequency (going to the toilet many times a day) and sometimes there is blood in
the urine too. If the infection is coming from the kidneys there can also be
pain in the loin region and the patient can be quite ill, with fevers and rigors
(uncontrollable shaking).
Diagnosis begins with examination of the urine, and the best
way is a Mid-Stream Urine (which we call an MSU because we love acronyms). If
you are going to see the doctor you can save time by taking along your MSU. The
MSU is obtained by passing water into the toilet, then passing some into a clean
bottle and then finishing in the toilet bowl again.
The doctor may elect to have the urine examined and cultured
for the micro-organism involved, or it may be just a simple dipstick test, with
the doctor quite sure of the diagnosis.
The end result is generally some antibiotics and something to
make the urine more alkaline if there is a lot of pain, but one of the
cornerstones of all UTI treatments is for the patient to drink lots and lots and
lots and lots of water. Really flush the urinary tract through, taking the bugs
away and out of the body.
Of course, if the UTI’s are recurrent, then it will be
necessary to investigate further and see why this is so. Sometimes the Ureters
(the tubes from the kidneys to the bladder) are malformed, or there can be
stones in the kidney which may predispose the patient towards this condition.
Generally we would begin with an ultrasound and work on through from there - but
the majority of UTI’s are a simple infection.
 Heart to Heart with Hillary
Dear Hillary,
Your column is not only for foreigners, is it? I have a few words to say. I have
read your column and learnt that many foreign guys complain that they get ripped
off by Thai ladies. It seems that many of them think all of us are gold diggers.
They complain they are being betrayed and bla bla bla. I personally think that
they should look back at the way they treat the ladies before they complain they
are being ripped off. Some start their evening with drinking and spending time
at the pubs and the bars while their ladies are at home awaiting for their
return. Many end up at short time hotels with service girls. I actually was with
a foreign guy. He drank every day and usually take bar ladies home while I was
away. I’d never asked for even a single baht from him and I didn’t rip him
off either. There are always white and black side when you are looking at a
certain thing. Therefore, please do not blame that all Thai ladies are after
farang’s wallets. There are a lot of us who are not seeking for a financial
supporter but a fine lifetime partner.
A Thai girl
Dear Thai Girl,
Strange as you might find this, but Hillary is actually on your side. As you
say, there is more than one way of looking at things, and it would definitely be
wrong to say that all Thai girls are only trying to get into their farang’s
wallets. But undoubtedly some are. And it is also wrong to say that all farang
men spend their days drinking and going to short time hotels. But undeniably
some do. The problems is getting the good girls to meet the good guys, and this
generally does not happen in the ‘bar’ scene. The other problem is that the
farang men out there usually take the ‘easy’ way to meet Thai women, and
again it is with working girls in the bars. Easy way and ‘easy’ women are
the recipes for disaster that ends up with the farang men writing to Hillary,
saying how they have been ripped off. Each week I try to tell these men that
they actually asked to be ripped off. The way to a good Thai girl’s heart is
just as difficult, if not more so, than in their own country. I certainly do not
blame you or the great majority of Thai ladies who are looking for that “fine
lifetime partner.” Best of luck, Thai Girl, but make sure you are in the right
places too!
Dear Hillary,
Why do you print all those letters from the poor saps who spend their afternoons
in the bars, their nights with the bar ladies and their mornings complaining
about their headaches and being used? They bring it all on themselves. They
don’t need sympathy, they need tickets back to where they came from. The rest
of us do not have these problems with the local ladies.
Fed Up Listening
Dear Fed Up Listening,
That’s the difference between you and me, my complaining Petal. You don’t
have to listen to them. I do. My function is to give advice to those who request
it. The letters are published to help others who are in the same kind of
predicament. You are very obviously not, so you should be thankful. And perhaps
a little bit more sympathetic towards your fellow man.
Dear Hillary,
There is a young woman who works in an office I go into regularly. She seemed a
nice enough sort of gal, so I asked her out to a party. Since then, I have taken
her out to the movies a couple of times, and that was OK too. This relationship
has been above board at all times (I am just getting over a divorce in my home
country and don’t need hassles right now). I thought this was OK, but now she
has been ringing me up to say that she cannot stay in her unit because they are
a) repairing it or b) painting it, or c) her friends have come for a visit and
the young baby will keep her awake or now the builders are in the street and she
cannot get any rest because they start work so early. Each time this means that
she comes over to my unit during the day and then sleeps over. So far I have put
her in the second bedroom, but I can see this will not last. What advice have
you got for me?
