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Windependence Day

Posted by michael on from the man-is-born-free-and-everywhere-he-is-in-chains dept.

An unknown reader points us to the Windependence Day contest sponsored by DesktopLinux. Cute idea, and I'm sure some people have exciting stories of battling the talking paperclip...

88 of 272 comments (clear)

  1. July 14th: The Storming of Redmond by boa13 · · Score: 4, Funny

    And on July 14th, join us as we storm the Redmond stronghold and cut the head of the evil king of the Microsoft Kingdom. The storming of Redmond will symbolize, for all citizens of Linuxdom, liberty, democracy and the struggle against all forms of oppression!

    1. Re:July 14th: The Storming of Redmond by dweezle · · Score: 2, Funny

      Liberty! Equality! Fraternity!

      --
      In a time of universal lies, Telling the Truth is a revolutionary act - George Orwell
    2. Re:July 14th: The Storming of Redmond by PacoTaco · · Score: 2, Funny

      The Justice Department is already contemplating a lawsuit. Apparently "Windependence Day" is too similar to the US Government trademark "Independence Day." This could cause confusion in the minds of consumers and lead them to believe that Linux has something to do with lighting fireworks. Innocent penguins may be needlessly harmed.

    3. Re:July 14th: The Storming of Redmond by Dannon · · Score: 2

      Liberty! Equality! Fraternity!

      Does this mean there'll be free beer?

      --
      Good judgment comes from experience.
      Experience comes from bad judgment.
  2. Uhh.... by smoondog · · Score: 2, Troll

    I battle word, excel, powerpoint and window 2000 everyday. Does this mean I'm finally going to win?

    -Sean

    1. Re:Uhh.... by flewp · · Score: 3, Funny

      Actually, speaking of battling the paperclip bastard....
      About a year ago, doing a freelance job, I had to work a lot with Frontpage2000. Not too bad, since I was able to use Dreamweaver at home, but I also had to use Word a lot when I was in the office. It was mostly for conversions of data to be put into HTML. Since I was working on a machine that someone else used, and they were the primary user, I opted not to really change anything around. Anyway, one day when working with Word, the paperprick bastard kept popping up. I got so mad (mostly from being hungover) I took the box of paperclips at the desk and proceeded and to simply bend probably around 20-25 until they broke. Man, that was great. Not only did I kill the minions of the paperclip army, I killed enough time to the point that I chilled out and got back to work. Anyone else have a similiar pathetic story?

      (yeah, yeah, I eventually turned the helper off, but whatever.)

      --
      WWJD.... for a Klondike bar?
    2. Re:Uhh.... by flewp · · Score: 2

      Well, that depends. If they were chiwauhas(sp), I would have punted them. Otherwise I, well, whatever.

      --
      WWJD.... for a Klondike bar?
  3. Misnomer by ObviousGuy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    What about a Sundependence Day? Or a Vaxdependence Day? Or a Aixdependence Day?

    More systems are leaving traditional Unix for Linux than are leaving Windows for Linux.

    --
    I have been pwned because my /. password was too easy to guess.
    1. Re:Misnomer by Russ+Steffen · · Score: 2

      It happened shortly after the VAX was introduced in 1977, when DARPA contracted with the Computer Sciences Research Group to port their version of UNIX from the PDP-11.

    2. Re:Misnomer by Russ+Steffen · · Score: 2

      Also, I nearly forgot about ULTRIX, which was a DEC product introduced somewhat later. It was a heavily VMS influenced version of UNIX for VAX, but I don't know if it has any relationship with the forementioned UNIX port.

    3. Re:Misnomer by Russ+Steffen · · Score: 2

      Are you thinking of ULTRIX? As far as I can tell, it was pretty much phased out about the time that the Alpha processor launched. It was replaced by OSF/1, aka Digital UNIX, aka Tru64, which itself has now been retired in favor of HP/UX.

    4. Re:Misnomer by _Sprocket_ · · Score: 2


      More systems are leaving traditional Unix for Linux than are leaving Windows for Linux.

      Yea. I've heard that theory too. Though I haven't seen any good data on it - got a reference?


      One concept to consider is a loss for Solaris or AIX to Linux is still a loss for Microsoft.


      I used to administer a lab of Unix (Solaris, HP/UX) workstations used for engineering applications. The apps were often also available for the Windows NT environment. Thus, Management was constantly being courted by vendors who offered Windows NT engineering workstation solutions - the draw was the cheaper, commodity hardware. But the engineers largely preferred the Unix workstations after experiencing WinNT during training seminars. None the less, the promise of cheaper hardware was always tempting.


