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Slashback: XPiracy, Panel, Gentoo
The real requirements for Longhorn, at least at this juncture. Cryoknight writes "It seems that Longhorn will run on almost anything that's a P4 or better, judging by this article from C|Net News. You only need a 64mb graphics card to run the slickest version..."
(That's in contrast with earlier reports that the average Longhorn system would be hefty indeed; of course, listed minimums and recommendations are often worlds apart.)
How many bits could Mandrake chuck if Mandrake could chuck bits? Shipud writes "Speaking of AMD beating Intel, Mandrake have just released their v.10 for AMD64. Claiming to be on the average 20% faster, and compatible with 32-bit applications." As usual, it's never a good time to buy a computer.
The War Of The Word, Part II Random Guru 42 writes "Chris Pratley, whose earlier blog entry was the source of much discussion [referring to this Slashdot post of April 27], has just recently replied to everyone's feedback both here and as comments on that earlier entry."
Gentoo Community Reaches Out to Daniel Robbins nporter writes "Slashdot reported the news that Daniel Robbins has stepped down as chief architect of Gentoo Linux. It was revealed that due to his commitment to Gentoo he racked up a hefty personal debt of $20,000. The Gentoo Community is showing its appreciation to its founder in droves by placing donations to the Gentoo Store, proceeds of which will go toward paying down Robbins' debt. I count over a thousand dollars (and growing rapidly) has already been donated, just based upon posts to the forums. It's great to see Linux users coming together like this to show support for someone who has contributed so much to the Linux community."
Bitkeeper redux, redux. gosand writes "Part two of the two-part interview with Bitkeeper author Larry McVoy is up at Newsforge. (Part 1 was posted here yesterday). They essentially talk about why and how BK fits into the kernel development model. There are only two questions, one answered by Larry, and one answered by Linus. Maybe that is because BK makes them 2.5x as efficient, and they can answer everything in just one answer each. :-)"
MS Clarifies: No SP2 For Pirated XP Copies PingXao writes "Unlike earlier reports, this eWeek story says MS will not be allowing pirated versions of Windows XP to install SP2. They plan to release the update within a couple of months as everybody knows, but what's interesting is this quote from a MS spokesperson that supposedly explains their reasons for this approach: "... using genuine software is an important part of keeping systems secure and running smoothly because it means continued access to the latest security enhancements and product updates." Not that I blame them for not providing assistance to people who violate their copyrights, but I wonder if they actually paid someone to come up with that insightful explanation. Something like "We don't provide updates to pirates" would have done the trick. Why cloud the issue with talk about secure this and security that when the basis for the policy has absolutely nothing to do with security?"
Games panel at Smithsonian - update tripmaster writes "For those slashdotters that tried to get a ticket but were foiled by the smaller venue, the panel on games with Shigeru Miyamoto, Richard Garfield and Doug Church being held Sunday, May 16th at the Smithsonian in Washington DC has been moved to a bigger space. Miyamoto should be showing the same highlights of his latest game as premiered at E3. Questions from the audience will be collected and posed to the speakers -- a rare chance to ask query some of games' most visionary and influential creators."
Off again, on again. Doug Muth writes "According to this piece on Yahoo, the restraining order which was issued against SpamCop on May 10th has been dissolved by the judge who further remarked that, 'the TRO [entered May 10] was not a determination of the merits of the case.'"
Happy Trails!
Erick
http://www.busyweather.com/
As usual, it's never a good time to buy a computer.
With prices constantly falling and better performance for price as hardware incessantly marches toward being a commodity good, one could just as easily say that it's always a good time to buy a computer.
That's right, folks, only use "genuine" software for that clean, refreshing Microsoft feeling of comfort. The kind you cannot get with pirated software since they won't let you eliminate their own bugs that cause so many Net problems. The kind you cannot get with FOSS since you can see the code for yourself and fix the problems. No, if you want the genuine experience, the kind of out-of-the-box headache that only comes from Microsoft software, insist on "genuine" software! Our bank account balance will thank you.
MS Clarifies: No SP2 For Pirated XP Copies
So much for the herd effect. It's simply, really. If everyone but me has gotten a polio vaccine, I'll still be fine because the polio has nowhere to hide.As soon as 10 - 20 percent of the population isn't vaccinated, suddenly the problem [polio] reemerges.
