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Slashback: Mars, Linksys, Torrent

Slashback tonight brings updates and followups on several recent Slashdot postings. Among other things, Linksys says they're not violating the GPL, and Tiger Direct says that Michael Robertson's claims about Microsoft targeting Lindows buyers are way off base. Speaking of which, Microsoft has decided it makes more sense to embrace schools than to alienate them with hard-nosed licensing policies on donated PCs. Also, a torrent file for the Red Hat 9 version of Ximian's latest desktop, and more. Read on for the details.

Fork carefully or be forked preemptively. BSD Forums writes "The leader of the open-source JBoss Java application server environment said that if the group of developers that left his organization attempts to splitâ"or "fork" as it's called in the industryâ"the JBoss code base, he would sue them. Marc Fleury, president of JBoss Group LLC, Atlanta, said he is prepared to take legal action if the group of developers who left the JBoss Group to form a new company, known as Core Developers Network LLC, attempts to diverge from the JBoss code base."

They can learn in the classroom, or outside it. MVP writes "Fridrik "frisk" Skulason, of F-Prot fame (you know, that good old DOS free for personal use antivirus, up-to-date & usable for windows), has a very acid reaction against the decision of University of Calgary to start teaching virus-writing classes (see previous Slashdot thread)."

Just let me control the textbooks ... After a few stories like this one, it may please some people to see at least a partial turnaround from Microsoft on computers donated to schools without Windows licenses. Patrick Cable II writes "I got an interesting letter from Microsoft today at work. Microsoft has started a "Fresh Start" program for educational instutions that basically makes it so schools who have had computers donated to them without licenses or media can get media and a letter stating the computer is licensed to use a Windows operating system (98 or 2000). More information can be found here. Anyone think they're trying to figure out a way to deal with the whole Linux thing?"

Software in the Public Interest has yet to respond with a lower licensing fee for Debian.

More fun than "The Winds of War." For fans of Kim Stanley Robinson, space exploration and colonization, space elevators et cetera, reader Unbeliever writes with new that Hurd will soon meet Mars. "No, not GNU/Hurd, but Gale Ann Hurd. Hurd just signed a deal with Sci-Fi to produce Kim Stanley Robinson's Red Mars as a Sci-Fi 6-hour miniseries. Red Mars is the first of the Robinson's Red/Green/Blue Mars Trilogy, an 'almost plausible sci-fi' future-history approach about Colonizing and Terraforming Mars. The trilogy looks at the technological, sociological, personal, and political challenges of terraforming a different planet. Also of interest to Slashdotters in general is Robinson's ideas on the growth of multi-national corporations into Meta-Nations, and their effects on world politics."

But doesn't that make it radio their way? In the recent Radio Your Way review, our reviewer said of the device that it had "[n]o off button! As far as I can tell, once you turn the device on there is no way to manually turn it off other than to wait for it to enter sleep mode after several minutes. Very annoying."

Another reader writes with this workaround: "In any mode, hold down the stop button (a little square under the play button) for 2-3 seconds to turn off the unit. This is listed in the manual, which you are right, is a very poorly done Korean effort."

Calm down that jerking knee, then apply ice. In response a post which raised the question of whether Linksys was in violation of the GPL by not distributing, nor offering links to, the source code for the software controlling their 802.11g base stations. A representative from Linksys-PR sent in this note about the "missing" source code:

Linksys is a strong proponent of both Linux and the Open Source movement. The code within our routers is using User Space code without linking dynamically or statically to any GPL (GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE) code. Any code which does not have a static or dynamic link to anything covered by the General Public License is not GPL'ed, and can be considered closed source.

We regret it took some time to respond to this posting. To assure timely responses to inquiries like this in the future, please use the following procedure which complies with the requirements of the General Public License:

1. Please put your request in writing or in an email addressed to info@Linksys.com
2. You have to request the code for the specific modules you want. It is not valid to issue a request for any "code you may be using."
3. Technically, you are also supposed to provide us with a self-addressed stamped envelope, along with funds to cover the cost of providing the code to you. But Linksys will handle requests on a case-by-case basis. Thank you."

Straight from the Tiger's mouth. Tiger Direct Executive Vice President Richard Wallet wrote to contradict Michael Robertson's claims that Microsoft was targeting Tiger Direct customers who purchased Lindows systems to offer them steep discounts on Windows XP. Wallet writes:

"TigerDirect is not selling any version of Windows for $50. We are selling Microsoft Windows XP just like any other reseller and we are in compliance with all of Microsoft's licensing agreements, no better, no worse, and no different.

TigerDirect does sell low-cost systems with the Lindows operating system. TigerDirect also sells low-cost systems with Microsoft Windows XP. TigerDirect even sells systems with NO operating systems. The only parties who can tell us which products are or aren't worth selling are our customers. Neither Microsoft nor Lindows has a significant influence on what we buy and sell. We aim to serve our customers with the products they want at the very best values available and world-class customer service.

