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It's absolutely a better interface, but because it's from Microsoft, you're going to see a lot of anecdotes and trolling about how horrible it is, many of them from users on desktops that look like this. Tech nerds tend to not handle change well.

My favorite part about this new ribbon is that Copy and Paste are prominently placed in the upper left. Copy-and-paste is something non-technical users have trouble with for some reason, and telling them to right-click is a recipe for confusion, so I'm happy to see the commands so visible there.

Now these days you often get studies claiming that proprietary software is less buggy than free software, but it misses some very significant points, the ones we used to respond to MozillaQuest articles still apply very much to today:

• Free software projects very often have an open bug database so it's easy to see how many open bugs are in a project, most proprietary software doesn't have an open bug database so you have to trust the manufacturer and your own testing
• Not all bugs in open databases are really bugs. Some are requests for enhancement, some are duplicates and some are rants
• In some cases one persons bug may be another persons feature (e.g. if an application does something differently to the platform guidelines, some people may like this alternative behaviour, others will consider it a bug).
• The profit motive - companies have a lot to lose by letting people know about bugs, volunteer led projects tend to want people to know about bugs in the hope someone will help fix them (this is getting a bit blurred now that more and more organisations are making money off free software but the fact still is with proprietary software you can't fix the bugs so they gain nothing by telling you about them)

I remember a time when Linux and Mozilla on an older system would breathe new life into it.

Ignoring your point about Linux distributions and concentrating solely on Mozilla, I would like to say, 'bullshit'. IIRC, it ran horribly when I first tried it out, and look! Now that I've googled for reviews of Netscape 6 and Mozilla 1.0, my memory is confirmed!

annoyingly slow and a resource hog

it is noticeably sluggish unless you are using a fairly fast computer with ample RAM

So maybe you just used to buy new hardware more often?

Don't forget the Patriot Act. The only thing that has kept abuses of the Patriot Act down is that it all is not permenant. Watch out if the Senate votes to make it permanant today or tomorrow. Renewing the Un-Patriot Act is the wrong thing to do! the Patriot Act is Bad for Internet Users -- Kill it! "the Patriot Act affects anyone using the Internet and everyone reading this Web page now. That means the Patriot Act affects you! And that means the Patriot Act is bad for you if you value your privacy, your freedom, or your liberty!"

Let's get the Maglev show out of the barn and on the road. Maglev and other "[e]lectromagnetic suspension for trains is an important technology because it allows very high-speed trains. High-speed trains make railroad travel a very competitive alternate to road and air travel." From, "Solutions for the Energy Crises in this Union - Part 1: Alternate Energy and Conservation". This article also discusses the importance of making all trains electric-powered and generating the electricity for the trains from water, wind, and solar power.

Slightly off topic, but the U.S. Senate is planning on renewing all the bad sections of the Patriot Act this coming Tuesday. That's not a very good thing for Americans, especially techno-Americans. For more about why the Patriot act is not good and what you can do to stop it, this is a good article

http://www.mozillaquest.com/Linux03/ScoSource-02_S tory03.html

"C++ is one of the properties that SCO owns today and we frequently are approached by customers who wish to license C++ from us and we do charge for that. Those arrangements are done on a case-by-case basis with each customer and are not disclosed publicly. C++ licensing is currently part of SCO's SCOsource licensing program."

Thanks
Blake Stowell

Gaël Duval Tells Why Mandrake Linux Is Better Than MS Windows

I can't think really why you'd want to be running KDE on Mac OS X when you already have such a neat (IMHO) interface.


This should help Mac to better compete with Windows. And it helps to make the Mac more and more an open source platform. This makes so many great KDE applications now available for Mac. Safari, the Mac web browser uses DHTML, the rendering engine from KDE Konqueror. Now Mac users can use the actual Konqueror web browser itself. Konqueror is the best web browser available. Another great KDE application is KMail. Awesome!

