Slashdot Mirror

This is how my usual Google trail goes, using a research session for my university course as an example.
First site:

http://www.boingboing.net/2005/05/19/cuba_switchin g_to_gn.html [boingboing.net]

Cuba switching to GNU/Linux
Cuba is switching away from Windows to GNU/Linux. I have to say that I was a little surprised when I was last in Cuba and saw many of the PCs running Windows.
Cuba's director of information technology, Roberto del Puerto, says that Cuba already has approximately 1500 computers running on Linux, and is working towards replacing Windows on all state owned computers.
Link [slashdot.org]
Which leads me to: http://linux.slashdot.org/ [slashdot.org]
Tony Montana writes "According to several [yahoo.com] news [cio-today.com] sites [theinquirer.net] the government of Cuba is dumping Windows in favour of Linux. Cuba's director of information technology, Roberto del Puerto, says that Cuba already has approximately 1500 computers running on Linux, and is working towards replacing Windows on all state owned computers."
And the only link out of those that's still up is http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=23300 [theinquirer.net], which contains only:
ONE OF the last bastions of revolutionary socialism, Cuba is to switch all its computers over to Linux to counter the influence of the Evil Capitalistic American lackey Microsoft.
According to the government daily, Juventud Rebelde, Roberto del Puerto, director of the state office of information technology, said his office was working on a legal framework that would allow the replacement of Windows through-out Cuba. Cuba already has 1,500 computers using Linux. Although what flavour is not clear.

More here [yahoo.com].

So all this plagiarised summarisation bullshit leads me only to http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050517/tc_afp/cubaco mputersitlinux [yahoo.com]
Sorry, the page you requested was not found.
And before I know it, 15 minutes are gone and all I've learned is that 1500 computers have been switched. Thank you plagiarism. And the beatiful irony of it all is that I'm contributing to it with this post!

First site:

http://www.boingboing.net/2005/05/19/cuba_switchin g_to_gn.html

Cuba switching to GNU/Linux
Cuba is switching away from Windows to GNU/Linux. I have to say that I was a little surprised when I was last in Cuba and saw many of the PCs running Windows.

Cuba's director of information technology, Roberto del Puerto, says that Cuba already has approximately 1500 computers running on Linux, and is working towards replacing Windows on all state owned computers.

Link

Tony Montana writes "According to several news sites the government of Cuba is dumping Windows in favour of Linux. Cuba's director of information technology, Roberto del Puerto, says that Cuba already has approximately 1500 computers running on Linux, and is working towards replacing Windows on all state owned computers."

ONE OF the last bastions of revolutionary socialism, Cuba is to switch all its computers over to Linux to counter the influence of the Evil Capitalistic American lackey Microsoft.

According to the government daily, Juventud Rebelde, Roberto del Puerto, director of the state office of information technology, said his office was working on a legal framework that would allow the replacement of Windows through-out Cuba. Cuba already has 1,500 computers using Linux. Although what flavour is not clear.

More here.

Sorry, the page you requested was not found.

And before I know it, 15 minutes are gone and all I've learned is that 1500 computers have been switched. Thank you plagiarism. And the beatiful irony of it all is that I'm contributing to it with this post!

First site:

http://www.boingboing.net/2005/05/19/cuba_switchin g_to_gn.html

Cuba switching to GNU/Linux
Cuba is switching away from Windows to GNU/Linux. I have to say that I was a little surprised when I was last in Cuba and saw many of the PCs running Windows.

Cuba's director of information technology, Roberto del Puerto, says that Cuba already has approximately 1500 computers running on Linux, and is working towards replacing Windows on all state owned computers.

Link

Tony Montana writes "According to several news sites the government of Cuba is dumping Windows in favour of Linux. Cuba's director of information technology, Roberto del Puerto, says that Cuba already has approximately 1500 computers running on Linux, and is working towards replacing Windows on all state owned computers."

