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The End of Naked PCs in China?
fishter writes "The Chinese Government is calling on PC manufacturers to ensure that a properly licensed operating system is installed on their products before they leave the factory. One manufacturer has already signed a deal with Microsoft to install its operating systems on all its personal PC products. The edict would also apply to foreign manufacturers supplying PCs to Chinese companies and residents."
Well, I guess now only 4.5 billion people haven't choosen their operating system.
Well, I haven't had the chance to read the exact Chinese wording but if I were a vendor looking to sell naked PCs, I'd simply use a superior OS.
... because it doesn't change anything. It just makes manufacturing boxes a bit more cumbersome.
That's right, simply burn 17MB CDLinux ISO (with Chinese language support) to a CD and "install" the disc into the CD-ROM drive. When the computer boots up, it will have a properly licensed operating system running. Should the consumer choose to install some other operating system *cough* *cough* they won't even need to format the hard drive or write over the partition tables!
Seriously, I think this is just a laughable edict that the Chinese Government has done to bolster trade with United States software firms. The factories in China are just going to distribute Linux or some other free operating system and even have instructions on how to install windows over it. The government knows this also and that's why it's happy to comply with something the US companies are asking it to do
Who knows, if the manufacturers use a nice enough version of Linux, they might cause quite a few people to convert?
My work here is dung.
What did you expect from a Communist country? Of course they're going to ensure everyone respects each others intellectual property rights and attempt to curb piracy!
Er, wait..
I don't see anything in this that precludes pre-loading of OS's other than Windows. They just need to be properly licenced. A copy of RedFlag Linux for example should be perfectly acceptable.
I hate the way this whole 'naked PC' thing is painted as purely a piracy issue. We just bought 10 Workstations from HP that come with WinXP Pro and no way to buy them without despite the fact that they are intended as Linux machines and HP advertises them as fully Linux compatible.
"I have the attention span of a strobe lit goldfish, please get to the point quickly!"
That is amazing. I knew that Microsoft could influence governments, but whoa, this is too much.
Although China may have it's own verions of Linux to install, and that is what they are doing.
I wonder if you have no hard drive on the naked pc if that is still a computer. This is just totally weird.
The difference in cost of a linux pre-installed PC would be enough to raise sales for them. Even if pirated windows will be put on them next. Linux numbers will go up riding the MS Pirating machine.
Unless microsoft gives away windows for a near free price...
The chineese computer manufacturers could hold down costs by installing Linux or freedos. Im sure M$ wouldnt mind. :)
I trust Microsoft as far as I could comfortably spit a dead rat
Well, of course, a "properly licensed operating system" doesn't have to cost money. I'm guessing they will just install linux, probably Red Flag Linux.
Some could even see this as an attempt by the Chinese government to increase Red Flag usage over pirated (American) Windows.
"A week in the lab saves an hour in the library"
I've had coworkers from China. They say that the piracy over there is just ignored. For example, just like you can go and buy a hotdog or a newspaper in a 7/11 here, you can buy a "copy" of whatever you want software-wise over there. It's so bad that requiring an O/S is like holding back the ocean with a broom, it will make absolutely no difference. I'm not just talking about making copies of some existing software, I'm talking about full-scale organized piracy as an industry. It goes far enough that you can even buy DVD's of movies there before the movie is released in theaters over here (not camcorder-made either) !
stuff |
What's the selling point for this when it comes to Joe User? How does Microsoft or China or whoever justify to the consumer that forcing OEM's to bundle an OS with each product is a good thing? Btw, I'm throwing out any anti-piracy argument because I think that sells to corporations, not users.
I'm asking because I don't think there is one. And if there's not one, then this plan of attack is succeeding for other reasons. My guesses are:
1) Joe User doesn't know/care what's going on
10) China isn't a democracy (to put it plainly)
11) Microsoft can bully OEM's
Am I right? Are any of these ever going to change?
Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. - John 14:6 NLT
Will the Chinese still be able to buy parts and slap them together, or will they be forced into buying a hard drive with an OS already installed? What if you have everything but the hard drive, and plan to simply run it off a CD? How about a dummy terminal? There has to be a line drawn somewhere.
Slashdot Burying Stories About Slashdot Media Owned
If that license comes for free, it is ok, no question on this.