I can't think really why you'd want to be running KDE on Mac OS X when you already have such a neat (IMHO) interface.


This should help Mac to better compete with Windows. And it helps to make the Mac more and more an open source platform. This makes so many great KDE applications now available for Mac. Safari, the Mac web browser uses DHTML, the rendering engine from KDE Konqueror. Now Mac users can use the actual Konqueror web browser itself. Konqueror is the best web browser available. Another great KDE application is KMail. Awesome!

Why do people even bother to use IE or even Windows for that matter? The best web browser is Konqueror. It has lots of protection against the lamers. And why do people leave their shields down? "The bottom line is that on the computer technology and Internet side, if you want to protect yourself against identity theft you must not allow your Internet browser or your e-mail to accept cookies or to allow scripts to run. You must not allow HTML e-mail. Do not use Microsoft Outlook. Even better, switch from the MS Windows operating system to the GNU-Linux operating system." (Solutions for Identity Theft, Credit/Debit Card Theft, and Personal Information Theft)

"To learn why Linux is so much a better choice than is Microsoft Windows, please . . . Gaël Duval Tells Why Mandrake Linux Is Better Than MS Windows"

Why do people even bother to use IE or even Windows for that matter? The best web browser is Konqueror. It has lots of protection against the lamers. And why do people leave their shields down? "The bottom line is that on the computer technology and Internet side, if you want to protect yourself against identity theft you must not allow your Internet browser or your e-mail to accept cookies or to allow scripts to run. You must not allow HTML e-mail. Do not use Microsoft Outlook. Even better, switch from the MS Windows operating system to the GNU-Linux operating system." (Solutions for Identity Theft, Credit/Debit Card Theft, and Personal Information Theft)

"To learn why Linux is so much a better choice than is Microsoft Windows, please . . . Gaël Duval Tells Why Mandrake Linux Is Better Than MS Windows"

Why do people even bother to use IE or even Windows for that matter? The best web browser is Konqueror. It has lots of protection against the lamers. And why do people leave their shields down? "The bottom line is that on the computer technology and Internet side, if you want to protect yourself against identity theft you must not allow your Internet browser or your e-mail to accept cookies or to allow scripts to run. You must not allow HTML e-mail. Do not use Microsoft Outlook. Even better, switch from the MS Windows operating system to the GNU-Linux operating system." (Solutions for Identity Theft, Credit/Debit Card Theft, and Personal Information Theft)

"To learn why Linux is so much a better choice than is Microsoft Windows, please . . . Gaël Duval Tells Why Mandrake Linux Is Better Than MS Windows"

The 2.x Gimp UI is very nice. More importantly the functionality of Gimp is excellent. There is a nice set of articles about the Gimp that picks Gimp 2.x over Photshop for users that do not need the pre-press functions of Photoshop. In addition to Gimp's great UI and functionlity, Gimp is picked over Photoshop because it is open source and because it does not require product activation.

"Photoshop has a greedy and consumer-unfriendly end-user license agreement (EULA). GIMP is free and has a very consumer-friendly license known as the General Public License (GPL). Please see the Adobe Photoshop & GIMP Licensing Note in the right-hand sidebar further down on this page. Additionally, Photoshop has a horrible and very anti-consumer Product Activation requirement. GIMP has no such crap! Please see the Adobe Product Activation Note in the sidebar further down on this page."

The 2.x Gimp UI is very nice. More importantly the functionality of Gimp is excellent. There is a nice set of articles about the Gimp that picks Gimp 2.x over Photshop for users that do not need the pre-press functions of Photoshop. In addition to Gimp's great UI and functionlity, Gimp is picked over Photoshop because it is open source and because it does not require product activation.

"Photoshop has a greedy and consumer-unfriendly end-user license agreement (EULA). GIMP is free and has a very consumer-friendly license known as the General Public License (GPL). Please see the Adobe Photoshop & GIMP Licensing Note in the right-hand sidebar further down on this page. Additionally, Photoshop has a horrible and very anti-consumer Product Activation requirement. GIMP has no such crap! Please see the Adobe Product Activation Note in the sidebar further down on this page."