ONE OF the last bastions of revolutionary socialism, Cuba is to switch all its computers over to Linux to counter the influence of the Evil Capitalistic American lackey Microsoft.

According to the government daily, Juventud Rebelde, Roberto del Puerto, director of the state office of information technology, said his office was working on a legal framework that would allow the replacement of Windows through-out Cuba. Cuba already has 1,500 computers using Linux. Although what flavour is not clear.

More here.

Sorry, the page you requested was not found.

And before I know it, 15 minutes are gone and all I've learned is that 1500 computers have been switched. Thank you plagiarism. And the beatiful irony of it all is that I'm contributing to it with this post!

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=17525

If you had googled "amd 4p server share" as I indicated in my post, you would have found that AMD already has 40% of that market share !

It still doesn't. But you do bring up a good point. The X360 version's of Far Cry is just taking adavantage of newer shaders that were "not" available when FCI was being developed for the PC. If you recall, FC was originally developed during the 9Xxx generation. FCI was released when the X8xx was still the best ATI had to offer for PCs. So it's kind of obvious that games being developed for newer GPUs, "should" look better and PCs already have access to newer and more powerful GPUs than the X360, if you catch my drift?

Take a look at Oblivion. It's a good comparsion, because the PC version is using all of the latest and greatest shaders, as is the X360. It's also a good comparision, because they're not using a the latest and greatest PCs; http://www.gamespot.com/features/6147028/p-2.html

The article states that the the X360 looks sligthly better than a mid-range PC, which it should, since its GPU is a generation ahead of a 6600, which is a few years old now. Currently a X1600 is a mid-level card, it only costs $40 more than the 6600 used in these examples. Dual-core CPUs also have come down quite a bit, so it's safe to say that a current mid-range systems have more than enough juice to turn up the detail to match the best of what X360 can currently offer. But their are plenty of titles on the X360 that don't do it justice and even an older PC can match its level of detail, and in most cases surpass it.

Ask yourself this, what's faster; a X1600 SE, or a full fledged X1900? Of course the latter fo the two and of course that card costs just as much as a X360. The point I'm making, is you get what you pay for and a X360 is using lower-priced components to keep it in a certain price range. MS probably doesn't want to loose 4-billion this time around; http://theinquirer.net/?article=26497

Honestly, don't fall for the hype. MS isn't going to include components that would substantially bring their loss up on each console sold. The X360 will pick up speed as developers get used to it and it does have the advanatage of being a dedicated meidia-center, err, I mean game console, which uses a more effiecent way of handling memory, but it's not more powerfull than a uber PC. I was being nice when I mentioned a much more powerful 7900 GTX SLI setup, a quad-SLI system absolutely destroys the x360 by many-many fold. But of course that comes at a huge price.

<]=)

Too bad those rack-mounts are PS3 devkits! With all the faked Sony bashing, it's clear why no one pays attention when they do do something crooked.

Are you aware that Sun is allowing the Apache Software Foundation to create a 100% open source build of java that complies with the official Sun spec?.

This is the best of both worlds and gives those who want a "Free Software" VM their own VM, while allowing Sun to continue shaping the future of the platform according to outside comments (JCP - Java Community Process, a process where IBM, Nokia, Intel, etc. have a say), but preserving the right to prevent "pollution" of the platform like Microsoft attempted years ago with their windows-only win32 hooks in their Java implementation.

I think some slashdotters need to read The Inquirer more often... ;-)

Sun-approved Open Source Java making progress
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=30688
MAR 31, 2006

Argentina students help Apache's Open Source Java effort
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=30689
MAR 31, 2006

Apache Foundation to create clearn-room Java
with Sun's blessing
Compatible open source J2SE in the works
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=23127
MAY 10, 2005

About Java based apps, the "Java is a failure on the desktop" is an old MYTH. Java has been getting really nice on the desktop lately, starting with J2SE 5.0 just at the time most systems above 1Ghz are now (finally!) the norm and at a time when 512MB ram is the average.