If it is not, everyone should be able to claim money back from that license! (This one is an old battle)
Of the two I'd prefer the first one, because 80% of the people would like to be able to turn on the PC and start using it without any further delay.
The issues come only for the remaining 20% people that would like to install a different OS, not necessairly by a different manufacturer!
In any case my own dictionary call this as "freedom constraint", which can be normal in China, but should not in the USA or Europe.
Maybe Computers will never be as intelligent as Humans.
For sure they won't ever become so stupid. [VR-1988]
So I guess that this means that the Dragon/goodson processor is DOA now.
Well Good!
Nakedness is evil, it is unnatural and the work of the devil.
Hasn't Church taught you anything?
So THAT's what the Gate Foundation is about. They flat-out bought China! Not to worry - the military will be run on Windows, so we can count on the BSOD.
In Beijing, where bootleg software is the norm, now PCs come with a surplus, legal (possibly) version of MS DOS 6 installed. It just measn that for a while the bootlegs will be under the counter instead of in the shop window.
Will governments decide that all cars must be sold with properly licensed tires on them? Maybe DVD players should be sold with properly licensed DVDs to play in them.
.... no lobby money needed per se, no court costs needed for fighting pirates, no money needed to influence governments... wow, when you think about it, I wish F/OSS groups were given the equivelent of what MS has spent lobbying courts, governments, and other groups and entities. That should give us all a very nice OS.
Yeah, I get the point, and I can see how this 'should' help MS and others fight piracy... one day, these people will wake up and see that pirates simply don't care and are going to use illegal copies of things anyway. This is why F/OSS has a strong advantage over MS
Support NYCountryLawyer RIAA vs People
So, will this mean that the Chinese government will officially let MS spy on them? This would certainly help. I can't imagine the chinese government being at all comfortable with that prospect. You'd think they'd develope their own distro with wine already set up to run those windows apps they'd think there to be a need for.
"We are all geniuses when we dream"
- E.M. Cioran
You're complicating it past reason.
If you can plug it in, turn it on, and use it without any extra features like a special CD OS image or a network connection, then it is a computer. A box with everything but the hard disk is just computer parts.
you can even buy DVD's of movies there before the movie is released in theaters over here (not camcorder-made either) !
Geez, you would think that having the dvd presses in China and paying the workers peanuts would amount to a very tight supply chain.
"Well, I guess now only 4.5 billion people haven't choosen their operating system."
Of course being able to chose one's OS is sooo much more important than being able to chose one's government. Glad you all have your priorities straight.
With growing pressure from the US and other countries around the world about their lack of IP controls this may be more of a benefit than one would think.
My only concern would be a forced tie in with a non-free vendor. If they are allowed to bundle any OS this may really help the likes of [k]Ubuntu.
Why bother to require a licensed OS except as a deal to benefit Microsoft?
We don't need yet another new programming language. Let's just pick an existing language and fix its flaws.
At the end of TFA is the statement
Something tells me this is one of those Chinese Government edicts that will be largely ignored once Mr. Bush leaves China.
The Chinese President is certainly not in the mood to discuss Microsoft's Intellectual Property Rights when there are more pressing matters to be discussed with the US President. He'll just point to the edict and politely say that the Chinese Government is already taking steps to address problems of piracy. Then he'll quickly change to another topic as soon as he is able.
The GPL is a license... Chinese manufacturers should just ship their Red Flag Linux as the default on each PC. Why would any company strike a "deal" with MS when shipping Linux wouldn't raise the price of their PCs?
However, quite a few people will probably keep the default OS out of laziness, if nothing else, so Windows will loose market share. Until now, there are a fair number of Chinese internet sites (and software) that only work with Windows, but if enough people will use the default Linux system, those sites will have to adapt. This will make it even less attractive to install pirate Windows.
So, how will this hurt MS? They don't get any money worth talking about from the Chinese market today. Their problem is that if a large portion of the Chinese start using Linux, international web sites that sell to the Chinese, will also have to adapt to Linux. And that means that Linux will be a more viable alternative for the international public too.
This may be wishful thinking, but I think there is a fair chance that this scenario will take place.
My work here is dung.
It isn't piracy if it isn't illegal, right?
I guess that'll help with the the overheating then? Dunno about dust though...