Why can't Microsoft understand the basic concept?
An effective signature identifies a particular user amongst a base of thousands.
MS isn't saying they won't support Pirated versions - that implies that they're somehow changing their security scheme regarding service packs. They're NOT.
The installation hurdles that existed in SP1 will be back again for SP2 - no more, no less.
Nothing has changed, Move along, Move along...
...Also, I didn't know Buggalo could fly.
[re: star/open office]Their stated goal is to clone Office97, and they are so focused on that that there simply isn't anything to learn from or appreciate.
While I understand his point, I don't see much innovation between office 2000/XP at all, at least not from an end-user perspective. It's become, to a large extent, bloatware. How much innovation does an office suite need, anyway? You get things like clippy when innovating a basically simply product to death. KISS.
If this feature were to have a regular day of posting (i.e. Every Wednesday at 5:00pm or somesuch time frame) it would go a long way in adding credibility to Slashdot as a source of news.
No joking/flames intended but every news source makes mistakes and has to either back pedal or update or simply roll with an ever changing or expanding story or what would be now defunct "facts".
I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. -- Hunter S. Thompson
I think what they're trying to get across is, "If your PC is insecure because you pirated our software, tough shit. Buy it next time and you can stay secure." I don't know that I like that attitude, since these unpatched machines as a whole also affect the people who do practice good security (usually through network traffic), but they're trying to equate "OS piracy" and "security risk", and just might succeed if new worms increase.
Member of Orkut? Annoyed with spam?
"... using genuine software is an important part of keeping systems secure and running smoothly because it means continued access to the latest security enhancements and product updates."
...
double speak is awesome.
Q: why can't pirates get updates.
A: you shouldn't be a pirate because pirates don't get updates.
Q: i know, i implied they didn't get updates in my question, and you just repeated it to me...
A: you should know that... i just told you.
Q: see, you did it again. why are you doing that?
A: you would be better off if you knew why i was doing this.
Q: REM this is a question.
A:
Q: IS THIS A MICROSOFT PR BOT?!
A: abort; goto end; kill();
MARIJUANA, SHROOMS, X: ONLINE?! - E
As a happy Gentoo user, I can testify to the usefulness of the system as a whole. Robbins and his crew really have done it right. It is the least the community can do to give something back to him for his hard work.
We shall see how well the rest of the developers can knit the project together during the following months. It shall be interesting to see who will step forward as the new project leader as well.
"Intellectual Property" should be an affront to anyone capable of independent thought.
Getting a release for AMD64 is a very good move for Mandrake. I just bought an AMD64 laptop, and I've looked around for linux distributions, but the discussion groups have mentioned problems with many of them. An Official Release by Mandrake is a good sign that the majority of the problems have been solved.
Open Note to Mandrake: I'm running Mandrake right now on my office machine. If this version of Mandrake works well on my laptop, I intend to buy a box. Way to go!
I just started an "emerge sync" and donated $5 (I'm a poor student). Gentoo is the bees knees as they say.
I mean it must be comforting to know you can just blacklist the compromised install keys that pirates use and be done with it right? I mean it's not like anyone could possibly have made a key generator for Windows XP right?
Is it just me or are anti-piracy measures just growing more and more inconvenient for legitimate users (product activation etc) and not at all more inconvenient for pirates (who get modified versions with the annoying features removed)?
Introducing the new Occam Fusion! Now with sqrt(-1) fewer blades!
Where's the logic here? If you want to use Linux, use it. No one's forcing you to use a Microsoft OS. But don't pirate Microsoft software and expect to get updates. The only question up for discussion is whether not providing security updates for pirates will hurt people besides the pirates themselves.
No, but wait for Slashsdot infomercials. That will be a special section paid for by advertisers which will write the articles on their new products.
Microsoft are saying that they wont provide the latest service packs for their software for pirates. Doesn't most of the world pirate MS Windows? Do you think people pay for it if they had to? What do you think would happen to the market share of Windows if Microsoft make it tougher to pirate their OS? Do you think developers will be so keen to support an operating system with a declining user base?