There's a lot of java based apps that I run on my linux AND windows desktop and whic I've learned to love:

  http://phex.kouk.de/ http://azureus.sourceforge.net/ http://www.artofillusion.org/index
http://www.evermoresw.com/weben/product/productOve rview.jsp - http://www.jedit.org/ - http://sourceforge.net/projects/frinika
http://sourceforge.net/projects/javaamp - http://sourceforge.net/projects/humaitrader - http://sourceforge.net/projects/jgnash/
http://megamek.sourceforge.net/idx.php?pg=main ...Editors, Music, Office Suites, P2P clients, 3D design, financial apps, games.... you name it, there is one best-of-breed app written in Java. And without having to chase a Microsoft API from behind like it happens with Mono...

https://mustang.dev.java.net/
"Sun is releasing weekly early access snapshots of the complete
source, binaries and documentation for Java SE 6 ("Mustang"). These raw snapshot releases let you review and contribute to Mustang as it is being developed."

What part of "Source" don't you understand??

I rest my case.

Finally about Desktop apps and Swing. Swing is MUCH faster in Java 6.0 (aka 1.6.0), because a lot of stuff is maped to native windows and gnome widgets.

Are you aware that Sun is allowing the Apache Software Foundation to create a 100% open source build of java that complies with the official Sun spec?.

This is the best of both worlds and gives those who want a "Free Software" VM their own VM, while allowing Sun to continue shaping the future of the platform according to outside comments (JCP - Java Community Process, a process where IBM, Nokia, Intel, etc. have a say), but preserving the right to prevent "pollution" of the platform like Microsoft attempted years ago with their windows-only win32 hooks in their Java implementation.

I think some slashdotters need to read The Inquirer more often... ;-)

Sun-approved Open Source Java making progress
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=30688
MAR 31, 2006

Argentina students help Apache's Open Source Java effort
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=30689
MAR 31, 2006

Apache Foundation to create clearn-room Java
with Sun's blessing
Compatible open source J2SE in the works
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=23127
MAY 10, 2005

About Java based apps, the "Java is a failure on the desktop" is an old MYTH. Java has been getting really nice on the desktop lately, starting with J2SE 5.0 just at the time most systems above 1Ghz are now (finally!) the norm and at a time when 512MB ram is the average.

There's a lot of java based apps that I run on my linux AND windows desktop and whic I've learned to love:

  http://phex.kouk.de/ http://azureus.sourceforge.net/ http://www.artofillusion.org/index
http://www.evermoresw.com/weben/product/productOve rview.jsp - http://www.jedit.org/ - http://sourceforge.net/projects/frinika
http://sourceforge.net/projects/javaamp - http://sourceforge.net/projects/humaitrader - http://sourceforge.net/projects/jgnash/
http://megamek.sourceforge.net/idx.php?pg=main ...Editors, Music, Office Suites, P2P clients, 3D design, financial apps, games.... you name it, there is one best-of-breed app written in Java. And without having to chase a Microsoft API from behind like it happens with Mono...

https://mustang.dev.java.net/
"Sun is releasing weekly early access snapshots of the complete
source, binaries and documentation for Java SE 6 ("Mustang"). These raw snapshot releases let you review and contribute to Mustang as it is being developed."

What part of "Source" don't you understand??

I rest my case.

Finally about Desktop apps and Swing. Swing is MUCH faster in Java 6.0 (aka 1.6.0), because a lot of stuff is maped to native windows and gnome widgets.

Are you aware that Sun is allowing the Apache Software Foundation to create a 100% open source build of java that complies with the official Sun spec?.

This is the best of both worlds and gives those who want a "Free Software" VM their own VM, while allowing Sun to continue shaping the future of the platform according to outside comments (JCP - Java Community Process, a process where IBM, Nokia, Intel, etc. have a say), but preserving the right to prevent "pollution" of the platform like Microsoft attempted years ago with their windows-only win32 hooks in their Java implementation.

