Let's see you try to legally run OSX on a white box or non-Apple branded PC. Same internal components but if it's not personally anointed by Steve Jobs, you can't run OSX on it. You can find patched OSX.4 ISOs floating around the wbe that work just fine on most white box PCs but all you hear is the whining of Mac users about piracy, blah blah blah, all the while running their friend's or work's copy of Photoshop and Word.
"Well, Windows uses the ACL system of permissions it stole from VMS. It actually does provide more control (that you don't need 99.9% of the time), such as multiple groups having different levels of permissions."
You do realize Microsoft hired Dave Cutler (the guy who created VMS) to design NT, right? I wouldn't say they stole VMS, Cutler simply applied his knowledge of ACL security to Windows NT security.
"Increasingly complex file-level security does come with one major drawback, however... I can look at a file under Linux and instantly tell (possibly with a quick check of the members of a single group) who has what access to it."
Yeah, because right-clicking a file or folder, selecting Properties, then choosing the confusingly labeled Security tab is difficult. I can see how people become confused, especially those leet UNIX hackers. If you are just looking, then you're a friggin' idiot if you can't figure security in Vista or XP. If you're adjusting security then you need to do a little reading first, but learning how to use an OS, regardless of which one it is, rerquires a little effort. If you're an leet UNIX hacker, how hard can this be, right?
"Why another whole layer of government legislation to interfere with my behavior which, if I'm obeying the law, does nothing but raise my personal risk vs. others (drivers) who aren't?"
I'm all for this but I guarantee that should NYC attempt to prosecute an individual for crossing the street and getting hit by a big yellow bus while listenign to their iPods there will be a story (likely two or three, not including dupes) seeking financial assistance for that individuals defense fund, articles by the EFF about ones right to listen to the iPods trumps all traffic laws anyway, and yet another about stupid NYC drivers not watching out for iPod wearing pedestrians (with numerous comments disparaging cab drivers of foreign descent). But hey, it's Slashdot, home of the clueless people who don't want to take responsiblity for their own illegal actions.
So the OLPC project is the Devil incarnate then? Not only are they targeting children, they are targeting children in third wold countries who likely need running water more than they need a laptop computer with a poorly designed Microsoft Bob rip-off UI.
Many reboots in Windows 2000 and XP were unnecessary and were nothing more then self-imposed "suggestions" by the software developer built into the installer routine. I also don't know if I'd consider a reboot caused by a beta driver indicative of the way things work in general.
"Yet another feature Dell crammed down your throat, increasing the cost of the system?"
Pick another model Dell sells or go with another brand altogether, there's a choice if you want it unlike in Macland. It just so happens that the M2010 is a rather unique system that has other features that far outweigh whether or not there is or is not a camera.
"Yeah, they totally should have done something better, like build it into the machine."
Hmmm, how innovative. if only other PC manufacturers had thought of that, unlike what the Mac v. PC ad is suggesting. Wow, where does Apple get all these neat ideas?
I'm not specifically looking for a notebook with a camera, it just so happens that the M2010 has one so there goes the Mac ads inference that only macs come pre-built with a camera in them. PCs did this BEFORE Apple anyway. As for my initial comment about who cares, Apple makes it seem like this is a killer feature of their notebooks. I doubt many Mac users turn the camera on except to play with the Photo Booth. I'd wager that the statistical margin of error would dwarf the number of users using iChat A/V (i.e. 1% of all Mac users use iChat A/V, +-3% margin of error). Bloggers? Most are going to be using a separate video camera and the good ones don't do talking heads anyway, which is about all you can do with the built in iSight.
...they're still full of sh!t. What Apple fails to realize, or they do yet insist on falsely representing the facts, is that PCs are not made by Microsoft, only the OS is and even then not every PC uses Windows. The Vista upgrade ad is especially annoying considering the upcoming release of Leopard. How long do you think developers are going to support universal binaries? Leopard may be built to run on G4s and G5s as well as the Intel Macs but the G4s are not going to perform very well and the G5s are going to require more RAM. I'm using Tiger on a 1.8 G5 at work and it's sluggish at times. The video camera is another stupid Mac ad. Who cares if a notebook comes with a camera? Yet another feature Apple crams down your throat, increasing the cost of the system. Not to mention that PCs notebooks had cameras built-in to them before Apple did. Many manufacturers still put them in. I'm about to purchase a Dell M2010 and it's got a camera built-in. If that's the sort of feature you need in a PC then there are plenty of options available. Let's also not forget Apple initial solution for the camera on the notebook, the huge iSight that clipped onto the top edge of the notebook monitor. Not exactly an elegant solution.
