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Just like Metallica's bull$#&T war against piracy Microsoft benefits from and was built on the concept of _almost every computer_ running it's software. The company might 'claim' to have a serious problem with piracy, hell they might fund major sting operations and propaganda to dissuade piracy but what they really want to dissuade is people not buying their software when they can afford to.

What they won't admit, and what would crush them completely is if they actually got rid of every pirated copy of microsoft windows in the world. If the entire country of romania never ran microsoft products, you would have an entire country of linux fans contributing to linux's evolution and coding software exclusively (or mostly) for linux platforms.

What kind of jolt would that be to Microsoft? A major one I think. But romania would have lost out as well (numbers wise), since Linux has traditionally been more complicated for new-users to use and receive support on than windows.

Metallica can afford to sue and chase-down and arrest their own fans, because after they used bootlegging of tapes to become world-famous while fans footed the bill of reproduction and distribution -- they have enough money to re-write history and say that napster is bad. How many people buy music they've never heard before? You can't sell CD's to the world by just showing off a picture of some faggy guys in tights, just like Microsoft can't possibly sell Windows to 90% of the people on earth using personal computers.

But trust me, they want to be on 90% of the computers.

---
metallicas new album?

http://www.divisiontwo.com/articles/MacMini2.html " My Office 2003 CD would not install, despite claims I had heard from Mac fanboys that OS X is compatible with Office. Heck, the Internet Explorer icon isn't even out on the taskbar by default, it's buried in the c:\applications folder" "but Apple includes a program called Mail, which is like a stripped-down email client that can't execute scripts or open attachments without user intervention. " mac users are clearly smarter then windows users. (I am not sure if the reviewer serious or not)

http://www.divisiontwo.com/articles/barbieOS.htm

I think this is why in some settings, Linux is already working fine on the desktop. An IT department that really understands what its users need can set up such a default install, tweaking where required for individuals.

For the average user, there are too many options. (link is to a satirical article on building a linux box for grandma)

Are you sure it's a satire site? Did you read the building a linux system for grandma article? Seems pretty close to somethings I've read time and again on slashdot.

I'm pretty sure that that site is completely satirical in nature.

Check out the other articles.

On the Mac Mini: So is the mini a maxi value? For me, clearly, no. When I consider that a good deal of my time is spent running applications like Disk Defragmenter, Scandisk, Norton AV, Windows Update and Ad-Aware--none of which are available for the Mac platform--it doesn't make sense for me to "switch" to a Mac at this time. But will Apple's famous marketing team be able to sell the the emperor an invisible computer anyway and turn the mini into a maxi hit? That's the question that remains to be answered.

On the threat of small vehicles: Let me start by saying that something has been bothering me on the freeway lately. Actually, it's been bothering me on the city streets, too. And in the parking lot. These things seem to be multiplying like rats, appearing everywhere, getting in the way, making driving difficult. I'm talking specifically about that modern urban blight professional mothers like myself have to deal with every single day -- small cars taking up the road.

On Bush's last budget cuts: Enter President Bush's bold new budget proposal, which will cut the administration's staggering budget deficit from $427 billion for the current fiscal year down to a much more reasonable $390 billion for 2006. "We're asking for Congress to cut and/or reduce 150 different programs," Bush told reporters yesterday. Many of the programs that will face cuts are useless to average Americans, such as grants for vocational education and community development, or obsolete relics of the 1800s, like the subsidies paid to American farmers. Seriously, who farms anymore? Last time I checked, we're in 2005, and people get their food from the grocery store. If there still were such a thing as American farmers, I highly doubt all those heartland states would have voted Republican.

I'm pretty sure that that site is completely satirical in nature.

Check out the other articles.

On the Mac Mini: So is the mini a maxi value? For me, clearly, no. When I consider that a good deal of my time is spent running applications like Disk Defragmenter, Scandisk, Norton AV, Windows Update and Ad-Aware--none of which are available for the Mac platform--it doesn't make sense for me to "switch" to a Mac at this time. But will Apple's famous marketing team be able to sell the the emperor an invisible computer anyway and turn the mini into a maxi hit? That's the question that remains to be answered.

On the threat of small vehicles: Let me start by saying that something has been bothering me on the freeway lately. Actually, it's been bothering me on the city streets, too. And in the parking lot. These things seem to be multiplying like rats, appearing everywhere, getting in the way, making driving difficult. I'm talking specifically about that modern urban blight professional mothers like myself have to deal with every single day -- small cars taking up the road.

On Bush's last budget cuts: Enter President Bush's bold new budget proposal, which will cut the administration's staggering budget deficit from $427 billion for the current fiscal year down to a much more reasonable $390 billion for 2006. "We're asking for Congress to cut and/or reduce 150 different programs," Bush told reporters yesterday. Many of the programs that will face cuts are useless to average Americans, such as grants for vocational education and community development, or obsolete relics of the 1800s, like the subsidies paid to American farmers. Seriously, who farms anymore? Last time I checked, we're in 2005, and people get their food from the grocery store. If there still were such a thing as American farmers, I highly doubt all those heartland states would have voted Republican.