      These applications are now largely available for Linux. Thus Linux competes with Windows for the market of those who are seeking a way to run these applications on commodity hardware. When a shop migrates away from, say, Solaris it may be a loss for Solaris. But when the shift is to Linux, it is likely to be at the expense of a move to Windows.

    5. Re:Misnomer by Felinoid · · Score: 2

      It's a considerably sad thing to say considering other Unixes are fighting Microsoft the current problem.

      But it's true.... and more sad to admit they had it comming.

      Ma Bell liccensed source code. No binarys no support just source.
      Unix admin came to expect source code.

      But with the Ma Bell break up and shrink wrap liccenses Unix drifted farther and farther away from that philosophy.

      GNU/Linux fills the void left by this...

      Sun offers Solarus source code for a hefty liccens fee I believe.

      --
      I don't actually exist.
  4. Switchers? by tbo · · Score: 2, Insightful

    To help celebrate wIndependence Day (or, perhaps more accurately, WinDependence Day), do we have just not be Windows users, or do we have to use Linux? If it's just about not using Linux, then somebody has already started promoting a similar idea.

    Maybe Apple would team up with the Linux community on this one if the event was a little more inclusive. On the other hand, I think OS X and Linux are serious competitors, at least in the PPC world. I know my interest in Linux on PPC died when I saw the terminal in OS X and XDarwin...

  5. Obligatory, obscure Simpsons' quote by OO7david · · Score: 2
    or public burnings of Bill Gates in Effigy or something.
    "Ah, a good old effigy burning, Eh....AH!"

    (from the episode where Homer gets smart via crayon removal)

  6. How about.... by simetra · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Focusing all this energy on creating replacements for the apps that keep us tied to Windows?

    For me to run Linux on my main PC at work, I need specific things: A Groupwise client, a Novell client, a pcAnywhere type thing to check on remote systems which cannot be replaced by Linux because of the apps that must run on them... ? These things would go a lot further than a doorprize, though free stuff is always good.

    --

    "Would it kill you to put down the toilet seat?" -- Maya Angelou
    1. Re:How about.... by spencerogden · · Score: 2

      pcAnywhere type thing? You haven't looked very hard if you haven't run across VNC, look it up.

      --

      Spencer Ogden

    2. Re:How about.... by Scutter · · Score: 3, Informative

      A Groupwise client, a Novell client, a pcAnywhere type thing to check on remote systems which cannot be replaced by Linux because of the apps that must run on them... ?

      You mean like this, this (or this), and this?

      --

      "Tell me doctor, with all of your defenses, are there any provisions for an attack by killer bees?"
    3. Re:How about.... by pete-classic · · Score: 5, Insightful

      You are incorrect about what is tying you to Windows. It is your dependence on proprietary communication protocols and file formats.

      The only way to "kick the habit" and to bring any real competition back to the SW industry is to only use software that interchanges data in standard formats.

      In the mean time, many dedicated OSS developers are fighting the losing fight of trying to create reverse-engineered software for many of the more popular proprietary formats and protocols. God bless 'em.

      -Peter

    4. Re:How about.... by MeNeXT · · Score: 2
      This is old FUD get OpenOffice...

      --
      DRM? No thanks, I'll just get it somewhere else...
    5. Re:How about.... by a_n_d_e_r_s · · Score: 2

      Ask them to send it as a RTF document.

      --
      Just saying it like it are.
    6. Re:How about.... by ncc74656 · · Score: 2
      For me to run Linux on my main PC at work, I need specific things: A Groupwise client, a Novell client...

      Can't help with GroupWise, but back when I was playing with NetWare 5, I had Linux accessing shares on a NetWare server. It's been a while, but IIRC you need IPX and NCP support compiled into the kernel (NCP over TCP wasn't supported...maybe it is now). There might've been some additional software involved, but I can't remember offhand. (I set up a server on some spare hardware, got my CNS, and toasted my setup when some hardware went screwy...haven't bothered putting it back on a machine since Linux will do for me what NetWare does, and then some.)

      --
      20 January 2017: the End of an Error.
    7. Re:How about.... by sab39 · · Score: 2

      Better yet, so long as you're running win2k or better on the boxes in question, rdesktop.

  7. One question though... by The_Shadows · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If Indenpendence Day is ID4....
    Does that make Windependence Day WD-40?