That is a shame that Linus was not able to trademark "Linux" in Australia. John "maddog" Hall made some interesting and informative comments recently about the Linux trademark issues and using the Linux name in general. Richard (rms) Stallman also has some interesting comments in the same article "The Many Faces of Linux".

Definitely an interesting article. Unfortunately most computer users seem to prefer to run with their shields down by allowing cookies and scripts, which basically are the "Default Permit" application configurations. Same thing for HTML e-mail. It's almost like smoking tobacco. People know it's going to kill them but it feels good so they just keep smoking away.

An article, Solutions for Identity Theft, Credit/Debit Card Theft, and Personal Information Theft Part I: Overview, takes what amounts to a "Default Deny" position for promoting computer security. It's pretty much a shields up approach. "If you want to protect yourself against identity theft you must not allow your Internet browser or your e-mail to accept cookies or to allow scripts to run. You must not allow HTML e-mail. Do not use Microsoft Outlook. Even better, switch from the MS Windows operating system to the GNU-Linux operating system."

There is a story " Save New Orleans and the Gulf Coast " that lays out what should have been done already and what must be done now. It was written several days ago. Some of what that story calls for is now finally being done. But federal govenment aid still is far behind where it ought to be. People are dying and suffereing. call and/or e-mail your U. S. Congressperson and Senators and the White House too. Let them know you are angry at the Federal government's failure to adequately, timely, and effectively respond to the New Orleans and Gulf coast tragedy. And let them know you are tired of the excuses and the what-they-are-going-to-do stuff. We need results now, not promises. Let them know you want it done now! Thank you.

There are two Windows web browsers built on the IE dlls that have tabbed browsing, popup blocking, and all that sort of stuff. They have been around lots longer and have had those features before Mozilla let alone Firefox had them. They are NetCaptor and CrazyBrowser, which actually is a free clone of NetCaptor. Mozillaquest.com has more about Netcaptor and comparisons between Netcaptor and Mozilla. Netcaptor was the first browser to have tabbed browsing. "NetCaptor from Stilesoft is a pretty slick browser for Windows. It is a browser user-interface (UI) built around an embedded IE engine. NetCaptor has many neat features such as tabbed-browsing, a collapsible sidebar, ad-blocking, and more. Interestingly, NetCaptor had the tabbed-browsing and collapsible sidebar features before Mozilla and Netscape had them."

She never meaningfuly replied with details to an earlier request:

http://www.mozillaquest.com/Linux03/ScoSource-20-C odeReview_Story04.html

In case anyone else is curious, from this 2002 article:

The cost for LSB certification testing is $3,000 for a Linux distribution. Certification testing for applications is only $1,200. The Open Group conducts the certification testing.

Mandrake is still an EU company though, and doing rather well lately. Any reduction of the MS presence in Europe would be a very welcome development for them.

Reading that was more reminiscent of MozillaQuest in its heyday.

Cheers,
Richard

.. are we not boycotting ASUS at the moment for their anti open source behaviour?

http://www.mozillaquest.com/Linux04/Asus_Sucks_Sto ry-01.html

I know I am.

Posting anonymously now are you?

That document is IBM's legal statement that SCO does not own the copyrights for the code they contributed. That is not being disputed. SCO already admitted that, so it's not a shocking development either.

• Blake Stowell: No, none of the code in the Linux ABI modules contains SCO IP. This code is under the GPL and it re-implements publicly documented interfaces. We do not have an issue with the Linux ABI modules. The IP that we are licensing is all in the shared libraries - these libraries are needed by many OpenServer applications *in addition* to the Linux ABI.

MozillaQuest is running a related story here

In this interview from February, SCO themselves claimed the ABI code was GPLd:

MozillaQuest Magazine: Regarding binfmt_coff, abi-util, lcall7, abi-svr4, abi-sco; are any of these modules SCO IP?