South Pattaya Sam
Dear South Pattaya Sam,
You are becoming “set up South Pattaya Sam”, my Petal, if you have not
cottoned on to this already. Or then again, I may be wrong and perhaps she just
has an interest in hydrodynamics and wants to inspect your plumbing. I am
concerned that your house is in need of repairs too, especially since you are
worried that your second bedroom “will not last”. Hillary suggests you get
the builders in and repair and redecorate it, and don’t answer your phone. You
have been warned!
Personal Directions: Discuss but don’t argue
by Christina Dodd
Developing interpersonal skills is
integral to improving professional skills and to becoming a capable manager
in today’s business world where managers are expected to be miracle
workers. Here are some thoughts by Shiv Khera on a most important part of
our behavior which can help equip anyone - not only managers - to create a
more harmonious and productive life both personally and professionally.
“There are some personalities that can be labeled as
argumentative and that shows in their behavior and relationships.
Arguments can be avoided and a lot of heartache prevented
by being a little careful. The best way to win an argument is to avoid it.
An argument is one thing you will never win. If you win, you lose; if you
lose, you lose. If you win an argument but lose a good job, customer, friend
or marriage, what kind of victory is it? Pretty empty. Arguments result from
inflated ego.
Arguing is like fighting a losing battle. Even if one
wins, the cost may be more than the victory is worth. Emotional battles
leave a residual ill will even if you win.
In an argument both people are trying to have the last
word. Argument is nothing more than a battle of egos and results in a
yelling contest. A bigger fool than the one who knows it all is the one who
argues with him.
Is it worth it?
The more arguments you win, the fewer friends you have.
Even if you are right, is it worth arguing? The answer is pretty obvious. A
big no. Does that mean one should never bring up a point? One should but
tactfully by saying something neutral such as “based on my information
...” If the other person is argumentative, even if you can prove him
wrong, is it worth it? I don’t think so. Do you make your point a second
time? I wouldn’t. Why? Because the argument is coming from a closed mind
trying to prove who is right rather than what is right.
For example, at a social get-together, especially after a
few drinks, someone may say authoritatively, “The current year’s export
figures are $50 billion.” You happen to know his information is incorrect
and the right figure is $45 billion. You read it in the paper that morning
or you heard it on the radio on the way to the get-together and you have a
bulletin in your car to substantiate it. Do you make your point? Yes, by
saying, “My information is that the export figure is $45 billion.” The
other person reacts, “You don’t know what you are talking about. I know
exactly what it is and it is $50 billion.”
At this point you have several choices:
1. Make your point again and start an argument.
2. Run and bring the bulletin from your car and make sure
you prove him wrong.
3. Avoid it.
4. Discuss but don’t argue.
The right choice is number 3 only. If one wants to
accomplish great things in life one has to practice maturity. Maturity means
not getting entangled in unimportant things and petty arguments.
What is the difference between an argument and a
discussion?
* An argument throws heat; a discussion throws light.
* One stems from ego and a closed mind whereas the other
comes from an open mind.
* An argument is an exchange of ignorance whereas a
discussion is an exchange of knowledge.
* An argument is an expression of temper whereas a
discussion is an expression of logic.
* An argument tries to prove who is right whereas a
discussion tries to prove what is right.
It is not worthwhile to reason with a prejudiced mind; it
wasn’t reasoned into him so you can’t reason it out. A narrow mind and a
big mouth usually lead to interesting but pointless arguments.
In order to discuss, let the other person state his side
of the case without interruption. Let him blow steam. Don’t try to prove
him wrong on every point. Never let him drag you to his level. Treat him
with courtesy and respect; that will confuse him.
Regardless of the cause, the best way to diffuse the
situation is to:
1. Give a patient hearing.
2. Not fight back or retaliate - that will confuse the
other person because he was expecting a fight.
3. Not expect an apology. For some people apologizing is
difficult even if they have made a mistake.
4. Not make issues out of petty matters.
Discussion entails not only saying the right thing at the
right time but also leaving unsaid what need not be said. Children should be
taught the art of speaking up but not talking back. As adults we should
learn the art of disagreeing without being disagreeable.
The way a person handles an argument reflects their
upbringing.
Steps to opening a discussion:
1. Be open-minded.
2. Don’t be dragged into an argument.
3. Don’t interrupt.
4. Listen to the other person’s point of view before
giving your own.
5. Ask questions to clarify. That will also set the other
person thinking.
6. Don’t exaggerate.
7. Be enthusiastic in convincing, not forceful.
8. Be willing to yield.
9. Be flexible on petty things but not on principles.
10. Don’t make it a prestige issue.
11. Give your opponent a graceful way to withdraw without
hurting his pride. Rejection can be hurtful.