All this could be a blessing in disguise for Linux/MacOS as people may be forced to look for an Alternative to Windows. I mention MacOS since, although it isn't free, if I had to pay for an OS I know which one I would choose.
JPickard
My precise point.
UT2k4 is linux native, jackass.
Warcraft runs under Winex.
Next!
and saw this message:
Your order has been successfully processed! Your products will arrive at their destination within 2-5 working days.
I wonder which products they're talking about
Could someone which is using bitkeeper
update this comparison with the bitkeeper data.
Unfortunally most people I know who aren't interesting in computers (I'm mainly thinking family members here), just want to turn on their computers, do some typing, send an email and surf the web.
The are simply not interested in updating their OS. Most of them don't understand what updating is for. They only time they worry about it is when I get a phonecall going:
"Ryan, the computer keeps shutting down for no reason.. what should I do?" - then i go in for cleanup, patches, firewall, firefox, etc, etc...
So what happens is that you can end up with lots of legal AND illegal versions of software that aren't patched. I think many people wouldn't even know if they have a legal version or not.. They just use what is given to them.
This is why worms lately have been able to cause so much havic lately. People just don't understand they have to update.
So stopping the service packs from being installed just increases this issue and we have more and more machines on the net that are a breeding ground for worms- its hard to get people to update as it is!
People see all these computers around with problems with Windows and form a bad opinion of it. Isn't it better to try to aim to have ALL copies of Windows installed around the world up to date and working smoothly, than risk getting the reputation that it's a bug-riddled OS?
Live in your skin. Keep changing the scenery.
Equivalent would be holding you responsible because someone stole your well-secured (i.e. Microsoft is hardly negligent for their software being stolen, as they spent a lot of time on anti-piracy stuff) car, failed to change the break fluid, and you didn't provide him with a fluid change so he ends up hitting a pedestrian. Get my drift?
More likely is a suit alleging negligence when a Microsoft product suffers a vulnerability that's exploited before a patch becomes available, though click-throughs are designed to prevent this liability.
"Since you can't use SP2, why not try a different SP? "
Sure, lemme just give up my library of games and climb a steep learning curve to make the switch.
"Derp de derp."
Well, if you can't dazzle them with brilliance...
I don't think that the parent post was a troll. I actually thing that the causal copiers are *exactly* the type of home users we want to market Linux to.
For the record, I only use the term piracy to refer to organized cartels of copyright infringers. I presume most of the unlicensed copies of Windows XP in the US are from causal copiers or multiple installs from the same media. I think it is important to distinguish these issues in public discussion and policy.
Every unlicensed copy of Windows represents a user who is unwilling to make a choice between paying full price for Windows or moving to an alternative operating system. By helping these people see that there are better deals that they can use without worrying about the ramifications (no service packs or patches, etc.) of using unlicensed copies of Windows.
LedgerSMB: Open source Accounting/ERP
How is he screwed on Unreal? Epic is one of the few companies that actually supports linux gaming - both server AND client.
I am supposed to keep Windows updated. AND have an antivirus program?
Every one seems to think that SP2 will really, truely make Windows more secure. With Microsofts track record, I'm not so sure. I'm willing to bet that it's going to open all sorts of new problems, and Windows it going to continue to be the mess of an OS that it always has been.
Not that I blame them for not providing assistance to people who violate their copyrights, but I wonder if they actually paid someone to come up with that insightful explanation.
:-)
Yes. They're called PR people. And they all sound like that.
The funny thing is, the ones I've know talk like that all the time. It's a little uncanny--having lunch with one feels like reading about your day in PC Week.
For the record, I only use the term piracy to refer to...
'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone,' it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less.'
'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things.'
'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - that's all.'
Alice was too much puzzled to say anything; so after a minute Humpty Dumpty began again. 'They've a temper, some of them - particularly verbs: they're the proudest - adjectives you can do anything with, but not verbs - however, I can manage the whole lot of them! Impenetrability! That's what I say!'
'Would you tell me, please,' said Alice, 'what that means?'