Blake Stowell: No, none of the code in the Linux ABI modules contains SCO IP. This code is under the GPL and it re-implements publicly documented interfaces. We do not have an issue with the Linux ABI modules. The IP that we are licensing is all in the shared libraries - these libraries are needed by many OpenServer applications *in addition* to the Linux ABI.

This page says that "SCO Clears Linux Kernel but Implicates Red Hat and SuSE"... so why is it g oing after linux users in general?

Q:

At this time most Linux and/or GNU/Linux distributions include C++ compilers and editors. Is this something for which SCO currently charges? If so, just what are the current arrangements? If not, will C++ licensing and enforcement be added to SCO's licensing and enforcement program?

It looks like Blake Stowell was talking about the compiler, not the language. The compiler is called C++.

The quote is taken from a mozillaquest article and the context is quite relevant.

Good point.

If the prior 9 affirmative defenses that IBM has claimed fails they have this down as number 10. Quote: * Affirmative Defenses

Pages 17 and 18 of IBM's Answer and Counterclaim raise ten boilerplate affirmative defenses. However, of particular interest might be the Tenth Defense, set forth on page 18: SCO has failed, in whole or in part, to mitigate its alleged damages.

Copyright must come first, if IBM isn't the copyright holder than the fact they put GPL licence text on a file means nothing.

So you think that SCO really owns NUMA, JFS, RCU and AIX? That is the only way their argument makes any sense. I think you give too little credit to IBM's IP lawyers if you believe that. Not even SCO believes that.

Linux means two companies: Red Hat and SuSE, and nobody else. There will be no third distribution that will be supported by the large IT vendors.

Thats bullshit.

HP/Compaq bundles Mandrake.

And certifies systems for Redhat, SuSE, Mandrake, and TurboLinux.

If HP isn't considerd a "large IT vendor," who is?

From the following link to rootprompt

GNU/Linux might be free of SCO threats. SCO's Blake Stowell admits to MozillaQuest Magazine (mozillaquest.com) that SCO-Caldera does not own the copyrights to JFS (Journaling File System), RCU (Read, Copy, and Update), NUMA (Non-uniform Memory Access) software, and other IBM-developed AIX code that IBM contributed to the Linux kernel. That could make it very difficult for SCO-Caldera to pursue its threatened copyright infringement claims against GNU/Linux users who refuse to buy SCO UnixWare licenses in order to run the GNU/Linux operating system. The SCO v IBM lawsuit is about breach of contract and other tort claims. It is not about copyright infringement. Those issues remain in dispute.

The full story was discussed in MozillaQuest back in July.

The funny thing is when all this started there was supposedly no code in the kernel.

Then two weeks later the same guy claims that UnixWare source "is all over the place"

While these quotes probably wouldn't be too useful as evidence in court. It does well to show that these guys are throwing darts to choose how to go forth with this legal campaign.

There is a small, 22-KB gzip version of the entire IBM answer and counterclaimon mozillaquest.com in their IBM counterclaim story. The first part of IBM's filing with the answers is just boring boiler-plate. If you scroll right on down (about half-way) to the counterclaim stuff it is very informative. Download that file and read what IBM has to say in IBM's own words

http://mozillaquest.com/Linux03/ScoSource-24-Copyr ights_Story01.html
SCO does not own the code; IBM does. IBM supposedly has a contract with SCO that states it will not release that code to others. By releasing it they broke that contract with SCO but, SCO in no way acquires that code.

SCO suit against IBM in purely a contract dispute, see SCO Agrees IBM Owns AIX, JFS, NUMA, RCU Copyrights. this has nothing to do with the code they have been showing. Redhats suit and IBM counter suit hope to force them to prove that the code they have been showing their code. if it is truely SCO code they want to know what it is so that they can then remove it. So until now they would not have to show that code, just use it to spread FUD.