12. Use soft words but hard arguments rather than hard
words and soft arguments.
It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in an
argument. His strong and bitter words only indicate a weak cause.
During a discussion it may be a good idea to use phrases
such as:
It appears to me ...
I may be wrong ...
Another way to diffuse arguments is by showing ignorance
and asking questions such as:
Why do you feel that way?
Can you explain a little?
Can you be more specific?
If nothing works, it may be worthwhile to politely,
gently, and with courtesy, agree to disagree.”
If you would like to write to me or contact me further
about any of our personal or business skills programs, then please email me
at Chris tina.dodd@ asiatrainin gas sociates.com I’d be very happy to hear
from you.
Until next time, have a tremendous week!
Social Commentary by Khai Khem:
Peace, tranquility
(and sane traffic)
It’s a multi-tasking world. And when
you’re a journalist working on a computer, you’ve literally got your
back turned to it. Then you swivel around to take a peek and find that all
Hell has broken lose in more ways than even a writer can imagine. I’ll
save the gory details for another column. I digress. I finally came out of
my fog in time for another public holiday, but unlike this year’s
ball-buster Songkran, VisakaPucha was a thousand blessings rolled up into
a day of peace and harmony – for me, anyway. And I hope for readers as
well. It was one of the most human and friendly days in Pattaya that I can
remember. And I’ve got a loooong memory.
Many people work behind the scenes on public holidays,
everywhere in the world. In reality, life doesn’t stop for a red-letter
day on a national calendar. Public holidays can be a real pain in the neck
for those who have agendas; regardless. Thailand has a lot of them, and
sometimes we get stressed out and they get in our way, so to speak.
In our determination to get the job done, we lose track
of the real meaning of each country’s special days of celebration and
joy. I know I did. That’s why I dropped everything on VisakaPucha and
took that day for myself and used it anyway I wanted. Yummy. Better than a
hotel buffet! (And it’s not as fattening.)
Thai people in our region were so unanimously
“Thai” for that that single day, it made me realize how close they
have come to losing their ancient values without actually doing so. I
spent most of the day alone in my car watching Thais be Thais. Our whole
region was so charming, civilized and well-behaved on the roads, in the
sois and on the highways I was completely under their spell. Ordinary Thai
people in every walk of life took control and behaved with such educated
common sense, wise good will, and automatic cooperation that even old
cynical Khai Khem was aghast!
Even huge shopping centers were less hectic, although
they were crowed and the employees were very busy. The teamwork was so
apparent I could almost taste it. By the way, in the workplace, wherever
you may find it, there is a new generation out there in the trenches. An
older, wiser Thai is standing behind them who may not be tri-lingual, and
is perhaps out of sight, but make no mistake; the young Thais we are
dealing with now are this country’s future and are a New Breed.
And if any tourists missed this special Thai holiday,
I’d advise them not to miss another. On June 2, Pattaya and the whole of
Chonburi Province showed what it was truly made of. The Thai way! Of
course the bars and shops couldn’t sell booze which may have accounted
for much of the incredible order I witnessed when I drove around the city,
but to give credit, the atmosphere in Fun City was reverent but still
jolly.
If my column is a little short this week and not as
turgid, I know you will understand; I’m still in a peaceful trance
steeped in harmony, curtsey, reverence and gratitude to this great
society. And thankful to the people in this community who worked so hard
to make that day possible. Buddha Bless.
I came back home to work, but lost myself in a
spectacular sunset and paused. What a joy it is to celebrate this holy day
in Thailand. “Take time to be kind” – as the Hard Rock would say! If
we rise above all the racket going on around us, there are many voices
calling out the directions to a better life – trust me - we just need to
tune in.
As the sun set in yellows, pinks, reds and blues, I
remembered some old wisdom that comes down through generations of time and
experience, and the concepts can be translated in every human language.
The ‘work ethic’ in the West came to mind since I write in English.
“Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”
China says, “To get rich is glorious.” “A stitch in time saves 9,”
refers to trend-spotting and those who spot trouble coming and prevent
small problems from becoming unmanageable through quick response, not
procrastination! Oh heck-readers get the point, right?
VisakaPucha may have been only ‘The pause that
refreshes’ or the lull before the storm. While I’m in the jingoism
mode, I may as well throw out the traditional signs above small and
medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the USA that read, “In God we trust;
all others must pay cash.” During troubled times, mainly economic,
social or political, up-country Thai villagers say, “When elephants
fight (the rich and powerful) the ants get trampled.” They also say
it’s bad luck to whistle in the kitchen, but who cooks in this city of
fab’ restaurants in the land of the “Kitchen of the World”?