I'm pretty sure that that site is completely satirical in nature.

Check out the other articles.

On the Mac Mini: So is the mini a maxi value? For me, clearly, no. When I consider that a good deal of my time is spent running applications like Disk Defragmenter, Scandisk, Norton AV, Windows Update and Ad-Aware--none of which are available for the Mac platform--it doesn't make sense for me to "switch" to a Mac at this time. But will Apple's famous marketing team be able to sell the the emperor an invisible computer anyway and turn the mini into a maxi hit? That's the question that remains to be answered.

On the threat of small vehicles: Let me start by saying that something has been bothering me on the freeway lately. Actually, it's been bothering me on the city streets, too. And in the parking lot. These things seem to be multiplying like rats, appearing everywhere, getting in the way, making driving difficult. I'm talking specifically about that modern urban blight professional mothers like myself have to deal with every single day -- small cars taking up the road.

On Bush's last budget cuts: Enter President Bush's bold new budget proposal, which will cut the administration's staggering budget deficit from $427 billion for the current fiscal year down to a much more reasonable $390 billion for 2006. "We're asking for Congress to cut and/or reduce 150 different programs," Bush told reporters yesterday. Many of the programs that will face cuts are useless to average Americans, such as grants for vocational education and community development, or obsolete relics of the 1800s, like the subsidies paid to American farmers. Seriously, who farms anymore? Last time I checked, we're in 2005, and people get their food from the grocery store. If there still were such a thing as American farmers, I highly doubt all those heartland states would have voted Republican.

If you're not driving the biggest car possible with the lowest MPG possible, you're unpatriotic and disrespectful of those who have given their lives that we may be free to pursue our gas guzzling lifestyle.

Maureen Jambor, executive management consultant and part time mom, put it much more eloquently than I ever could.

Suffice it to say, if you care about global warming, the terrorists have already won.

Check out this Windows Utility Shootout on Division Two. These are the "must have" apps for increasing productivity and extending the functionality of Windows.

Check out this Windows Utility Shootout on Division Two. These are the "must have" apps for increasing productivity and extending the functionality of Windows.

you guys did know about this right? http://www.divisiontwo.com/articles/barbieOS.htm

Ummm, that's the (unfunny and ancient) article linked to in this (unfunny and banal) story.

you guys did know about this right? http://www.divisiontwo.com/articles/barbieOS.htm

You might like this comparison

Jorge, MCSE! I didn't know you posted on /., too! You da man!

The next big thing from Microsoft

That sounds almost like the G5 Powerbook. [Drool!]

I can't say about the demographic you're referring to, but for the younger girls...
One would hope, however, that Mattel puts a bit more thought into it then they did the Barbie/HotWheels PCs a few years back.

there needs to be a new distribution of Linux called Pink Linux or something "like" that
like this ? http://www.divisiontwo.com/articles/barbieOS.htm

Apple is suing their fan base? Wow, that's news to me! Could you give me some details on this? I've been using Macs since the early 90s; should I keep my eyes open for a process server?

Or were you referring to Apple suing Fiona Apple for trademark infringement?

the only thing on the road isnt huge SUVs, and i dont know anyone who says that

I guess that depends where you live. In Los Angeles it's an extremely high percentage, probably due to the trendy nature and car culture here (you are what you drive). In L.A., this humorous stereotype is not far from the truth.

tell me, what taskes are significantly easier in Windows?

Maybe you should read this article before asking that question:

Mac Mini: The Emperor's New Computer

I know you qualifiedwith the parenthetical "excluding platform specific aps", but to get an idea of some of what us Mac users are missing, read the author's article on must-have Windows utilities: Windows Utility Shootout:Power-Up Your Windows

To get an even better idea where this reviewer is coming from, I suggest you also read Windows vs. Linux on the Server and the Desktop

Hope this helps.*

*Helps you laugh.

tell me, what taskes are significantly easier in Windows?

Maybe you should read this article before asking that question:

Mac Mini: The Emperor's New Computer

I know you qualifiedwith the parenthetical "excluding platform specific aps", but to get an idea of some of what us Mac users are missing, read the author's article on must-have Windows utilities: Windows Utility Shootout:Power-Up Your Windows

To get an even better idea where this reviewer is coming from, I suggest you also read Windows vs. Linux on the Server and the Desktop

Hope this helps.*

*Helps you laugh.

tell me, what taskes are significantly easier in Windows?