'Stupidity is an often fatal disease' - R. A. Heinlein
"That is amazing. I knew that Microsoft could influence governments, but whoa, this is too much."
Most conspiracy theories are. I have a genuine Area 51 UFO for sale. Any takers?
I remember hearing once that McDonald's marketing goal was to make your dinner decision be the question: "McDonalds: yes/no?" as opposed to "McDonalds / Burger King / Taco Bell /
So what Microsoft is trying for here is to convince everyone that the only alternatives are 'piracy' and 'purchasing Windows'. By denying that other choices even exist they push them down in the mindset of the audience, (conversely by adding say Linux in the mix, they legitimize it)
It's the old "Are you still drowning kittens?" question, either 'yes' or 'no' paints you as a monster, when in reality you've never done any such thing.
Formulating questions and answers that go together is what marketing is...
If you think imaginary property and real property are the same, when does your house become public domain?
The chinese government isn't doing this to promote Windows. They're actually promoting something else.
Does nobody build their own PC in China?
I am God ...try prove otherwise!
Has anyone ever taken you up on your request to masturbate you mentally?
Slashdot - where whining about luck is the new way to make the world you want.
I buy my computers piece wise anyways. It's the best way to go if you know what you are looking for, and assembly is just a pasttime hobby of mine.
This will make it just slightly harder for businesses to use illegit copies of Windows (Which is what this all really boils down to) - the armchair software pirate will continue to rip off Microsoft, because their DRM is no more robust than the OS it was meant to protect.
You can get 15 minutes of fame, but you can go down in history for infamy.
Seems MS has found a Nation that is compatible with it's own totalitarian tendencies.
The Chinese Government is calling on PC manufacturers to ensure that a properly licensed operating system is installed on their products before they leave the factory. One manufacturer has already signed a deal with Microsoft to install its operating systems on all its personal PC products.
China is even worse than America!!!
Anyways... my point being.
The Chinese government has plenty of reasoning to go towards a single OS (or only a couple), because of it's ever-so-popular censorship. The problem with a bunch of Linux boxes floating around is that it is harder for the Internet Police to track them. Yahoo, Cisco, MS, Google... these being the big tech industries that have caught heat for bending towards the powers of the Chinese government
Of course we all know about the Yahoo thing... ya know, that journalist imprisoned in China because Yahoo lent a helping hand to the Internet Police. Google filters their search engines (search Tianamen Square in China and you get some very different results) heavily to abide by the Chinese governments guidlines (do no evil... but wait, help China oppress? nah!). Cisco provides much of the hardware used by the estimated 30,000 government internet police. And well, I don't think I have to try hard here to convince you guys that MS is doing their fair share of bending over, for the cash...
Regulation is on the Chinese governments priority list. If they can guarantee that there isn't anything un-monitored going on out there... add another tally for communism.
I don't think the Chinese government could honestly give two shits about whether systems have illegal copies of Windows on them. I just see this as another step in their complete control over the media. The Great Firewall of China
...
Microsoft UK is trying to do the same thing, by sending the boys round to help partners by providing "proactive assistance during customer visits" http://www.businessreviewonline.com/os/archives/20 06/04/a_note_to_micro.html
Hmm. I think the title should read: "Microsoft tax now also applies to China"
The fact that the Microsoft tax exists comes down to the companies fearing liability and consumers don't caring.
I think this is why when Dell sells a computer without an operating system (their N series), they ship it with FreeDOS.
That's a legal operating system. It comes with a CD of FreeDos and a printed copy of the GPL.
I can't speak for China, as I've never been there, but in Thailand, you can go to the mall and find stores (actual stores, not booths) that have nothing but spindles upon spindles of CD-Rs with 'pirated' software. The disks go for the equivilant of $5 US and probably cheaper if you're Thai. It's quite an interesting thing to see.
The reason is simple. Without significant discount, M$ OS and other mainstream product is still too expensive for average cosumer, and I guess even for luxury consumer.
Earning $1000 is still quite decent even in Beijing, capital of ROP and one of the most rich area in the countory. $1000 in china is almost equivalent to $10,000 in US from my feeling.
If I were one of them, I feel quite painful to pay more than $100 just for OS. Some people will and can choose Linux as alternative, however, most of other don't even know what is linux.