I think some slashdotters need to read The Inquirer more often... ;-)

Sun-approved Open Source Java making progress
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=30688
MAR 31, 2006

Argentina students help Apache's Open Source Java effort
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=30689
MAR 31, 2006

Apache Foundation to create clearn-room Java
with Sun's blessing
Compatible open source J2SE in the works
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=23127
MAY 10, 2005

About Java based apps, the "Java is a failure on the desktop" is an old MYTH. Java has been getting really nice on the desktop lately, starting with J2SE 5.0 just at the time most systems above 1Ghz are now (finally!) the norm and at a time when 512MB ram is the average.

There's a lot of java based apps that I run on my linux AND windows desktop and whic I've learned to love:

  http://phex.kouk.de/ http://azureus.sourceforge.net/ http://www.artofillusion.org/index
http://www.evermoresw.com/weben/product/productOve rview.jsp - http://www.jedit.org/ - http://sourceforge.net/projects/frinika
http://sourceforge.net/projects/javaamp - http://sourceforge.net/projects/humaitrader - http://sourceforge.net/projects/jgnash/
http://megamek.sourceforge.net/idx.php?pg=main ...Editors, Music, Office Suites, P2P clients, 3D design, financial apps, games.... you name it, there is one best-of-breed app written in Java. And without having to chase a Microsoft API from behind like it happens with Mono...

https://mustang.dev.java.net/
"Sun is releasing weekly early access snapshots of the complete
source, binaries and documentation for Java SE 6 ("Mustang"). These raw snapshot releases let you review and contribute to Mustang as it is being developed."

What part of "Source" don't you understand??

I rest my case.

Finally about Desktop apps and Swing. Swing is MUCH faster in Java 6.0 (aka 1.6.0), because a lot of stuff is maped to native windows and gnome widgets.

Your latest argument makes no sense. I asked if "you [would] bother [with a PC] when a console could do all of the same things at the same price without the install and hardware hassles" and you respond with a no because consoles don't currently support keyboard and mouse as well as they could? You'll have to try harder than that. Besides, last I heard PS3 will allow keyboard and mouse for use in gaming (UT2007 specifically). Consoles are not exactly there yet, but from what I've seen they will be soon. PCs show no sign of improving their logistical shortcomings. When I can use the same USB controls that PC gamers are using to play my console games at HD resolutions, there will be no need to keep using the PC for gaming. And that's a good thing because I use the PC for enough other stuff as it is and I'll finally have no need for Windows.

But most studies on the Web show quite the contrary (that's why the Opteron is popular).

I wonder how long Apple is going to produce PowerPC based macines, which is, really to ask, how long until the PowerMacs are replaced.

Now that Apple's on Intel, you don't really have to sit around wondering these things. Conroe (Intel Core Desktop CPU) and Woodcrest (Intel Core Workstation/Server CPU aka Xeon) will be out in Q3 2006, which is perfect timing for Apple's Developer Conference in in August.

If have any questions about Intel's roadmap, check out http://www.theinquirer.net/ , their information is usually spot on. It is a safe assumption that Apple will adopt Intel chips as they come out just as Dell and everyone else does.

And considering the latest stories in the press it hardly seems that the affluent (read gulliable) are getting a better deal than anyone else! http://theinquirer.net/?article=31375

Even Woz isin't confident in apple's hardware these days!

Oh, and lastly, !WorthHacking != Secure

XBox, for example, just had it's first ever profitable quarter, but has a long way to go before it even pays back the money they invested in it, let alone give them a decend ROI. And (from the last time I looked through their annual report) I believe that to be the case for most of the other "successes" you mentioned as well.

Further, which of these were developed "in house" without partnering (or appropriating technology from) another company that had already done the groundbreaking work?

--MarkusQ

Microsoft heard you. So they are sending out this Microsoft Rock to resellers.

