See, I don't actually agree with that. Many "average" users would do just fine with a Linux box set up with OpenOffice and the flash plug-ins in the browser.
Let's face it, there isn't all that much "commercial software" left that average users need.
Why is it "unfortunate" that people pick the cheapest option that actually satisfies their needs? That's just basic economics.
The reason Linux hasn't really caught on yet is mostly unavailability, in my opinion.
With €200 Linux Netbooks in the stores here now, it's clear that the accessibility barrier against Linux is crumbling.
Microsoft's anti-Linux scaremongering is also slowly failing. It's the average store salesperson (or tech support guy) that's a bit wary of having to support people who come in thinking their Linux PC is broken because they can't install their pirate copy of MS Office on it. The average buyer doesn't know and doesn't care about the difference, and with the correct setup will probably never even notice that it's NOT MS Office or Internet Explorer.
The value-added feature should be a company with a flourishing open community that can contribute back. In a sense, they need to create a business model that spawns "fan boys" that are willing to contribute for free, much like open source.
Their revenue stream would be based on donations, selling hard-copy, and play gadgets like miniatures (characters, monsters, terrain, buildings), maps, and collectibles based on their intellectual property.
Slashdot Mirror
You really lepton to that poster.
Strange.
Alternatively, perhaps Schrodinger is right now tunneling out of his grave with all these lame jokes ;-)
You moron. It's not the fluorescent lighting. We keep that off. It's the monitor glow!
See, I don't actually agree with that. Many "average" users would do just fine with a Linux box set up with OpenOffice and the flash plug-ins in the browser.
Let's face it, there isn't all that much "commercial software" left that average users need.
The reason Linux hasn't really caught on yet is mostly unavailability, in my opinion.
With €200 Linux Netbooks in the stores here now, it's clear that the accessibility barrier against Linux is crumbling.
Microsoft's anti-Linux scaremongering is also slowly failing. It's the average store salesperson (or tech support guy) that's a bit wary of having to support people who come in thinking their Linux PC is broken because they can't install their pirate copy of MS Office on it. The average buyer doesn't know and doesn't care about the difference, and with the correct setup will probably never even notice that it's NOT MS Office or Internet Explorer.
Slashdot / Anonymous terrorists?
Nah, they are just looking for a scapegoatse.
Don't forget the lager. After all, it's the only thing that could kill that Vindaloo.
This is the first spot! ;-)
Yeah but it's not nearly as *funny* like that.
Mon dieu, petits Deux Cheveaux! (i.e. a pony car in France is not what you'd expect ;-) )
Or call a national strike blockading all the highways.
I can see a future for these organizations. It's just not a very pretty one.
The value-added feature should be a company with a flourishing open community that can contribute back. In a sense, they need to create a business model that spawns "fan boys" that are willing to contribute for free, much like open source.
Their revenue stream would be based on donations, selling hard-copy, and play gadgets like miniatures (characters, monsters, terrain, buildings), maps, and collectibles based on their intellectual property.
Or that they've realized they could be selling the downloads directly for the same price and pocket the difference of selling through a middle-man.
I'm glad that joke didn't swing the other way.
I don't think there's anywhere we can really hide anymore. Nigeria maybe?
You flee the country where somebody is trying to blackmail you with the full support of the government.
Note: This is not legal advice!
No, it's actually good advice!
(I'm KIDDING!!! DON'T DO THIS AT HOME! OR IN COURT!)
Using XML in the cloud?
Forget Epsilon, Omega all the way baby!
No, so that it can smugly continue to claim that it was all about "freedom" and "principles" and "doing the right thing" after it has killed us all.
I'd shoot you if you named it Skynet.
I was waiting for that. Second comment from the top, we've achieved a new level of predictability.
Okay, good. That means my /. AI is nearing perfection. I think I'll call it KDawson.
Congratulations, you've earned the doubly pretentious bastard award for mentioning you won the pretentious bastard award!
Sloof Lirpa?