Maybe you should read this article before asking that question:

Mac Mini: The Emperor's New Computer

I know you qualifiedwith the parenthetical "excluding platform specific aps", but to get an idea of some of what us Mac users are missing, read the author's article on must-have Windows utilities: Windows Utility Shootout:Power-Up Your Windows

To get an even better idea where this reviewer is coming from, I suggest you also read Windows vs. Linux on the Server and the Desktop

Hope this helps.*

*Helps you laugh.

I save a lot of time thanks to Windows XP, which brings me to another area where Linux is lacking. As I am sitting here writing this column, my computer is busily defragging my hard drive, running my virus scanner, and I'm being shown a list of all the latest MS security patches that are being remotely installed on my machine today. Why doesn't Linux come with any defragmenting tools or virus scanners or Active Backdoor Update like you get with Windows? These are all must-have features for me. Linux is seriously lacking in Internet utilities as well. No way would I run a Linux operating system if it means I can't connect to America Online.

I save a lot of time thanks to Windows XP, which brings me to another area where Linux is lacking. As I am sitting here writing this column, my computer is busily defragging my hard drive, running my virus scanner, and I'm being shown a list of all the latest MS security patches that are being remotely installed on my machine today. Why doesn't Linux come with any defragmenting tools or virus scanners or Active Backdoor Update like you get with Windows? These are all must-have features for me. Linux is seriously lacking in Internet utilities as well. No way would I run a Linux operating system if it means I can't connect to America Online.

Don't be so sure that "the family geek" will still recommend another windows machine for family and friends. The last few years have seen such family geeks (once banished to a room under the stairs or up in the attic to save a family embarrassment) much over worked, removing spyware, viruses, etc. Some geeks will get grandma on linux, while others, remembering wistfully the days when they had the time to play a game or lovingly compile a distro, will recommend an Apple computer.

At least it's not this

I'm not a Mac fan but the amount of idiocy in that "article" pissed me off to the point I emailed the author and his bosses about it with a rebuttal.

I bet that was written by Jorge Lopez from Division Two
hehe!

Just ask Jorge Lopez ;)

If you thought that was funny - take a look at his next article http://www.divisiontwo.com/articles/utilityshootou t.html/ Where he recommends installing "productivity" software such as Hotbar and CoolWebSearch! 5 stars!

This wonderful piece of journalism exposes the Mac Mini for what it really is!!!! Apple's Safari browser can't even render MSN correctly, half the time!!!!!

RIAA Piracy Dragnet Snares Popular Female Musician, Deceased Man, and Three-Legged Kitten

Since Slashdot rejected my submission, enjoy: http://www.divisiontwo.com/articles/MacMini2.html

Check out this hilarious Mac mini "review". It's tongue and cheek, written from the prospective of an MCSE. I couldn't stop laughing.

That's why Mattel is introducing BarbieOS 0.99

So sending money directly to the artist will in many cases not actually be paying the "owner" of the song.

If the music labels want to start whining about the non-musician "owners" not getting paid, I think they won't get much sympathy. We can all see the benefit of paying artists to continue producing art, but paying parasites like Hillary Rossen [2] isn't somehting that most people think is important. She wants money, let her start singing. Otherwise, screw her and every member of the RIAA, they've screwed us often enough.

.

[1] Just as an example. I'd support more punk bands if more of 'em had bagpipes...

[2] The president of the RIAA, who wrote a fascinating piece about how the poor RIAA isn't making much money off $16 CD's. Read it here.

i'm sure it can't hold a candle to BarbieOS !!

Windows vs. Linux on the Server and the Desktop :->

BSA raids.... Reminds me of a fake news report I saw a while ago about it. "One Child Dead, 3 Wounded in Daycare Piracy Raid" Both funny, and very, very sad because it's not far from fact.

A felon losing their right to vote is hardly a deterrent considering that only 17.7% voted in the last primary. (Also, there's also a movement to allow them to get their voting privileges back.)

The real deterrent is the stigma that comes along with the label. Every job application requests your criminal record and most employers use any felon as a blanket rejection regardless of whether they're a murderer or a file swapper. I'd go as far to say that this punishment could be considered cruel and unusual (IANAL) given that:
a) there has yet to be shown an effective method for identifying the files
b) most thefts are misdemeanors that carry only a small fine
c) they're teenagers anyway that will end up in juvie and wiped clean at 18... and very pissed off.

It's not fair to put the same barriers for a murderer as a 13 yo kid.(go ahead and pick me apart, I feel good enough just venting)

We've got a third round of DMCA lawsuits on our hands. The RIAA is using the DMCA to extort some more money for EMI and Sony...and this time they sued Jewel by mistake! RIAA Sues Jewel

We've got a third round of DMCA lawsuits on our hands. The RIAA is using the DMCA to extort some more money for EMI and Sony...and this time they sued Jewel by mistake! RIAA Sues Jewel

Yesterday Mattel announced a special version of Linux would be powering its upcoming line of Barbie B-Book laptops for little girls, and also said it would indemnify all of its customers against possible legal action from SCO.