'Now you talk like a reasonable child,' said Humpty Dumpty, looking very much pleased. 'I meant by "impenetrability" that we've had enough of that subject, and it would be just as well if you'd mention what you mean to do next, as I suppose you don't mean to stop here all the rest of your life.'
'That's a great deal to make one word mean,' Alice said in a thoughtful tone.
'When I make a word do a lot of work like that,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'I always pay it extra.'
'Oh!' said Alice. She was too much puzzled to make any other remark.
'Ah, you should see 'em come round me of a Saturday night,' Humpty Dumpty went on, wagging his head gravely from side to side, 'for to get their wages, you know.'
(Alice didn't venture to ask what he paid them with; so you see I can't tell you.)
'You seem very clever at explaining words, Sir' said Alice. 'Would you kindly tell me the meaning of the poem called "Jabberwocky"?'
Speaking as an average user can I just say that I don't wanna play with my kernel. I just wanna type my letters and go home. I don't wanna know what happens behind my desktop.
It's a tool, like my car. I wouldn't have a clue how the engine management system in my car works. Hell, I don't even know if it has one apart from Joe down the garage. So I pay Joe or Microsoft to know that stuff. And it gets updated every now and then and with a little effort and a decent AV package I've never been hit by any worm or destructive virus.
I use a fairly vanilla hardwear setup and when the ease of installation, and use of the OS and applications (and the range of applications) reaches the same level as Windows let me know. I and millions like me just don't have the training, time, or inclination to fiddle with the box.
I appreciate that many do and it is those people who will eventually move Linux up to a position where it can replace Windows. But I object to being ridiculed as a mindless automaton because I don't share your passion for fixing operating systems. Because from a users perspective, it isn't as broken as you claim.
Unless of course the 'you' referred to is the 0.0001% of the computer using population that does eliminate their own bugs or see code and fix it.
Except that MAME, NES, SNES, Genesis, GB, GBA, Virtual Boy, Saturn, Playstation, N64, and various other systems are emulatable under Linux. Just because it's OSS doesn't mean you can't engage in some good ol' copyright infringement.
True story.
'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone,' it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less.'
'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things.'
'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - that's all.'
There is remarkable insight into that phrase, BTW, as long as we are clear on definitions. Indeed the question is who is to be master. Is it the RIAA, Microsoft, et. al. who define borrowing a friend's e-book and using alt-print-screen to be piracy, or is it a more moderate interpretation which says that there is a fundamental difference between friend-to-friend infringement and the organized international crime cartels which do such things as burn CD-ROMS in floating factories in international waters.
LedgerSMB: Open source Accounting/ERP
So assume, M$ doesn't release SP2 to the illegal WinXP users. Now as all the new (and existing) worms start their squirm of terror over the net, who should we blame? The worm coders, of course; but how responsible is it that a certain company knows that worms will quickly propogate through their widely pirated software and refuse to make available a patch? So the whole internet must pay the price becuase Microsoft wants to get back at the teenagers who won't dish out the $300 for their buggy OS. Yeah, that makes *perfect* sense.
I think you're missing the point. Take the car analogy. This situation is more akin to a manufacturer releasing a car that has faulty brakes. That car is stolen, the brakes fail while the thief is driving off, and an innocent bystander is injured. The innocent bystander can sue the manufacturer for the product defect. It doesn't matter that the driver was not the legal owner - what matters is that the manufacturer was responsible for providing safe brakes and failed to. (please note, this is a simplified fact pattern/result - but you should get the point)
Let's say the thief has the car a few days, hears about a recall, but can't get the car fixed because he doesn't have a receipt for purchase (and for the sake of simplicity - let's say manufacturer provides the fix directly as opposed to a dealer). The manufacturer is then in even more trouble because the car came to the shop, they knew it was faulty, they refused to fix it, and as a result of their refusal to fix the car, the brakes fail and cause an accident to an innocent 3d party. 3d party sues.
This sort of fact scenario is much closer to what MS is saying than your analogy. In terms of car accidents, at least with the 2d scenario, 80% of plaintiff oriented product liability attorneys would get a woody and dollar signs in their eyes (just a guess - could be more).