  8. Lycoris by rob-fu · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If Lindows was an infringement upon the Windows name, then Lycoris has to be basically identical to WinXP (based on the screenshots). Look:

    here
    here
    and here

    Perhaps MS can sue them for 'theft of look and feel.'

    1. Re:Lycoris by Raleel · · Score: 2

      Hey, check out the user and password icon...that looks like a tweaked up version of the MSN Messanger icon that I get on my mac when it starts. Like...they put hair on them, and put a lock in front of them

      --
      -- Who is the bigger fool? The fool or the fool who follows him? --
    2. Re:Lycoris by Reziac · · Score: 2

      Actually there's a precedent, that you cannot sue over "look and feel" -- had to do with the Lotus menu system, back in the dark ages of DOS. Someone who cares can probably look up the legal references.

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
  9. Definition? by sheepab · · Score: 5, Funny

    Windependance day - The day hoards of slashdotters and Linux fans alike gathered to battle that EVIL paper clip. And what did they do? Well, heh, Ill tell you what they did, but it wasnt pretty. When they got ahold of the paper clip, they grabbed ahold of him at each and...and they....they....STRAIGHTENED HIM!!!

    --


    In college, really poor, need a flatscreen.
    1. Re:Definition? by Skevin · · Score: 3, Funny

      ...and they....they....STRAIGHTENED HIM!!!

      What? the Office Assistant isn't straight?

      --
      "Twice half-assed makes an ass whole." --Solomon K. Chang
    2. Re:Definition? by Jucius+Maximus · · Score: 2
      "Windependance day - The day hoards of slashdotters and Linux fans alike gathered to battle that EVIL paper clip. And what did they do? Well, heh, Ill tell you what they did, but it wasnt pretty. When they got ahold of the paper clip, they grabbed ahold of him at each and...and they....they....STRAIGHTENED HIM!!!"

      For those who are fighting a battle against the office clippy, you can easily neuter it by renaming the directory \program files\microsoft office\office\actors. It's like the clippy is not installed. This information should be most useful to people on corporate machines where they cannot get a hold of the Office CD to run setup.exe to uninstall it.

    3. Re:Definition? by sab39 · · Score: 2

      I never understood this. Why do people come up with such complicated, convoluted solutions to getting rid of clippy, instead of just, like, not installing it? As in, go to "custom install" and like, uncheck the box?

  10. Why July 4? by ross.w · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Lets see, we could have done this on:

    July 14th (France)
    May 1st (Russia)
    October 1st (China)
    July 1st (Hong Kong)
    June 12th (Phillippines)
    March 1st (South Korea)
    April 30th (Vietnam)

    Why is 4th July so special?

    --
    If my call is important, why am I talking to a recording?
    1. Re:Why July 4? by Anal+Cocks · · Score: 2, Funny

      "Why is 4th July so special?"

      July 4th is the USian independence day. If we don't let them have their way, expect to see your country join the "axis of evil" and get bombed in a couple weeks.

      --

      Hey, kid... wanna touch my "kernel patch"?

      -- Alan Cox

    2. Re:Why July 4? by atta1 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Spoken like a true free thinker, who will no doubt insist on US assistance when his country runs into a crisis.

      --
      "The avalanche has already started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote" -- Kosh
    3. Re:Why July 4? by Hektor_Troy · · Score: 2

      "the U.S. was the first of all colonial states to fight and win independence from a european monarchy?"

      Ahh ... so the fact that Sweden was under Danish rule from 1397 to 1521, and then broke free doesn't count, because Sweden wasn't a colony? I see.

      What next? Claims that the US is the oldest democracy, when it's a republic? Or that it is the biggest "democracy", even though such countries as India and Malaysia are far bigger?

      *sigh*

      "it's early history is truely significant"

      So? The same can be said of Denmark. Up until the late 1500s, early 1600s, Denmark was one the foremost countries in Europe with regards to naval power and supremacy. Now it's just a puny little country with some of the highest taxes in the world. In comparison, the US was once regarded as a guardian of democracy and freedom, but that was a loong time ago - and it's not getting better, I'm sad to say.

      So to get back to the point - why choose July 4th as "independence day"? I have no idea - why not pick something more symbolic; what day was MSFT introduced on the stockmarket? What day was Microsoft founded? What day was Windows introduced? What day did Linus start working on Linux?

      Tying it to a national independence day (no matter what nation) will only deter the participation of nationalists across the world "because my country is MUCH better than the other countries - I know because I was born in THIS country and that makes it better than the piece of land 10 yards away!!!".

      Of course if what you want is to promote the use of Windows, be sure to place Windependence Day on such a day ...