TigerDirect did in fact perform a survey of its customers as it does on a regular basis. Contrary to the author's claim, this survey was not only sent to Lindows buyers. It was sent to everybody who bought systems from TigerDirect during a specific time period. The purpose of the survey was to help us better serve the needs of our customers by getting a better understanding of what they're using the systems for, what they're running on them, and why they purchased what they did. The result of the survey is going to be to help us better align our PC product mix to increase sales."

Many monkeys make slick visuals. IamTheRealMike writes "Hi all, there is a BitTorrent of the XD2 RPMs for Red Hat 9 available, please be gentle with it. It comes as a directory that contains a readme and an ISO - make sure you read the readme first as there is a bug in the installer you need to know about. When all is done and you've read the instructions, just mount the ISO using the loopback device and point the installer at it. For all those who have been trying and failing to get it using the mirror network, this might provide a useful alternative."

14 of 344 comments (clear)

  1. Not on my system, brother. by Got-Tea-Rolls · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Virus writing class? Puh-lease. Get with the *nixes.

  2. Need help choosing a new computer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait
    I need some help choosing a new computer, a computer which will match my "lifestyle".

    First, a few facts about me,

    • 26 years old
    • Effeminate
    • Gay
    • "bareback rider"
    • HIV positive
    • San Francisco resident
    • love quiche, brie, and croissants.
    • Streisand's biggest fan
    What kind of computer should I buy? Would Apple Mac be a good choice?
    1. Re:Need help choosing a new computer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

      Go for the powerbook! Every gay man will envy your 17 inches!

      If it only came in black...

    2. Re:Need help choosing a new computer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

      What kind of computer should I buy?

      Actually none. By posting this, and actually thinking it is funny, it shows that you are too stupid to be allowed near a computer without adult supervision.
      if you DO have one currently, please take it back to the store.

    3. Re:Need help choosing a new computer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

      Hmmm, ya a Mac would be good for you..

      However if you also weigh over 300 pounds and have 10 or more cats then an Amiga is right for you!

  3. Yeah, what the fuck by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    You monkey-boys are shit-eating dickheads... and to think I was going to install your desktop.

    I think I'll stick with mwm

  4. bit torrent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Bit torrent fucking licks hairy twat, what do you fags think you're cool distributing shit over a crappy ass p2p system?

    The fucking shit is legal just get a goddamn real server with some fucking decent bandwith or you asshipes can't afford that?

    p2p is just a fucking guerilla method of distributing illegal shit, to distribute legal shit over p2p is to be a trendy bandwagon hopping pussyfag.

  5. Re:Why package RPMs as an ISO? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    I know you think you're all leet and shit spouting off technical details of the latest trendy p2p crap system but the fact that you cunts are talking about using rpms just shouts NEWBS.

  6. Re:Why package RPMs as an ISO? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait
    well, I certainly don't trust shittorrent to do md5sums for me. everything I've ever downloaded (if you can even call it that) has been corrupt. finally I removed the worthless client and I'm doing fine downloading ISOs and MPGs with mozilla

    Face the facts: Shittorrent is Dying.

    the number of people using shittorrent is falling every day. downloads from the shittorrent client website have fallen to less than 8 per week.

    the recent struggle by shittorrent True Believers to distribute Gollum's speech from the MTV movie awards showed that 85% of downloaders gave up after the files simply would not download. this is all despite the fact that the torrents only became available after the shittorrent Diehards broke the protocol just to ensure that it could supply the requested file.

    Shittorrent is dead. It's time to shut up now.

  7. Yeah!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    You showed 'em! Good one, think that one up by yourself, bucko?

  8. Mac = Fag computer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait
    Sir, you are a low life faggot. You are the scum of the earth (no offense intended).

    Mac is YOUR computer because Mac is the fag computer for gay homos like yourself.

    Hope this helps, faggot.

  9. Re:about Linksys providing source code by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Shut the hell up. They don't have to include any sources if they didn't change your silly little program. You are aware that BusyBox sucks anyway, right?

  10. Re:about Linksys providing source code by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    "Thats fine. But as maintainer of BusyBox, which is being illegally shipped with their router without source in violation of the GPL, I had my lawyer send them a lease-compily-with-the-license letter on May 13th."
    If you are the maintainer to busybox, then don't you already have the source? Do you think they modified the busybox source code? Or do you think you are entitled to the source to every program on the router because they use busybox?

  11. Re:about Linksys providing source code by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Take your pink panties and go back to your room. Why the hell do you think you "need" this source code other than to spite them because it wasn't shipped? The shit works fine so leave it alone and quit worrying about such trivial things like accessing the source.

    I really hope you piss Linksys (Now cisco) off so bad that they stop releasing drivers altogether for the Linux OS. Then you'll be feeling like rock star!