Until the day when prices drop hard enough or majority of people become aware of linux, naked PC hardly ends.
I don't think "capitalism" and "communism" mean what you think they mean. The word you're looking for is "plutocracy". The US is a plutocracy.
Insightfull? I'm talking about full-scale organized piracy as an industry.
There is no piracy in China (since there is no copyright*).
This is just legal business.
*not the same copyright laws and no convention etc. I don't know the details.
Million Dollar Screenshot
We buy all kinds of cheap stuff from China, and they're a big part of our trade deficit. I'm sure everyone hates this, but we need some kind of export to China. IP is one of the few things the US is good at anymore.
What you see as piracy is seen as something positive by me, I hope we can get to China's level of copyright neglecting standpoint.
Then it is privateering.
so they'll buy PCs with linux installed and then install pirated copies of Windows... that happened there before...
The MAFIAA is a bunch of mindless jerks who will be the first up against the wall when the revolution comes
Personally, I fancy the Ferengi custom of keeping their females naked...
Something tells me this is one of those Chinese Government edicts that will be largely ignored once Mr. Bush leaves China.
Hu Jintao is coming here. Addressing software sharing is one of the few visible things he can do that will cost him nothing. Currency revaluation is what he is desperate to avoid. Why the US sees fit to give this guy a victory lap I'll never know.
an ill wind that blows no good
OS installs you!
Thank you. You know, in my entire academic career, from Kindergarten to college, and even now, I have NEVER heard that word to describe the governemnt of the U.S. I think we ought to start using this word and teach it to our kids. I will talk to the local principle of the elemetary school about this. And I am almost 40.
PC licenses you.
Friends don't let friends line-dance.
Now that IBM/Lenovo is a Chinese company, does this apply to them as well? How many computers/parts are actually made in China?
(( (CRAYON) )) >
I'd like to know what it really requires. Suppose my free software distribution does not have serial numbers for "accounting"? It would not be surprising for a country that throws people into jail for visiting the wrong web site to then force one rooted distro or another on everyone. Red tape is mostly about ending freedom.
Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.
Chinese Linux on CD? No...
At only 17 Megabytes, join the 21st century. Put the whole system on Flash EEPROM instead of a BIOS chip. Put the 'standard' Bozo BIOS on the Flash in a manner that it appears 'normal' on power-up, but have an option that if any key is pressed, the Chinese Linux boots on power-up.
Then promise Gates anything, sign any contract or treaty, do whatever these dinosaur Americans need to keep them within their illusion that they still control the world, and ignore them in the real world.
Physical PCs running Linux OS is the real world in the lands outside of the region where Microsoft has managed to bribe enough politicians to give it the illusion of legal control. Inside those regions, however, the PC community remains SOL and hostage to Microsoft's fantasies.
Micro$oft has the Republicrats and Democans in their back pocket. So if you vote republicrat and democan in the next election, shut up and go sit on the sidelines, as you will have no room to complain.
_________________________________________________
A vote against a Libertarian candidate is
a vote to abolish the constitution itself.
Then maybe China is also headed that way. Maybe that is the way we have always been headed, just that no one wants to follow a Plutocracy. I guess anything will work, even Communism (as in the former U.S.S.R.) as long as the leadership has control over the people.
From the article:
This mirrors comments from Microsoft, which has long criticised sales of "naked PCs" as helping pirates.
More arrogance from MS, even in the face of there being multiple perfectly good operating systems to choose from. Just because a sold PC doesn't include a purchase of their OS doesn't mean it is guaranteed to have an unlicensed copy of it installed instead.
I worked for a company that did (still does) security holograms. Some of these puppies layer up to 24 seperate security features onto a single repeat (about 1 - 2"^2). When the head of the hologram dept went to China for a seminar, they (the Chineese govt) basically insisted he tour the new hologram lab at one of the Beiging (sp?) universities. Sure enough they were proudly displaying one of the security holograms we had made along with their clone of it. 3 months later Customs was finding authentic looking security holograms on counterfit goods --- wonder where they came from?
Oh, the irony, the "People's Republic" bowing to capitalist pressure at the expense of it's people!
Imagine the officers of a Chinese computer company in a meeting where they are trying to decide on the best way to meet this edict. I am sure that it isn't much different than the meeting and decision making process here (in the United States).