      Oh wait - too late.

      And placing Tux in an Uncle Sam hat? Nich touch. Who arranged this? Microsofts PR-department?

      --
      We do not live in the 21st century. We live in the 20 second century.
  11. Re:Truly outrageous...sorta by Em+Emalb · · Score: 3, Informative

    Dude, I agree with your sentiments whole-heartedly, however, as snopes2 can tell you, that page is rather a hoax. Some of the founding fathers did make extreme sacrifices, but not as bad as you think.

    http://www.snopes.com/glurge/declare.htm

    However, I whole-heartedly agree with your basic premise, in that this is distasteful of them, and Atlas Shrugged is a good read. Not likely to happen, ever, but an interesting perspective.

    --
    Sent from your iPad.
  12. ironic? by ross.w · · Score: 2, Troll

    Doesn't anyone find it ironic that people hate Microsoft for much the same reasons that people from Microsoft's own country hated England?

    --
    If my call is important, why am I talking to a recording?
    1. Re:ironic? by ceejayoz · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Microsoft is quartering their troops in peoples' homes and taxing without representation? Wait, how'd I miss that?

    2. Re:ironic? by ross.w · · Score: 3, Insightful

      So Microsoft's Corporate licencing isn't a tax without representation?

      --
      If my call is important, why am I talking to a recording?
    3. Re:ironic? by tshak · · Score: 2

      No. A companies product that you make a very free choice to purchase is not a tax. Next please.

      --

      There is no longer anything that can be done with computers that is nontrivial and clearly legal. -- Paul Phillips
    4. Re:ironic? by ross.w · · Score: 2

      the operative word here is "free choice". Most Corporate users don't have that (yet).

      Especially those with licences that require them to pay Microsoft for every PC they own regardless of whether it has Windows on it.

      Ever tried to return your OEM MS Windows for the refund promised by the EULA?

      Yes there are alternatives. (I use one of them), but to most people, especially businesses, the Microsoft tax (and the Autodesk tax, for that matter) is a fact of doing business.

      --
      If my call is important, why am I talking to a recording?
    5. Re:ironic? by Micah · · Score: 2

      and sending the BSA cronies to do audits without warrants isn't as bad as quartering troops in our homes?

    6. Re:ironic? by Arandir · · Score: 2

      The English colonies in North America decided they wanted independence. But England didn't want them to be independent. When the colonists declared their independence, England waged war. By war, I mean bullets, bloodshed, gangrene, evisceration, hangings, rapes, burning of homes and crops, enslavement of children, etc.

      Now contrast this with the average Microsoft user and Microsoft. Said user wants to be independent of Microsoft products. Microsoft doesn't want them to be. User erases Microsoft software and installs FreeBSD (or Linux for you folks in Rio Linda). Microsoft responds by ... nothing. They don't wage war. They don't fire bullets. They don't kill, rape, pillage or burn.

      If you can't understand the difference between Microsoft under King Bill and England under King George, you need to get out into the sun a bit more often.

      --
      A Government Is a Body of People, Usually Notably Ungoverned
    7. Re:ironic? by ceejayoz · · Score: 2

      You have the choice not to buy MS products and thus not give them an excuse to do an audit.

      Anyways, has there even been a single actual audit? I would think /. would have covered it if one had happened, but I can't find any info. Seems to me it's just a paper tiger.

    8. Re:ironic? by Micah · · Score: 2

      of course WE have the choice, but most of corporate America is so clueless they don't realize it, and collectively lock themselves into using M$ tripe.

      Yes, there have been plenty of audits. None that have effected me, but I've read about them...

    9. Re:ironic? by ceejayoz · · Score: 2

      Then corporate America will either wise up and go Linux (hreh... heh heh heh...), or it's not as big of a deal to them as Slashdot zealotry would have you believe.

  13. exciting stories? by bilbobuggins · · Score: 3, Funny
    I'm sure some people have exciting stories of battling the talking paperclip...

    LMAO.

    'It was a dark and stormy night. My nervous grip on my trusty Xconfigurator tightened as I heard the 'BOOIIING!' from the distance. Only one thing in this world made that sound. And that thing was Bob...'

    1. Re:exciting stories? by Jucius+Maximus · · Score: 2
      "I'm sure some people have exciting stories of battling the talking paperclip... "

      I started typing a swashbuckling tale about my battles on my work machine (where I'm not allowed to install anything) against the clippy, but then I remembered that I'm at work.