*sighs*

Why didn't the submitter go with the more trollish (and lets face it, the comments will decsend to this level in a few seconds) headline the inquirer took: French committee surrenders on DRM law

Let's all remember that while we would normally blindly follow Apple's lead in this, it is a Free software issue as well as being an Apple (yay) vs France (boo) issue.

Like Microsoft (with word documents, SMB, etc), or Adobe (with encrypted PDFs), Apple should not persecute F/OSS users for attempting to interoperate with their products.

Not so long as journalists keep getting arrested with Yahoo's help.

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=31124

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0909/p01s03-woap.htm l

http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=17180

I saw the last one (Stanley), and I must say that it's skills left me a little under the.... under.....
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=28756
Either way, my insurance company is still trying to go after the estate of a Mr. Babbage, but are having a hard time tracking him down.

            -Charlie

There was a SANS report on the rising number of Mac security bugs, so this isn't entirely some media conspiracy.

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=31394

Then you better crack open the piggy bank..

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=31009

Okay, first off, the article headline is HORRIBLY misleading. BitLocker will NOT ENCRYPT THE ENTIRE DRIVE. It is required that you have a ~100MB partition in order to boot off of, which will then in turn load the needed software into RAM and *then and only then* decrypt the encrypted partition.

Read: This has nothing at all to do with dual booting. Your ability to dual boot will remain completly unchanged, period. This, however, is about your ability to share data between OSs, not your ability to boot two. Learn to write a article headline, please.

FAT32 is dead. Period, get over it, dead. No, I take that back, it still has one use: flash drives, and other forms of removable media. Other than that, IT IS DEAD. Why? Simple: security. From Windows 2000 and on, Microsoft actually put some degree of effort into security. "Some degree?" you ask? End result, due to NTFS, you can actually secure your system. Compared to FAT32 anyways, where a *guest* user can drop a virus as c:\explorer.exe, and then the next time Johnny Admin logs in, it's over. NTFS added actual security measures. ACLs. Execute bit. And, well, quite a bit more. Due to this, I can say the following without doubt that I'm right:

1) BitLocker will ONLY work with NTFS.
2) Vista will do everything they can short of threatening to eat your children to get you to install on NTFS. (Side note: http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=30128 vs. http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/libr ary/plan/5025760b-0433-4ba1-a2f4-9338915fdb4b.mspx - Beta1 won't install on FAT32, but according to offical MS docs, it will (eventually, most likely))
3) If you're still using FAT32 as your primary OS partition, you're an idiot.
4) Due to #4, if your defense is, "my [windows] OS can't run on NTFS!", my response is still the same. Go upgrade, you're not helping anyone.

FAT32 is nice for removable media. That's about it.

(</troll>)

Probably not. The Godson is a MIPS clone, and NT 4.0 worked on MIPS, but you need ARC firmware. My guess would be that this just runs Linux from flash, with not much in the way of firmware. Also, I'm not sure if Godson is a 100% MIPS clone, or if they left out the patented bits. It was described as "95% MIPS compatible", which makes me think that you probably need to tweak the compilers a bit to make it work.

More importantly, what's the point of running NT 4.0 these days?

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=24882

It's a knockoff. The sad thing is that an American company that tried the same thing was sued out of existance. They were innocent but they couldn't afford the lawyers.

Our court system is giving a huge advantage to the Chinese.

Would a storage (disk array) subsystem do? Here you go.

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=31096

Old news. Old old new.

            -Charlie

The Inq. Article Right To Create blog Bob Jacobsen's site

Ah...

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=29605

Looks like the mobile version will slip, but the desktop (Conroe) is still on target.

Oh, now I see what's going on...

1. Broadband access fees http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=30959
2. ???^H^H^H Provide in-house video-on-demand service
3. Profit

... paying to someone to clean all the spyware and/or reinstall the operating system and applications, according to The New York Times (
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/17/technology/17spy .html , http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=24690 ).

For that matter any computer which has Itunes installed contains spyware.