****
Overview is given: Gentlemen, a new policy has come down from Bejing, we are going to be required to install an OS on all of the computers we build! This meeting is to decide what operating system we can install that will be the most profitable for our company. There are many OS'es to choose from; Microsoft has several different flavors of Windows, there is of course a number of flavors of Linux, and then we could also consider BSD or perhaps a commercial version of Unix.
Rep from MFG: Our perspective is that we would like to limit the number of options. It is expensive for us to have too many different options available in our generic boxes.
Rep from Marketing: The lion's share of computers in homes and offices have Windows installed on them. It would be much more difficult for us to sell something that does not have Windows.
Rep from Support: My people could rise to the challenge of supporting anything, they are geeks and like to learn new things but let's face it, right now they already know Windows and it's idisyncracies.
Rep from Development: Every O/S has different drivers. Some companies only offer Windows drivers. We can not find an inexpensive modem that will work with anything besides Windows. If we offer multiple O/S'es, our development costs will skyrocket!
Rep from Shipping: We have not got enough warhouse space to stock more than a couple of different options. Each different configuration requires at least one storage bay! I barely have enough room already!
Moderator: So we can all agree that we have to limit options to one or two different Operating Systems then?
Everyone: Murmurs agreement.
Moderator: Linux is free, Windows XP costs us a lot of money and Windows XP Pro costs us even more.
Marketing: I can not agree to Linux, I do not know how many boxes we can sell like that. People who have to go out and buy retail copies of Windows would need to spend a lot more! They will mentally add that cost into the cost of the computer and I am just not sure we can overcome that!!! I will not sign off on anything other than Windows, it is as simple as that!
Moderator: Anyone else have an opinion?
Everyone:
Moderator: Everyone agrees then that we will offer Windows XP?
Everyone: Quietly mumrmer agreement.
Moderator: Should we offer XP Pro as an option?
Shipping: I think I can make space for it...
Moderator: Are we all agreed that XP Pro can be an option?
Everyone: Quietly mutter agreements
Moderator: OK, that settles it then.
*****
People, you know how this works. While the scenereo I have given is pure fiction, I have been in a thousand meetings just like this and in a nutshell this is what will happen.
I see this as something that makes society much more chocolate and vanilla. Other flavors aren't as favored so things like butterscotch fail to compete for shelf space in larger stores and are eventually discontinued by the manufacturer because he can't sell them to the Walmart's of the world. In the end, we all loose because the fringe flavors are simply no longer available and all we have left to choose from are chocolate and vanilla.
This is why naked PCs are important. They provide something that you can make any flavor you want without extra expense or hassle. Most manufaturers of naked PCs already make Windows boxes too. I suspect that the "copyright issue" is way over-blown. But this way, Microsoft wins because they are now sticking their software on every box made in China! For many naked PC buyers, this just significantly increased the cost of a computer.
I'll say it again: Oh, the irony, the "People's Republic" bowing to capitalist pressure at the expense of it's people!
I don't wish to simply parrot the pro Linux talk that is already out there. What about those people who bought a copy of an OS (say, for an older computer) and don't wish to pay for it again? Is the consumer going to have to prove that they already own a valid (legal) copy of an OS to be able to purchase a new computer without an OS? If this is just M$ trying to prevent piracy, then they may be just helping to fuel it by pissing people off. I don't completely buy the conspiracy theories that M$ is influencing the Chinese government. True, M$ does have a great deal of influence. I would like to see more information about exactly what kind of license the government is going to require or if they are going to require a specific OS. I agree that if this is enforced, manufactuers definately should go with a free OS (ie. Linux, FreeDOS...). Then if the consumer wants to install another OS; it's on them.
"There is no piracy in China (since there is no copyright*)."
Unless the state decrees so. There are strict protections for state-sanctioned business.
The company I work for sells networking software. To prevent piracy of our software, I'm thinking of contacting Microsoft and telling them to add a copy of it to their Windows Server operating systems.
This way, Microsoft can buy the software from us, charge slightly more for a copy of Windows to compensate, and it should prevent piracy - not to mention make my company plenty of money!
Well, if Microsoft can do it, why can't I?