  14. On the next Celebrity Boxing... by shmuc · · Score: 3, Funny

    Paperclip vs. Penguin

    --

    Efren Belizario
    headspeak.com
  15. I can see the filk now... by jejones · · Score: 3, Funny
    Let freedom ring/Let the penguin sing...

    (Apologies to Martina McBride.)

  16. Instead of 4th of July... by jcsehak · · Score: 2

    ...why not celebrate it on the day the courts finally dole out MS's punishment? I mean, it's gonna happen sooner or later, right?

    --

    c-hack.com |
  17. i liked this by zephc · · Score: 2

    the first time i saw (and participated in) it

    --
    "I would say that 99 per cent of what my father has written about his own life is false." - L. Ron Hubbard Jr.
  18. Windependence Day, my story. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative


    I recently switched. Just my laptop, for now...

    My company volunteered for a BSA audit some months ago.

    We were short some licenses; we rectified the situation before sending our report back to the BSA, indicating while we had been short some licenses, we were currently in compliance...

    This overage involved approximately 10% of our client machines...

    We relaxed, thinking we'd done good ethically and morally, by owing up to our discretion and paying for it...

    Then we were sued...

    Not for the the 10% of our clients that were out of license...

    For a sum equal to the entire -retail- value of all BSA represented software at our organization...

    Paid for yesterday, or three years ago, or five, or more...

    Essentially, they want us to pay for every piece of BSA software (we currently use) twice...

    My Windependence day happened a month ago...

    Just my laptop...

    25 machines on our network use mission critical MS-only systems...

    That's less that 3%...

    Last month MS lost 1 customer...

    Just my laptop...

    The other 900+ systems on our network...

    Well...

    They're good for now...

    1. Re:Windependence Day, my story. by imadork · · Score: 3, Insightful
      You just admitted that you were not in compliance for some period of time, and made a quick gesture to try to make up for it. In a nutshell, you showed that you had something to hide. It's like a traffic ticket; if you attempt to lie or hoodwink the cop, he will have no pity for you.

      Except that a cop is a duly-sworn officer of the law, and a BSA auditor is not. (No matter what your opinions on cops are, you have to at least admit that!) Besides, If you get pulled over, and you admit to the cop that you were speeding (which is much more like what the Poster said his company did), the cop just writes you a ticket and sends you on your way; he doesn't arrest you for the robbery that just took place down the road!

      Of course, none of this would even be necessary if the BSA would leave the "investigations" and "law enforcement" to the people who actually have the legal authority to do so.

  19. Re:winderws by Jester998 · · Score: 2

    So, if we want to get rid of Windows... we have to... kill all its users?!?! Real-life Quake! Sounds good to me. ;)

    - Jester

  20. Troll season. by Mulletproof · · Score: 2

    Hmmm... Wonder if a "Rebel against Linux Day" story would make front page? Microsoft's struggle to battle the communist open sourcers.

    Sure my comment's troll flame-bait, but no more than that story is.

    --
    You need a FREE iPod Nano
    1. Re:Troll season. by spectecjr · · Score: 2

      Hmmm... Wonder if a "Rebel against Linux Day" story would make front page? Microsoft's struggle to battle the communist open sourcers.

      We could call it Lindependence Day.

      *rotfl* these crappy-ass puns just kill me.

      --
      Coming soon - pyrogyra
  21. Parent post modded down out of idiocy... by NanoGator · · Score: 2

    I don't agree with you, but I respect your opinion. I can't believe that you got modded down as troll.

    The reason I disagree is that monopolistic companies and organizations can take away our rights the same as any invader. Only we have a harder time fighting them. The MPAA/RIAA and their purchase of Senator Fritz come to mind. If the SSSCA had passed, we'd have lost some rights critical to creative work.

    I respectfully disagree with you, but modding you down as Troll was awful. There are moderators on Slashdot that could stand to learn the difference between stating an opinion and trying to rile people up.

    --
    "Derp de derp."
    1. Re:Parent post modded down out of idiocy... by Reziac · · Score: 2

      Doesn't surprise me. Last week I got modded "Flamebait" for daring to suggest that if coders want respect from beta testers, maybe they should respect beta testers in return. Makes me long for a return of the Great Blackout, when all the morons went away for a week.

      On to the topic, I think you're both right, in that the line between gov't and business has become so blurred that it's often impossible to tell just who is controlling what. Yet all too often, the opposing forces (frex, opensource advocates) are indeed more like hippies than patriots. (Of course, most folk here weren't yet born during the hippie era, and have no idea what the parent post is talking about.)