Yep, the linked article is unfortunately pretty light on both detail and factual accuracy. A much better source of information, with a reference to Lucent's patent is available here: http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=30743.

The patent being disputed is available here

Still, the original GamerNode link for this story is an amusing read, with gems such as, "Lucent claims that Microsoft has violated copyright patent laws". Uh.. What is a 'copyright patent law'? Are they trying to say that Lucent has the copyright on the patent laws? Or are they just confused about the difference between these two relatively unrelated concepts?

Instead of crying over the stolen $612.5M, RIM should have pro-actively spent a small fraction of that sum to make the patent system fair in the US. Instead, they allowed the Patent Cartel to fund this monster of a legal system, which of course rewards its creators.

Software Idea Patents are a form of legalized extortion encouraged by the US government. It was put in place in order to protect monopolies like Microsoft, who has recently threatened to sue users and developers of open-source software, including Linux. No wonder the US government intervened on behalf of Microsoft in its European anti-trust case -- Microsoft and the Patent Mafia has Uncle Sam in their pocket. Too bad Europe is heading there too.

Dual core technology. AMD was the first. 20 dual cores for AMD, 14 dual cores for Intel.

Both are probably going to ship quad cores in early 2007.

Not sure where you're getting your data.

Not sure, however Negroponte also stated that Linux was to bloated to run on it.
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=30766

I plan to buy a Macbook in the near future if I don't see any Intel-based iBooks soon.

If the "Celeron" brand makes you wince, "Celeron M" CPUs (based on the Pentium M architecture) have always been very good performers and an outstanding value. At launch, the new Celeron M CPUs will clock at 1.73GHz and 1.60GHz, have 1MB L2 cache, and 533MHz FSB.

Here's the article: Sony's UMD format breaks through to the mainstream.

I can't help but laugh at some of the things the author wrote:

DESPITE THE FACT that movies on Sonys proprietary UMD format for the PSP are costing more than their DVD counterparts, the format is becoming extremely popular with both the consumer and Hollywood, with the high-prices being a good thing as far as studio execs are concerned.

Apparently "extremely popular" is weasel-words for "we will hype the format now and abandon in 6 months".

The high unit costs of the format mean that it does not directly compete with DVDs, meaning that the consumer will pay through the nose and the situation is win-win for the studios.

Wow, customers must really appreciate paying through the nose for a UMD, and this can only be good for the studios! (note: this is an example of Irony).

The Inquirer article even quotes a Newsweek article, PlayStation Portable - New Format for Hollywood, which is less glowing but was clearly the only source of information for the Inquirer author.

Even Newsweek can see the rorting going on with UMD but they seem to not have a problem with it, as they tell of the studios "milking their catalogs" as if that's a good thing.

Here's the article: Sony's UMD format breaks through to the mainstream.

I can't help but laugh at some of the things the author wrote:

DESPITE THE FACT that movies on Sonys proprietary UMD format for the PSP are costing more than their DVD counterparts, the format is becoming extremely popular with both the consumer and Hollywood, with the high-prices being a good thing as far as studio execs are concerned.

Apparently "extremely popular" is weasel-words for "we will hype the format now and abandon in 6 months".

The high unit costs of the format mean that it does not directly compete with DVDs, meaning that the consumer will pay through the nose and the situation is win-win for the studios.

Wow, customers must really appreciate paying through the nose for a UMD, and this can only be good for the studios! (note: this is an example of Irony).

The Inquirer article even quotes a Newsweek article, PlayStation Portable - New Format for Hollywood, which is less glowing but was clearly the only source of information for the Inquirer author.

Even Newsweek can see the rorting going on with UMD but they seem to not have a problem with it, as they tell of the studios "milking their catalogs" as if that's a good thing.

I read articles like this old one
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=16697

and more recent ones

http://inquirerinside.com/?article=28914

And it is apparent that Linux needs to have a patent group to think about and get patents for Linux use and license to others on a quid pro quo basis

The linux community is every bit as smart, or even smarter than microsoft and IBM and others. What they lack is a large structure to administer and apply for the patents thought up by those inside Linux.