Fair enough but one can still purchase an OEM version of Vista and avoid this problem altogether. Since this is likely going to only affect hobbyists and pirates there is really no problem. Hobbyists can easily get the OEM version (and likely will). If you're a pirate and not smart enough to purchase the OEM then you get what you deserve. I don't really see this affecting your typical Windows user.
"...as new information indicates that the company is breaking tradition when it comes to Windows Vista upgrades." (emphasis mine)
Perhaps Ken should have included a link to his information. It is the web after all. Until then I think Ken's full of shit and spreading FUD. Where did this information come from? Has Microsoft been given the ability to respond to the criticism or was this just hack/ambush journalism? Ken is the worst blogger on Ars (I hesitate to call him a journalist).
Then you shoudl be pissed at all the asshats who do illegally distribute music and videos. We always hear about "teh ev!l corporations" and "DRM bad...uuugh" from the troglodytes who think distributing music is OK. It's time to start placing some of the blame on the asshats like the Pirate Bay and the other torrent sites who illegally distribute copyrighted material.
...limiting the illegal distribution of copyrighted material. You can cry all you want about fair use but the truth of the matter is people want to upload music and movies onto P2P networks in violation of copyright law, even the original copyright laws prior to 1976 and the Sonny Bono Copyright Act.
No, then you have good quality video freeloaders will then upload to the net for all their freeloader friends to download at their leisure. Never underestimate the lazy and morally bankrupt.
Re:What about video game consoles?
on
Norway Outlaws iTunes
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
"But what about video game consoles? If one wants to play "Gears of War", one is locked into Microsoft's Xbox 360 hardware. Same for any console wrt games exclusive to that console. Is Norway going to outlaw video game consoles as well?"
There is a huge difference between coding games for multiple platforms and encoding music in a file format that multiple media players can read. Microsoft released WMA and WMV for a wide array of audio and audio/video players. Why can't Apple?
These EU countries have no problem with locking the files up with DRM, they have a problem with the vertical tie-in Apple has created and uses to lock out competitors in the digital audio (and soon video) markets. You want to use iTunes to purchase music (which has the largest catalog of music available of all legitimate online music stores) you have to use an iPod to play them on. You decide you want a zune instead of another iPod? Well, guess what, all the music you purchased on iTunes is now worthless. What the EU is doing is saying fix these problems Apple before we investigate anti-trust charges related to your illegally tying in iTunes to the iPod.
Fair Dealing is a non-US name for Fair Use, so yes, it is a legitimate term and the author was correct to use it. As for Google's use of the books being Fair Use, this is for the courts to decide. There is nothing clear cut about determining Fair Use. Google is not commenting on, critiquing, or parodying the works, they are simply offering a snippet of the work without adding value to the work (no, exposure to the world at large is not an exemption covered by Fair Use).
"...and no one will say they have been infringed upon except the RIAA itself."
When an artist signs a recording contract they lose control of the mechanicals (the recordings themselves). If the artists don't care if people use their mechanicals for mixtapes then they shouldn't sign with a major label, period, end of fucking story. What is so difficult to understand about agreements between artists and labels? Artists want access to the distribution channels so they have to give something up in return. The labels aren't philanthropic charities who give their money away to needy artists, they're a fucking business out to make money. You don't like it? Start you own label and show the rest of the world how to make money for the artist through the sale of t-shirts and posters at local gigs. Until then, any comments to the contrary are simply bullshit speculation by idiots who know absolutely nothing about how the music industry works.
You can fix most of these by going into preferences. However, there is one truly annoying things that Firefox does not allow me to do that IE7 does allow is setting the default search engine. You get Google whether you want it or not. If you want to use another search engine you need to click the drop down button, but be careful because you can still hit the Google button and initiate the search using Google. Not only can you set the default search engine in IE7 you can create your own custom search engines on the add search engine page. Web sites can even hook into the search field and become a temporary search provider allowing users to search their site. Search in IE7 definitely blows all other browsers away.
"...what rights do I have if this should ever happen to me, and what can be done to raise awareness about such things?"
None. Didn't you get the memo? Information wants to be free. Welcome to the world without copyright. Look at it another way, now more people have heard about Janne 'Tempest' Sunni so he'll be able to sell more records at his next show.
What evidence do you want? It's common knowledge that Windows 2003 is not Windows XP with just "a few server goodies". Perhaps the slashbots comment was unwarranted, perhaps it was but damn, why mod a comment like the OP's as informative when it is clearly not? It was not only uninformative, it was blatant flamebait to boot.
You sir are an idiot. I've set up a file/print/web server on Windows 2003 and had no trouble whatsoever. IIS works just for hosting my portfolio site and all the computers can access the file/print server wirelessly. Once I get my XPS M2010 (waiting on Vista) I'll be able to connect my XBOX 360 to the mix as a MC extender and store all the TV shows on the server. I had no trouble setting up the latter with the beta of Vista Ultimate. By the way, I'm just a graphic designer and was able to to all this with no problems whatsoever and no CS degree or certifications required.