Linux/Open Source/Anti Microsoft News
well, it's similar here...
getting a pirated software, games, music or movies on nicely mass-produced cds/dvds with a nice printed cover is very easy.
police is caring only about businesses (and then mostly is used as inter-business weapon). i would estimate that software piracy rate among individuals is something close to 98-99% (maybe more if you count all sharewares that are run forever).
nobody bothers them. actually, you could just check "ok, this house has a computer ? let's get an order, there's close to 100% probability a pirated software is used there". to make things easier, tracking by internet connection might be used as first indication that the household has a computer.
and this is europe, european union.
Rich
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-920346214 8706105599&q=Charbax
heh heh. He said "nekkid". heh heh.
MjM
XKCD:Xeric Knowledge Comically Dispen
Why is everyone so optimistic about the slight change of a potential possibility that this doesn't necessarily mean that Microsoft Windows will be the way to go on this?
In every international relations issue in the last few years--particularly those involving (1) US multinationals, (2) US government, or (3) US foreign policy--the pessimistic version, that is, the worst possible outcome, seems to be a fairly accurate depiction of what actually happens.
- RG>
Hey pal, this isn't a pleasantforest, so don't waste my time with pleasantries!
For a second I thought the title read "The End of Naked Pics in China?" *whew*
A reference, I'm sure, not to the Chinese per se but rather to how numerous they are (probably implying that at that time he'd settle for getting a higher percentage of customers in the paying category).
Regardless, looks like he found a way!
Of course it isn't going to have much of an effect on piracy there. It is too wide-spread and too much a part of the culture. It is all about looking like they are doing something and trying to comply with international copyright law. They are throwing US and other companies a bone basically.
I couldn't imagine a 'bigger' evil complying to a 'lesser' evil lol.
... for one, welcome our naked Chinese overlords.
Oh... wait.
Don't ping my cheese with your bandwidth!
(too obscure?)
That about sums it up.
Well, have the Debian or BSD foundations print out a bunch of 'licenses'.
Or is their definition of 'proper' that it has to be something where actual currency changes hands?
---- Booth was a patriot ----
China has been saying one thing and doing another for as long as there has been another country to do it to. This most recent action allows foreign companies and countries to claim that China is moving in a positive direction, in this case against software piracy, making their investments in China more palatable to a gullible public.
Look at this announcement, under the Intellectual Property Rights http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_ 1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2006/04/0125.xml
I am sure Microsoft is behind this.
Clearly Hu cares.
The **AA are greedy though (says Captain Obvious)... Neither moving the presses out of the country, nor paying the workers more will stop that one leak that opens the floodgates, and both options would cost more money. So, this is in fact the cheapest production model.
Now please be seated and wait for further instructions from Chairman Bill.
Unless you were to allow more choices in how to pick your government, and to chge your choice of government, being able to chose one's OS is much more important than being able to chose one's government. Right now I have the choice of electing two senators, one representative, and one president, and a few years or so, a drop in the water in the totality of the government. Repeat for state and city government. For those positions I have the choice of a handful of Republicans and Democrats, both of which are horrible pools, that aren't very distinctive from each other. To top that off, the candidates aren't very forthcoming on their positions and worldview. I spend most of my time with an OS.
Choosing a pet or choosing to live without a pet is also more important than being able to choose your government. Also, what to eat.
Yes, I do see the resemblance:
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http://images.google.com/images?q=disney%20pluto&
http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr
RedFlag Linux used to have a wide-open MySQL Database that anyone could go in and re-write the articles on their homepage.
I see they finally read the mysql manual, chapter 1. 'Security'.
It still amazes me when people run mysql w/ the default (U: root | P: null) settings, especially when it's a Linux Distro Vendor.
I guess that is what happens when you spend more time trying to sell free software, than you do learning how to use or create it.
Same here in the Philippines. IIRC the going rate is 70-80 peso's per cd (1.5 US Dollars). It's also pretty difficult to find legal non-free software, esspecially if it's a popular program.
The vast majority of piracy isn't prosecuted, but that's true in the United States as well.
Slashdot: providing anti-social weirdos a soapbox, since 1997.
It's also considerably simpler to support.
Well, yes, it is easier to support a product that doesn't do anything.
