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Hypervisors Can Defeat GPLv3's Anti-Tivoization
DeviceGuru writes "A hypervisor can be used to isolate from each other software works released under incompatible licenses, while allowing them to run simultaneously on the same hardware. For example, Linux and Windows CE can run on separate virtual machines on one device, without violating either OS's license. Due to the isolation between multiple VMs running atop a hypervisor, it seems like this architecture could allow companies to build Linux-based devices, such as mobile phones or set-top boxes (think TiVo), that can't be upgraded by their users without authorization, thereby circumventing the GPLv3's 'anti-tivoization' clauses." Here's a white paper with more details from a commercial hypervisor company.
If the general purpose computer in the future no longer serves a market need then why should it not perish?
That being said even if open source software did not exist I don't see the general purpose computer going anywhere. There'd just be more competition between proprietary vendors bringing the price down to reasonable levels. As it is open source by sucking up so many skill full developers who lack the proper management and User Interface design resources enable proprietary vendors to keep prices high because they're able to tell their customers this:
"Don't want to pay $600 for Photoshop? No problem. Why don't you go use that free GIMP thing. You know, that horrible looking piece of crap picture editing software thats free? Yeah its free! So go ahead and help yourself! Whats that? You'd rather have a nail driven right through your scrotum after the nail has been soaked in hot sauce than use GIMP? Well then I hope you have $600 then or you'll have a very sore sac!"
Mac OS X and Windows XP working side by side to fight back the night.
Not sure I agree. Every Windows user out there has a stake in Windows ... Windows has a greater market penetration than Linux, ergo ...