The thing is SCO has tried their best to lump everyghing together in to IP issues, to get people to buy their "we will not sue you license", and to pump up the stock price.

This lawyer interview explains a lot of legal questions. I like this one about how there is a side letter where AT&T says that IBM owns all the code that it wrote. Suck on that McBride! You can't steal code you did not write!!!! Is that lawyer Brent Hatch they talk to at the end of the article where they have that court docket thing any relation to Senator Orin Hatch?

Here is an interesting quote from an attorney quote from an attorney that could mean trouble for SCO. "If IBM owns patents that cover the functions served by the disputed code, then IBM is in the driver's seat. It is relatively easy to code around copyrighted software. Patent protection is much more of a challenge. In that case, SCO might have a hard time selling UNIX without a license from IBM."

Blake Stowell: C++ is one of the properties that SCO owns today and we frequently are approached by customers who wish to license C++ from us and we do charge for that.

http://mozillaquest.com/Linux03/ScoSource-02_Story 03.html#C++_Issues

This isn't a new story, but I missed it amongst all the Linux reaction..

AFAIK Linus has stated that most if not all of the code that SCO is B1tchin' about has be[en] rewritten in 2.6.

Linus has stated no such thing.

Linus has stated that the SCO suit is not about IP, either copyrights or patents, on the contrary, it is over a contract with IBM.

SCO has always claimed that there was a lot of Unix code in recent Linux kernels, hundreds of thousands of lines they claim.

That's simply not true. In earlier interviews, SCO said that "the tainted code is not in the Linux kernel that Linus [Torvalds] and others have helped develop. We're talking about what's on the periphery of the Linux kernel."

That is directly contradicted by their current (incredible) claim that there is hundreds of thousands of lines of their code throughout the kernel.

There is a point at which "evolving your strategy" blends into a liar or con man frantically changing their story.

This is exactly what IBM is saying.

Please read the article for IBM's denial of SCO's claims. Near the top of page three for this link:

Trink Guarino, Director of IBM Media Relations told MozillaQuest Magazine yesterday:

"SCO has not shown us any code contributed to Linux by IBM that violates SCO copyrights. SCO needs to openly show the Linux community any copyrighted Unix Code, which they claim is in Linux. SCO seems to be asking customers to pay for a license based on allegations, not facts."

"IBM owns the copyrights for the work we've done in AIX, JFS, RCU and the code that takes advantage of NUMA hardware. AIX is the fastest growing UNIX operating system in the industry, and we intend to continue and accelerate that growth."

MozillaQuest Magazine: C++ appears to be one of the properties that SCO acquired through Novell's acquisition of AT&T's UNIX Systems Laboratories and subsequent purchase of Novell's UNIX interests by SCO. At this time most Linux and/or GNU/Linux distributions include C++ compilers and editors. Is this something for which SCO currently charges? If so, just what are the current arrangements? If not, will C++ licensing and enforcement be added to SCO's licensing and enforcement program?

Blake Stowell: C++ is one of the properties that SCO owns today and we frequently are approached by customers who wish to license C++ from us and we do charge for that. Those arrangements are done on a case-by-case basis with each customer and are not disclosed publicly. C++ licensing is currently part of SCO's SCOsource licensing program.

MozillaQuest Magazine: How about GNU C++? Does GNU C++ use SCO IP? If so, could SCO license and/or charge for use of its IP in GNU C++?

Blake Stowell: I honestly don't know.

The CELF founders should read mozillaquest.com's interview with analyst Bill Claybrook before they even consider talking to McBride.When they read that interview, they will know that McBride is just blowing smoke.

The CELF founders should read mozillaquest.com's interview with analyst Bill Claybrook before they even consider talking to McBride.When they read that interview, they will know that McBride is just blowing smoke.

There is an interesting interviewwith Mandrake founder Gail Duval about Mandrake's finances and how Mandrake's business products are helping to get Mandrake back in a good financial position on Mozillaquest.com. It ran Friday.