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Torvalds on Linux and Microsoft
Sniper223 writes with a link to an interview on the Network World site with Linus Torvalds. Linus goes through the usual spiel about stuff like why he released the Linux OS in the first place, and how the future is open source. He also has some interesting commentary on the Microsoft/Novell deal: "I actually thought that whole discussion was interesting, not because of any Novell versus MS issues at all, but because all the people talking about them so clearly showed their own biases. The actual partnership itself seemed pretty much a nonissue to me, and not nearly as interesting as the reaction it got from people, and how it was reported ... I don't actually personally think the Novell-MS agreement kind of thing matters all that much in the end, but it's interesting to see the signs that the sides are at least talking to each other. I don't know what the end result will be, but I think it would be healthier for everybody if there wasn't the kind of rabid hatred on both sides. Some people get a bit too excited about MS, I think. I don't think they are that interesting." An interesting contrast to our earlier conversation.
MS may be much and some of their tactics aren't what's considered fair competition, but they are not criminals. A criminal is by definition someone who breaks the law. Umm... well, they made some decisions that weren't completely in sync with some monopoly laws in some countries, but that doesn't make them criminals. It's not like they've done anything that hasn't been done before. It's been quite common e.g. to make retailers sell only your product if they want to sell it, or at least offer them more favorable conditions if they do.
Some of their tactics smell a bit like extortion, but putting MS into the organized crime corner goes a bit too far.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
However, Microsoft do not kill people even through inaction ...
You're sure about that? And I'm under no compunction to avoid tossing a little nastiness in Microsoft's direction now and then. Besides, they're big boys, I'm sure they can handle the implied insult.
The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
This is one of the problems of the Free software movement. It's true to some degree of just about any group, but it seems that arrogance is just part of the religion with most Free software zealots.
Very few people here would claim that Linus is not a smart individual, but if he doesn't buy into every aspect of the dogma, it must be because he simply doesn't understand it. There's this "holier than thou" attitude about the whole thing that clearly if you disagree you're too stupid to understand the issue properly. It can't be that Linus simply has weighed the issues and disagrees with you; clearly he's ignorant and making stupid decisions that leave him so blind he simply can not make the "right" decision.
Fuck! Give me a break. You're free to disagree about it, but the attitude that any smart person would have to side with you is pure arrogance.
I like open source/Free software in general. I run linux. I run a number of these tools on my Windows box as well. I do not think it is the best solution to every problem. I do not like the GPLv3. I do believe there are a number of problems with the implementations if not the philosophy behind them. More than anything I believe that this sort of arrogance is probably the biggest obstacle to more widespread adoption. The bottom line is that nobody likes to deal with people who have attitudes like this.
But I guess that just makes me ignorant of somethingorother. The availability of the Kool-Aid, probably.
QuantumG makes another retarded comment then runs. Not News.
If you mod me down, I will become more powerful than you can imagine....
Just more of Linus running his mouth.
Stop your sycophantic hero worship.
GJC
Gregory Casamento
## Chief Maintainer for GNUstep