      But the situation at present is actually FAR beyond the abuses that led to the American War for Independence (it was called the Revolutionary War on the *other* side of the ditch). Frex, did you know that the horribly extortionate Tea Tax, which led to the "Boston Tea Party", was a whopping ONE PERCENT?!!

      Yet now we put up with half our income being stripped by taxes, another chunk being pried out of our wallet by business interests like M$ and the RIAA, and effectively no representation working against these primary and secondary levies.

      Yeah, this rambles a bit, so flame me. :)

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    2. Re:Parent post modded down out of idiocy... by Reziac · · Score: 2

      No fair!! WE paid for it, WE should be allowed to blow shit up too! :)

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
  22. Re: Battling the Paperclip! by XO · · Score: 3, Funny

    You have got to check this picture out. Battling the paperclip! I want to write without interference!

    --
    "Champagne for my real friends - and real pain for my sham friends!" http://ericblade.postalboard.com/
  23. At least give us a chance to switch by WildBeast · · Score: 2

    I considered switching my desktop to Linux for a while and have been looking closely at it for the last five years. Unfortunately, there's not much progress in sight. Installing a simple game is an exercice in patience. Why can't I just click on Next - Complete Install and then click on Finish and start the game just like in Windows?

    The already bundled software with the Linux distribution works fine but its when I want to install new software that the problems occur (ie. missing libraries, permissions, drivers, graphics, etc.)

    1. Re:At least give us a chance to switch by MeNeXT · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Based on your argument why not switch to Mac. No install required just click on the icon on the CD and viola! you are playing. If you wish to install it on your system just drag and drop it where you want it.


      What gets me with Windows is that when you have something that you know works but that you have to keep reinstalling the software or to keep thing simple save your stuff on another system and reinstall. You do not know what is being installed and you have to take great care to insure that the system is running well. If you ever had a test system where you constantly install...test...deinstall you would have a hard time keeping this system running properly without problems for a year.


      Now on linux you have the dependencies. It may require a couple of minutes more to install but in the end you never have to reinstall the OS to keep the stability. This also applies to FreeBSD and such.

      --
      DRM? No thanks, I'll just get it somewhere else...
    2. Re:At least give us a chance to switch by WildBeast · · Score: 2

      Well I have yet to reinstall Windows XP since its release. Pretty stable and no crashes as of yet.

      Yes I considered Macs but the problem is that they're pretty expensive. If I buy a Mac, it'll be an iBook. There laptops are decently priced for once.

    3. Re:At least give us a chance to switch by WildBeast · · Score: 2

      It doesn't matter, people will always prefer simplicity anyway. I know enough to know that people couldn't care less about stability, security, freedom, privacy, etc.

      Give us simplicity and people will begin using Linux en masse.

    4. Re:At least give us a chance to switch by WildBeast · · Score: 2

      Oh easy to say. The fact is that many times the library I want is not in my distribution rpm's. And when it is included, the program will tell you the name of the library that's missing not the name of the rpm package.

      Besides, from all the apps I've downloaded from freshmeat, very few had rpm packages.

      And why exactly didn't your company switch to Linux on the desktop?

  24. Re:Truly outrageous by guttentag · · Score: 3, Insightful
    ...fewer regulations, more freedom...
    The prospect of "fewer regulations" is not a uniformly "good thing." There may be regulations that [are|seem to be] overzealous and overbearing, but many regulations are designed to protect you.

    The pharmaceutical industry would like fewer regulations so it could lower its costs, but the regulations set quality requirements for your safety. You can walk into any drug store and the generic drugs are just as high quality as the name brands. Without the regulations, you'd be betting your health on the abilities of a corporation's marketing team.

    The airline industry would like fewer regulations so it could lower the cost of maintaining and flying planes, but the regulations require certain maintenance procedures for your safety. The pilots and mechanics of the airline may not want to cut corners, but executives are forever pushing for that extra dollar of profit. Without the regulations, planes would be falling out of the sky because some exec who knows nothing about aviation pushed too far.

    Peter Pan may get away without regulations in Never Land, but in the real world regulations serve a purpose.

    Bottom line: If you're going to criticize regulations that serve specific interests (as opposed to the whole of society), fine, but don't trivialize regulations.

  25. Re:Truly outrageous by gol64738 · · Score: 2

    damn, too bad Microsoft isn't a british company
    cuz then i'd stop drinking this horrible tea and get my gun..

    microsoft is coming! microsoft is coming!

    don't you love how history repeats itself?