You're right that piracy - whether in terms of software, movies, etc. - abounds in China. Here is one cultural tidbit that might help explain why:
m
A very important value in Chinese culture is "saving face". No one wants to lose face, and no one wants to cause another person to lose face. For illustration, note that cheating in academic settings is also rampant in China. There is even a market for hired test-takers, who act as paid surrogates by taking exams in other peoples' names. Professors know about it; in fact professors tend to leave the testing room and just turn a blind eye to cheating. The article linked below comes from the Chinese media and is thus subject to government censoring, but you still get the idea:
http://www.china.org.cn/english/scitech/101379.ht
Now, if "saving face" is so important in China, why would the government enthusiastically crack down on piracy which, for the most part, hurts Western companies more than their domestic companies? From their perspective, they may be allowing people who practice piracy to save face. The chief reason remaining for the Communist party to discourage piracy is to appease Western nations. This does not seem to be a strong enough motivation for the government to go to *great* lengths to eliminate piracy, as long as they can show some progress to foreign nations.
I don't see anything in this that precludes pre-loading of OS's other than Windows. They just need to be properly licenced.
The question becomes the wording of the contracts with Microsoft. Is exclusivity a prerequisite for getting an OEM discount? Selling blank machines is probably allowable regardless of the nature of the contract, but selling a competitor's product is another matter altogether.
In China, does the analogy "Free as in speech, not free as in beer" still hold true?
And if you paid $USD 5, you got ripped off.
And it's the same in China as well.
When the average person's wage is as low as it is there, the cost of legitmate software is so unrealistic that nobody will pay it. Microsoft tried to address that a few years ago by dropping the price on their software *significantly* (but still more than the cost of the pirated copy), but I don't think it worked.. it just stirred up a hornet's nest in other countries about how come people in Thailand could buy MS Office so much more cheaply than people in other counties etc etc...
..is that you could also preload party-sanctioned spyware.
As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
Oh no, I didn't pay $5. The was the initial pre-haggle 'fahrang' price was 200 baht (slightly more than $5), but I wasn't even interested. I got all the software I need, and besides that would be against the law ;)
I leave for Pattay on Friday, in fact. Now I'm interested, and I'd bet saying something like "lot noi dai mai" would instantly drop the price to 100 baht. I could use an extra copy of Windows ME anyway ;p
If declare that the BSD license or the GPL are not "proper licenses", that'll really put the cat among the pigeons... and it'll be pecked to death. Later versions of Windows Server 2003 already ship with Interix included, and Vista will include it as well. The majority of the programs shipped with Interix are open source applications and tools distributed under the GPL or the BSD license, and most of the libraries are from OpenBSD.
If they can't use FreeBSD or Linux, then they won't be able to use use Windows Vista either.
After she left, I walked over and asked (in Thai) for the price of the same thing and he started at half what she had paid after bargaining... I didn't buy it either.
Question:
Lets say there are only two candidates in the race, one Republican and one Democrat. Is it then morally acceptable to vote for one or the other, or must I leave that race blank?
Free DOS - The better choice.
Ya know their used to be a time when Dos actually did do something.
:D
I forget when though, But it did do something at some point in time.
Experts are unsure of just what it did though many assume it had something to do with punchcards.
But that's just speculation.
Ok im kidding for thoughs out their that missed the humor.
Coward? Coward! Thems fighten words!!
Some people with background information think that this is in fact a move AGAINST Microsoft to push Linux. Because without pirated copies the marketshare of windows in China will drop sharply. http://fakten.blogspot.com/2006/04/china-supportin g-or-destroying.html/
I leave it blank.
"I might have made a tactical error in not going to a physician for 20 years." -- Warren Zevon
Just enable booting from LAN in the machine BIOS, and sell it as a remote-boot terminal with local data storage.
I might be able to afford to do that if it didn't mean leaving all but 1 or 2 offices out of 20 or so blank.
W indows98W in dows2000 W indowsXP1700--1800
the Micro$oft sold to 4 major corp including lenovo for less than 300RMB (1 USD = 8 RMB) per copy, while the licensed version on the chinese market cost 1700~1800 rmB (greedy M$, the average income of most urban residents are less than 20000RMB/yr, the licensing fee should be 300 RMB according to the labor cost), so the small business are more likely to install Linux/Unix, which is relatively cheap, even free.. so linux/Unix will be mentioned more often in everyday life, ppl may not use it after the purchase, but they still has it and kids surely want to learn something new...