Slashdot Mirror
Let's see you try to legally run OSX on a white box or non-Apple branded PC. Same internal components but if it's not personally anointed by Steve Jobs, you can't run OSX on it. You can find patched OSX.4 ISOs floating around the wbe that work just fine on most white box PCs but all you hear is the whining of Mac users about piracy, blah blah blah, all the while running their friend's or work's copy of Photoshop and Word.
"Well, Windows uses the ACL system of permissions it stole from VMS. It actually does provide more control (that you don't need 99.9% of the time), such as multiple groups having different levels of permissions."
You do realize Microsoft hired Dave Cutler (the guy who created VMS) to design NT, right? I wouldn't say they stole VMS, Cutler simply applied his knowledge of ACL security to Windows NT security.
"Increasingly complex file-level security does come with one major drawback, however... I can look at a file under Linux and instantly tell (possibly with a quick check of the members of a single group) who has what access to it."
Yeah, because right-clicking a file or folder, selecting Properties, then choosing the confusingly labeled Security tab is difficult. I can see how people become confused, especially those leet UNIX hackers. If you are just looking, then you're a friggin' idiot if you can't figure security in Vista or XP. If you're adjusting security then you need to do a little reading first, but learning how to use an OS, regardless of which one it is, rerquires a little effort. If you're an leet UNIX hacker, how hard can this be, right?
"Why another whole layer of government legislation to interfere with my behavior which, if I'm obeying the law, does nothing but raise my personal risk vs. others (drivers) who aren't?"
I'm all for this but I guarantee that should NYC attempt to prosecute an individual for crossing the street and getting hit by a big yellow bus while listenign to their iPods there will be a story (likely two or three, not including dupes) seeking financial assistance for that individuals defense fund, articles by the EFF about ones right to listen to the iPods trumps all traffic laws anyway, and yet another about stupid NYC drivers not watching out for iPod wearing pedestrians (with numerous comments disparaging cab drivers of foreign descent). But hey, it's Slashdot, home of the clueless people who don't want to take responsiblity for their own illegal actions.
So the OLPC project is the Devil incarnate then? Not only are they targeting children, they are targeting children in third wold countries who likely need running water more than they need a laptop computer with a poorly designed Microsoft Bob rip-off UI.
Many reboots in Windows 2000 and XP were unnecessary and were nothing more then self-imposed "suggestions" by the software developer built into the installer routine. I also don't know if I'd consider a reboot caused by a beta driver indicative of the way things work in general.
"Yet another feature Dell crammed down your throat, increasing the cost of the system?"
Pick another model Dell sells or go with another brand altogether, there's a choice if you want it unlike in Macland. It just so happens that the M2010 is a rather unique system that has other features that far outweigh whether or not there is or is not a camera.
"Yeah, they totally should have done something better, like build it into the machine."
Hmmm, how innovative. if only other PC manufacturers had thought of that, unlike what the Mac v. PC ad is suggesting. Wow, where does Apple get all these neat ideas?
Being ambiguous is one thing, outright lying is another. Apple's Mac v. PC ads are the latter by a wide margin.
"...In situations where isolating a specific IP address for a suspect is not possible,..."
They have minimized the amount of data required to collect to preform their surveillance by limiting the block of IPs.
I'm not specifically looking for a notebook with a camera, it just so happens that the M2010 has one so there goes the Mac ads inference that only macs come pre-built with a camera in them. PCs did this BEFORE Apple anyway. As for my initial comment about who cares, Apple makes it seem like this is a killer feature of their notebooks. I doubt many Mac users turn the camera on except to play with the Photo Booth. I'd wager that the statistical margin of error would dwarf the number of users using iChat A/V (i.e. 1% of all Mac users use iChat A/V, +-3% margin of error). Bloggers? Most are going to be using a separate video camera and the good ones don't do talking heads anyway, which is about all you can do with the built in iSight.
...they're still full of sh!t. What Apple fails to realize, or they do yet insist on falsely representing the facts, is that PCs are not made by Microsoft, only the OS is and even then not every PC uses Windows. The Vista upgrade ad is especially annoying considering the upcoming release of Leopard. How long do you think developers are going to support universal binaries? Leopard may be built to run on G4s and G5s as well as the Intel Macs but the G4s are not going to perform very well and the G5s are going to require more RAM. I'm using Tiger on a 1.8 G5 at work and it's sluggish at times. The video camera is another stupid Mac ad. Who cares if a notebook comes with a camera? Yet another feature Apple crams down your throat, increasing the cost of the system. Not to mention that PCs notebooks had cameras built-in to them before Apple did. Many manufacturers still put them in. I'm about to purchase a Dell M2010 and it's got a camera built-in. If that's the sort of feature you need in a PC then there are plenty of options available. Let's also not forget Apple initial solution for the camera on the notebook, the huge iSight that clipped onto the top edge of the notebook monitor. Not exactly an elegant solution.