My mental wanderings came to an end with the approaching evening and I
joined my neighbors in a walk to the next-door wat. Ah, how good it is to
clear one’s mind and not think. Ooops! Just thought of another phrase
that is soooo Thai; equivalent to “Don’t think too much.” Ooommmmm.
PC Blues - News and Views: Lindows bites the bullet
by Monitor
I received news recently that Micro$oft has successfully
suppressed the use of the name ‘Lindows’. Lindows is, or was, the
product of Lindows, Inc. Having failed to suppress it in USA, Micro$oft
began lawsuits in many overseas countries, thus overwhelming the finances
of Lindows Inc to defend themselves. Lindows Inc capitulated (except in
USA) and changed the name of their product.
After some dithering about the name ‘Lindos’ (which
happens to be the tourist capital of the Greek island, Rhodes), they have
settled on a new name of Linspire (and a website to match -
www.linspire.com). Their CEO, Michael, explains this as being a compound on
‘Lin’ for linux, and ‘spire’, which is the pointy bit on top of a
church in England.
For a short period, the product, with its new name, can
be downloaded for free: it is over 500 Mb, so it will take about a day over
a 56kb modem connection.
What is Lindows/Linspire?
Lindows/Linspire is a replacement for Windows, but has
at its core the Linux operating system. This is inherently more reliable
than Windows, and has the support of a vast number of Open Source
programmers. Linux is under continuous development, like the Porsche 911
was.
Of course, Windows is also under continuous development,
but their source code is secret: Linux source code is publicly available,
and open to public scrutiny, like a scientific theory. It seems that Linux
had a better start position, and that open source development improves
things better and faster than closed internal development. Small wonder,
then, that Micro$oft is trying to make things awkward.
What is Linux?
Very loosely speaking, Linux is a freeware version of
UNIX. Its roots lie in a kernel (www.kernel.org) developed by Linus
Torvald, together with the toolset developed through the Free Software
Foundation of Richard Stallman (www.gnu.org).
UNIX (encyclopedia.thefree dictionary.com/AT&T%20
Unix) in turn is a multi-user operating system developed by AT&T Bell
Labs in 1969 and the early years of the 70’s. It was developed for
in-house use, but was so successful that they licensed it publicly. It was
taught in universities, along with the contemporaneous programming
language, C. A whole generation of programmers left university demanding
nothing else. (This was before PC’s became available.)
Unfortunately for the impecunious programmers, and their
employers, AT&T charged a lot for their licence. All commercial
companies jealously guarded their source code, as Micro$oft does today.
Richard Stallman rebelled against this, and organised the production of
openly available source code, and software tools which would replace the
‘licensed’ toolset of UNIX.
Linus Torvald provided the finishing touch to this - a
kernel to replace the UNIX kernel. The kernel is the heart of the Linux
operating system.
What do you get for your money?
If you buy Windows (from Micro$oft) you get a desktop
operating system and a few simple office tools and toys.
If you get Linux, you get the kernel (the operating
system is called the kernel) and a lot of tools (and toys): office tools
and development tools: databases, compilers, interpreters and debuggers. In
fact, you get everything you need to rebuild everything you have got, to
adapt it to your specific needs, and to upgrade it whenever necessary.
If you are buying from Micro$oft, everything costs
extra. To get a real word processor you have to pay. To get a real database
you have to pay. To get a real compiler you have to pay.
But, Windows is for the office: secretaries can use it,
and can explain what they are doing to their managers.
Linux is for technicians, who want to do something
special.
Linux is ‘free’ - but there is a delivery charge
You can download all the components you want over the
Internet, and all it will cost you is your connect time, which may be
considerable. (See my note above on the download time for Linspire).
Alternatively, you can buy a ‘distribution’ for a moderate fee, and
there are lots of distributions. Some of the companies who produce these
distributions have evolved into substantial businesses, and supply major
commercial packages, with support contracts.
Linspire is such a ‘distribution’, and normally
costs about US$60.
There are so many distributions that there is a website
devoted to the subject, at www.distrowatch.com
Mandrake, I see, is top of the list, closely followed by Fedora. Now,
‘mandrake’ is a root, and a root is the start of a linux file system. A
Fedora is a style of hat, and Red Hat (lying 7th) is one of the most well
known distributions. Red Hat is falling probably because it has gone
heavily commercial. SuSE (a German company, also gone commercial) is lying
6th. I used to use this because it stuck most closely to the standards. You
can buy distributions for as little as US$1.99. Admire the prices at
www.linuxcd.org - they ship worldwide.
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