Since most tasks for getting patents(once thought up) are fairly low in cost, as long as there is volunteer lawyering and other labour in a few years a patent poirtfolio could be amassed to stave off licence demands from microsoft, via cross licence or even sale for use outside of the linux appzone.

Pardom me if this has been done, being a newb, I do not intend taking coals to NewCastle.

Bill

The Register is the National Enquirer of the IT Industry

You're far too trusting. Remember, this is the same "online journal" that printed the Google Office Confirmed scoop right after a press conference that announced nothing of the sort.

The Inquirer is taking Azul's word for it at the moment, which is probably why the article is so light on details. About a billion questions pop in my mind when I hear a story like this. The only answer I get is that, "Sun is banging on Azul's door for IP infringement."

Sure.

Does anyone have any real info on these guys? About all I can find is an unsourced Wikipedia article titled Network Attached Processing. It is also lacking in details. (A shill, perhaps?)

Intel Viiv is stupid and broken
Intel to cut Linux out of the content market
DRM: Three dirty letters you won't hear in a CES keynote

Intel Viiv is stupid and broken
Intel to cut Linux out of the content market
DRM: Three dirty letters you won't hear in a CES keynote

One of the links from that Wikipedia article is very enlightening. Basically, Viiv is yet another attempt to end-run DRM around an unsuspecting public, and it's a pile of shit to boot.

Wait. So now instead of <input type crash>, they make you add 16 characters in between? They obviously have no concept of usability. Remember, Microsoft, less typing for the user is GOOD.

Microsoft employees in Vista revolt

Bring me the head of Monkey Boy
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=30490

and

http://minimsft.blogspot.com/2006/03/vista-2007-fi re-leadership-now.html

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=29710

some interesting ideas on installing windows on a mac.

Read this:
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=24638
East Fork == VIIV, and some details have changed, but it is a lot more than that. Transcoding, transrating, a store, and a connection framework. It is also a MASSIVE DRM infection, but they try and pretend otherwise.

                -Charlie

OK, I know Don MacDonald personally, and I was the first one to sound the alarm bells about ViiV, then called East Fork. See:
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=24638
http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/07/17/ 170256

Intel flat out lied about Linux, they said it could happen to my face, but all the docs said otherwise. They are handing the space to MS and the DRM infectors.

That said, Intel honestly does want to do the right thing here, but they are caught between a rock and a hard place. They have no leverage, and are being used until the content industry tires of batting them around like a cat with a half dead mouse in it's grasp.

The sad thing is, Intel can not do anything to prevent being bent over and screwed here. They have to smile and minimize the damage, but the whole process has been coopted. They were planning on making v1.5 and v2.0 a little better each release, but right now, they are in backpedal so hard it hurts mode, so the chance of them being able to do right is next to zero.

The first version will be mostly non-functional, it won't do most of what they hoped, and has more animosity among the vendors than any product that I have seen to date. Everyone I talked to at CeBit last week was something between annoyed and angry that it was being shoved down their throat.

But wait, it gets better. Notice he said that it would be easier, not cheaper. You get a file locked down hard, seriously DRM infected, and restricted. The PRV functionality is already shut down because they MUST support the broadcast flag (HD only though), so basically, they are screwed. If you like PVRing CSpan, VIIV is your toy, everything else, well, not so much.

So, you have the grand plan of selling an inferior, restricted, DRM infect product at a higher price than the competition. Add in that you are selling an expensive box that phones home way to often that says 'NO!' to it owner more often than most find palatable, and you have a recipe for disaster.

My prediction, abject failure. Why? The content industry does not want it to exist, and Intel is a fly under their steamroller. It is a pity, it could have not sucked.

            -Charlie

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=30289

Luckily I was there yesterday. 6/10 for effort though. :)

          -Charlie