  26. We're already inside(TM) by satanami69 · · Score: 2

    A special black OPs agent, known as the BOFH, has already made his way into the stronghold. Using unencrypted satellites, he's beamed back his assault on Clippy. View the gruesome archive:

    http://www.salmondays.tv/downloads/paper_clip.mp g

    --
    I really hate Dan Patrick.
  27. Re:Truly outrageous by jejones · · Score: 2
    The prospect of "fewer regulations" is not a uniformly "good thing." There may be regulations that [are|seem to be] overzealous and overbearing, but many regulations are designed to protect you.

    Well...when you go to the store to buy an iron or a hair dryer, is it the government that protects you? No...but the Underwriters Laboratories approval tag is almost certainly on the appliance you buy. UL is not a governmental body.

  28. Windependance != Freedom, it seems by Phil+Hands · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I think it's a shame that most of the prizes are partly or completely non-free software.

    It brings to mind what I believe is a translated polish proverb:

    A change of leaders is the joy of fools.

    To exchange one set of proprietary terms & conditions for another, even if the new ones are a lot less aggravating, when one could instead have grasped Freedom in perpetuity, is a wasted opportunity in my opinion.

    --

    Debian: GNU/Linux done the Linux way
    1. Re:Windependance != Freedom, it seems by Our+Man+In+Redmond · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It brings to mind what I believe is a translated polish proverb:

      A change of leaders is the joy of fools.

      Yeah, we have a proverb like that in English too:

      Meet the new boss, same as the old boss

      I chuckled when I heard the bad guy saying this in "The Sum Of All Fears" but I didn't know just how deeply Pete Townshend's line had worked itself into the linguistic landscape until I did this search.

      --
      Someone you trust is one of us.
  29. Wow! Look at all the features... by gatesh8r · · Score: 2

    That I'll never use! Gee, whiz, I need to spend $500 on it and take out a second mortgage for the computer I'm going to need!

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    Karma whorin' since 1999
  30. Of course we declared war on Germany by pgpckt · · Score: 2

    In fact, here is a link to it. You could have justed asked google, which is what I did. I used "declaration of war germany". It was the first hit.

    --
    Lawrence Lessig is my personal hero.
  31. Well said! by robinjo · · Score: 2

    I think it's a shame that most of the prizes are partly or completely non-free software.

    That was so well said that I'll give you 10 free Apache licenses and another 10 free OpenOffice licenses!

  32. Sighh... by Interrobang · · Score: 2

    For me to run Linux at work, I need Office. I can't even convince my project boss (1000 km away, more or less) to use FrameMaker for this project, despite its being the Right Tool for the Job.

    At home, however... Linux box here I come! (Just moved; computers et al in pieces!)

    ?!

    --
    I'm not a geek, I'm just a clever script.
  33. Re:July 14th: The stoning of Redmond by ncc74656 · · Score: 2
    Darn, and I still haven't started on my CD gun. It's based on the toy "phaser" that shot those little plastic disks.

    Finally a good use for all those AOL discs eh? (The power source is the problem. A spring just doesn't cut it for a 100 CD magazine.)

    Any chance of it being a portable railgun that would fling CDs, or is the aluminum layer in your average CD not sufficient for that idea to work? If it could work, you could get some pretty decent speed out of the business end of it...

    Of course, you'd probably need a backpack power supply to drive the thing. You could go around flinging AOHell CDs at people with a contraption that looks like something out of Ghostbusters...

    --
    20 January 2017: the End of an Error.
  34. Parent was a troll by Paul+the+Bold · · Score: 2
    The parent post was a troll, and I'll tell you why. (I was not a moderator today, but I may have modded this one down.) First, he refered to the subject as "some partisan hippy cause", which is misleading (is it Republican, Democratic, Green, Libertarian, or Whig?), and the language he uses is unkind. Second, he writes, ""Free software" types are...not on the side of Freedom (except when it comes to smoking pot)." Wow! Even if I agreed with the premise that this is an inappropriate day to hold such festivities, I am insulted. This is unnecessary, and turns me (and any other Linux user) away from his message immediately. Finally, he calls Bill Gates a pansy, which should turn off any Microsoft fans. Who is left? Apple? Be? Vax?

    The poster is making an important point, but the point is lost amid the insults. People will respond not to the ideas but the language. For that reason, it is a troll.

    I have re-written the parent, removing all insults, thus making a more effective post:

    Independence day allows us to look back on the sacrifices our forefathers made to keep America free. I don't appreciate seeing it trivialized.

