Sure, one (or a couple) people managed to get refunds, but I have my doubts that an organized drive will get anywhere. Not yet, anyway.
People who would be interested in this (eg Linux users) make up a rather small percent of the people who get Windows preinstalled on their PC's. Even so, that's quite a bit of money! And whatever else you say about computer venders (and MS for that matter), they are not stupid enough to let a revenue stream slip through their fingers without fighting for it.
I mean, hey, this is an *emulator* we're talking about here, right? This could set a really nasty legal precedent... and there are a LOT of emulators out there, and a lot of people that depend on them.
I think the suit is kind of pointless myself, but what I want to know is, is there any real legal base to this?
It's great to see games getting ported to alternative platforms now! I love games, but I'm sure they will be even better on OS's that don't crash every 10 minutes.
It's too bad Linux, BeOS, etc. aren't quite mainstream enough to get some of the other games, too... I'm right in the middle of Grim Fandango at the moment, but I hate having to boot to Windows to play it.
I was sort of afraid of this... I think we'll probably be seeing a lot more of this kind of security hazard. The more advanced things get software-wise, the harder this stuff will be to contain.
Imagine a pair of those TV glasses with a "virtual" 16x9 HiDef display built in, and a little belt pack that plays mini-disc size DVD's... I would take a LOT of plane trips.:-)
It doesn't have to assume things like that to be simple; it just doesn't have to give you all the options in the world during installation. Those who care enough to want to change the complex stuff will still be able to do it later.
Take BeOS for example... it doesn't make any dumb assumptions (like that it will be the only OS on the computer), but the installation is still extremely simple. Even the "first partition" thing is a nobrainer, and the whole installation is done in about 5 minutes.
It's good to see someone hit the nail right on the head. I still use Windows quite a bit, and I agree that the commercial world at large is going to be quite a shock if and when Linux finally hits it big.
There are a lot of complexities in the commercial market that Open Source software simply doesn't have to deal with. The lawyers and the lawsuits haven't infringed much on this territory, but once there is big money in Linux, they WILL be there. And with no central authority, who is going to handle them?
And as always, ease of use is still a big factor, even with the advances being made. The little old lady down the street can't even install her own Windows software - even when it just means running setup.exe and accepting all the defaults. What will it mean when she has to compile it as well?
Just some things to think about amidst the screams of "World Domination."
Slashdot Mirror
Sure, one (or a couple) people managed to get refunds, but I have my doubts that an organized drive will get anywhere. Not yet, anyway.
People who would be interested in this (eg Linux users) make up a rather small percent of the people who get Windows preinstalled on their PC's. Even so, that's quite a bit of money! And whatever else you say about computer venders (and MS for that matter), they are not stupid enough to let a revenue stream slip through their fingers without fighting for it.
- Slarty
I mean, hey, this is an *emulator* we're talking about here, right? This could set a really nasty legal precedent... and there are a LOT of emulators out there, and a lot of people that depend on them.
I think the suit is kind of pointless myself, but what I want to know is, is there any real legal base to this?
- Slarty
It's great to see games getting ported to alternative platforms now! I love games, but I'm sure they will be even better on OS's that don't crash every 10 minutes.
It's too bad Linux, BeOS, etc. aren't quite mainstream enough to get some of the other games, too... I'm right in the middle of Grim Fandango at the moment, but I hate having to boot to Windows to play it.
- Slarty
I was sort of afraid of this... I think we'll probably be seeing a lot more of this kind of security hazard. The more advanced things get software-wise, the harder this stuff will be to contain.
- Slarty
Hmmmm.... I wonder how long it would have taken him to install *without* just using his nose?
The storage possibilites for this are amazing...
:-)
Imagine a pair of those TV glasses with a "virtual" 16x9 HiDef display built in, and a little belt pack that plays mini-disc size DVD's... I would take a LOT of plane trips.
Lasers are good...
Slarty
It doesn't have to assume things like that to be simple; it just doesn't have to give you all the options in the world during installation. Those who care enough to want to change the complex stuff will still be able to do it later.
Take BeOS for example... it doesn't make any dumb assumptions (like that it will be the only OS on the computer), but the installation is still extremely simple. Even the "first partition" thing is a nobrainer, and the whole installation is done in about 5 minutes.
Slarty
It's good to see someone hit the nail right on the head. I still use Windows quite a bit, and I agree that the commercial world at large is going to be quite a shock if and when Linux finally hits it big.
There are a lot of complexities in the commercial market that Open Source software simply doesn't have to deal with. The lawyers and the lawsuits haven't infringed much on this territory, but once there is big money in Linux, they WILL be there. And with no central authority, who is going to handle them?
And as always, ease of use is still a big factor, even with the advances being made. The little old lady down the street can't even install her own Windows software - even when it just means running setup.exe and accepting all the defaults. What will it mean when she has to compile it as well?
Just some things to think about amidst the screams of "World Domination."
- Slarty