Eventually, MS will face a suit where an innocent bystander is harmed because MS refused to fix a known dangerous product, and the unfixed versions cause some sort of disruption even for the innocent users. Obviously software and cars are different so I wouldn't gamble on the outcome, but it will be an interesting fight to watch.
What changed under Obama? Nothing Good
You can have your cookie back.
Sincerely,
Joel Roth
Proud Gentoo Linux User
For all you Windows users out there, I have a solution... DON'T UPGRADE!
If you need to use Windows, at least be smart and don't get XP. MS insists on making you jump through extra hoops, so why not stick with good old 2000? It can do anything XP can, without registration, without the nasty new interface, and faster of course. Now that XP is the current Windows version, you can find perfectly legal copies of 2000 really cheap.
Personally, I never upgraded from NT4. It's more stable than any other version (I would know), insanely fast compared to any other version, hardware drivers are always available, and it's still got rather modern Windows features (like DirectX 6). Runs all the same Windows programs as XP/2000.
Now for some interesting prices:
WinNT 4.0 Full $21.00 <-- recomended version
Win 2000 $88.00
Win 95 OSR2 w/USB Full $17.00
Win 98 $49.00
Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
Granted, the morally right thing to do in this case may be for the dealer to repair anyway--assume the repairs are trivial and cost very little--knowing that not repairing poses a potential risk. Nonetheless, within the realm of tort law, there is no pre-existing relationship or duty of care between the dealer and the thief, nor is there a duty of care between the dealer and the pedestrian. There is a duty of care--formed by the customer/seller relationship--between the dealer and the legitimate customer, but there does not, in my mind, seem to be one between the dealer and the thief.
Bear in mind that I am not a lawyer, but I have studied tort law a very small amount, and I do know that there must be a duty of care or preexisting relationship for one to be negligent. I don't see that duty of care here.
But to use your analogy of the car further, although you may not want to learn how the engine management system works, isn't it good to know that you could learn it if you wanted to? That you could open the hood at any time to check on the work the mechanic did? Wouldn't it be awful to be told you weren't allowed to look at your engine and had to trust the auto manufacturer any time they made an adjustment to your car?
That's the freedom part of FOSS. Not that you have to look at the code, but at least you can look at it if you wanted to. You have the freedom to look or not look as you want.
I don't use Windows, and as follows I don't pirate it. But I do expect updates for the pirates. Why? Because they screw up MY network, and Microsoft is to blame. I hate those bitches. Every last one of them.
I, for one, hope this does hurt the pirates. Why? Because anything that stops people from pirating software means they either have to pay for it or switch to something else (say GNU/Linux). Some will pay, but many will switch. I can't count how many times I've offered OpenOffice to people only to have them say they can get M$ Office for free (i.e. pirate it). Stop the pirating and I bet more would be interested.
This may be a little extreme even for Slashdot, but it seems like Microsoft almost has an obligation to support SP2 for everyone, including pirated copies. Otherwise legions of infested computers will linger all over, leading to future headaches for all...
It's almost like they sold teddy bears to children with vials of some terrible virus embedded inside and are refusing to give the antidote to people without a receipt for the bear.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
The only question up for discussion is whether not providing security updates for pirates will hurt people besides the pirates themselves.
z 2" I think I'd go with the Bryce 3D.
There's not even a question there. It's a given in the whole thing. You think it's bad when people forget to patch and you have a Blaster epidemic, just imagine people that have to pirate a SECURITY patch. I don't kno about most people, but if I was on an ftp server (or whatever is used nowadays) and I saw something like Bryce 3D next to another package that said "WinXP-SP2-security-patch-by-DOD.zip.rar.tar.gz.b
-- This space for lease, low setup fee, inquire within!
It is fairly easy to make a windows installation boot disk that will include the first service pack. It's just a matter of overwriting the original i386 tree with the one from sp1.
Why would the trick not work for sp2 ?
Either nobody who uses Gentoo is a multimillionaire, or they are grubby ones at that. To someone who is loaded, $20k is like paying for lunch. Surely if they appreciated Daniel's efforts they could make a charitable donation. How about giving the guy $50k so he can keep working on it, if he so chooses? Or take a long vacation for all his hard work?
Must-not-watch TV!
We prefer to be called "Buccaneer-Americans", thanks.