    Take the opportunity to start working for real change: less government intrusion, less taxes, fewer regulations, more freedom. Those are your birthrights, secured with the blood of our ancestors. Don't let them down!

  35. May 17! by epepke · · Score: 2

    Scandinavian independence day. If it weren't for Scandinavians, we wouldn't even be thinking about this.

  36. wINDEPENDENCE, i.e Freedom by FreeUser · · Score: 3, Insightful

    To help celebrate wIndependence Day (or, perhaps more accurately, WinDependence Day), do we have just not be Windows users, or do we have to use Linux? If it's just about not using Linux, then somebody [apple.com] has already started promoting a similar idea.

    First, you need to rephrase your question.

    As stated, no, you don't have to use GNU/Linux, but you do have to use a Free Operating System (Free as in Freedom). This rules out Apple, Sun, etc. Replacing one set of masters with another set of masters doesn't by you an ounce of freedom or independence, which is what "Windependence" is all about.

    So, if you had phrased your question "...do we have just not be Windows users, or do we have to use Free Software" then the answere would be, if you wish to be free and independent, then yes, you have to use free software. If you do not care that a corporate vendor has veto power over your ability to use your PC, then Apple, Microsoft, or any number of other proprietary vendors will likely serve your purposes just fine.

    Ok, maybe not Microsoft based on their track record for the last 10 years vis-a-vis reliability, security, and forced obsolescence...but don't kid yourself: Sun and Apple are just failed Microsoft wannabe's, and if you switch to their product you may find, while you are breathing a sigh of relief to be free of Microsoft's stranglehold, that you have in fact only replaced one set of masters with another and are now firmly entrenched in Apple, or Sun's, stranglehold. It only becomes a question of time then, before you are looking for escape once more.

    --
    The Future of Human Evolution: Autonomy
  37. And our motto will be... by devphil · · Score: 2


    ...l1b3rty, 3qual1ty, and frat3rn1ty!

    --
    You cannot apply a technological solution to a sociological problem. (Edwards' Law)
  38. free your ass from Windows-alike interfaces by Enahs · · Score: 2

    Windows-alike interfaces aren't that special. Let's start doing something revolutionary, like paying attention to UI research results.

    --
    Stating on Slashdot that I like cheese since 1997.
  39. Re:July 14th: The stoning of Redmond by sharkey · · Score: 2

    Fortunately, there were no serious injuries...

    You mispelled "Sadly".

    --

    --
    "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
  40. The BSA methods. by azimir · · Score: 2, Informative

    I'm under the impression that the BSA will contact you and ask for a voluntary audit first. If you don't have the time/money for it, they'll gladly provide their own people to do the audit for you. If you are found in compliance they'll just go away, but if you are found to be guilty they charge you (contrator rates) for the people they provided.

    If you ignore or upset them, then the BSA will get help from local authorities. I believe they use the federal marshalls. The Marshalls will knock down your door and tell everyone to take their hands off their keyboards to prevent any deletion of evidence. So far not much gives the BSA the right to do this, but a flimsy EULA and some badly interpreted copyright laws.

    No, it's not right or fair, but it is now precedented, so you will need to check your facts before you start using software from BSA members. There are few ways to win against the BSA system because they only get paid if you are charged/fined/extorted money.

    Just remember that that fu*k'n paperclip is a member of the mob.

  41. Re:Win on Lin... by Arandir · · Score: 2

    No, it is Lycoris who is duplicating the look and feel of WinXP. If you look at those screen shots, you'll see that they ARE NOT of the standard KDE control center. That isn't the standard KDE color scheme. Those aren't the standard KDE icons. In fact, that isn't even a control center at all! It's Konqueror displaying a fscking web page!

    I'm running KDE right now, and I'll be damned! It looks just like...like...KDE!

    --
    A Government Is a Body of People, Usually Notably Ungoverned
  42. Re:It Isn't Really All That Hard by John+Hasler · · Score: 2

    "Perhaps you could instead recognize your talent and use it to help people who do find it hard to do."

    I'm a Debian maintainer and I wrote pppconfig to make it easy for users to configure ppp. What have you contributed?

    --
    Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
  43. Re:July 14th: The stoning of Redmond by EnderWiggnz · · Score: 2

    the problem with using CD's, is that they arent articularly aerodynamic - no curves, not strategically placed holes...

    too flat and smooth.

    --
    ... hi bingo ...
  44. Re:July 14th: The stoning of Redmond by sharkey · · Score: 2

    Damn, I sure I hope I spelled everything correctly. :)

    From now on, I sure I hope I do too.

    --

    --
    "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.