Fair enough but one can still purchase an OEM version of Vista and avoid this problem altogether. Since this is likely going to only affect hobbyists and pirates there is really no problem. Hobbyists can easily get the OEM version (and likely will). If you're a pirate and not smart enough to purchase the OEM then you get what you deserve. I don't really see this affecting your typical Windows user.
"...as new information indicates that the company is breaking tradition when it comes to Windows Vista upgrades." (emphasis mine)
Perhaps Ken should have included a link to his information. It is the web after all. Until then I think Ken's full of shit and spreading FUD. Where did this information come from? Has Microsoft been given the ability to respond to the criticism or was this just hack/ambush journalism? Ken is the worst blogger on Ars (I hesitate to call him a journalist).
...stand on the First Amendment? Remember Hillary was the Senator leading the charge against Take2/Rockstar over Hot Coffee.
Then you shoudl be pissed at all the asshats who do illegally distribute music and videos. We always hear about "teh ev!l corporations" and "DRM bad...uuugh" from the troglodytes who think distributing music is OK. It's time to start placing some of the blame on the asshats like the Pirate Bay and the other torrent sites who illegally distribute copyrighted material.
...limiting the illegal distribution of copyrighted material. You can cry all you want about fair use but the truth of the matter is people want to upload music and movies onto P2P networks in violation of copyright law, even the original copyright laws prior to 1976 and the Sonny Bono Copyright Act.
No, then you have good quality video freeloaders will then upload to the net for all their freeloader friends to download at their leisure. Never underestimate the lazy and morally bankrupt.
"But what about video game consoles? If one wants to play "Gears of War", one is locked into Microsoft's Xbox 360 hardware. Same for any console wrt games exclusive to that console. Is Norway going to outlaw video game consoles as well?"
There is a huge difference between coding games for multiple platforms and encoding music in a file format that multiple media players can read. Microsoft released WMA and WMV for a wide array of audio and audio/video players. Why can't Apple?
These EU countries have no problem with locking the files up with DRM, they have a problem with the vertical tie-in Apple has created and uses to lock out competitors in the digital audio (and soon video) markets. You want to use iTunes to purchase music (which has the largest catalog of music available of all legitimate online music stores) you have to use an iPod to play them on. You decide you want a zune instead of another iPod? Well, guess what, all the music you purchased on iTunes is now worthless. What the EU is doing is saying fix these problems Apple before we investigate anti-trust charges related to your illegally tying in iTunes to the iPod.
Fair Dealing is a non-US name for Fair Use, so yes, it is a legitimate term and the author was correct to use it. As for Google's use of the books being Fair Use, this is for the courts to decide. There is nothing clear cut about determining Fair Use. Google is not commenting on, critiquing, or parodying the works, they are simply offering a snippet of the work without adding value to the work (no, exposure to the world at large is not an exemption covered by Fair Use).
"...and no one will say they have been infringed upon except the RIAA itself."
When an artist signs a recording contract they lose control of the mechanicals (the recordings themselves). If the artists don't care if people use their mechanicals for mixtapes then they shouldn't sign with a major label, period, end of fucking story. What is so difficult to understand about agreements between artists and labels? Artists want access to the distribution channels so they have to give something up in return. The labels aren't philanthropic charities who give their money away to needy artists, they're a fucking business out to make money. You don't like it? Start you own label and show the rest of the world how to make money for the artist through the sale of t-shirts and posters at local gigs. Until then, any comments to the contrary are simply bullshit speculation by idiots who know absolutely nothing about how the music industry works.
You can fix most of these by going into preferences. However, there is one truly annoying things that Firefox does not allow me to do that IE7 does allow is setting the default search engine. You get Google whether you want it or not. If you want to use another search engine you need to click the drop down button, but be careful because you can still hit the Google button and initiate the search using Google. Not only can you set the default search engine in IE7 you can create your own custom search engines on the add search engine page. Web sites can even hook into the search field and become a temporary search provider allowing users to search their site. Search in IE7 definitely blows all other browsers away.
"...and being able to claim ignorance when our friends and family ask us to fix their windows computers."
Claim ignorance? Most Linux users ARE truly ignorant when it comes to Windows.
"...what rights do I have if this should ever happen to me, and what can be done to raise awareness about such things?"
None. Didn't you get the memo? Information wants to be free. Welcome to the world without copyright. Look at it another way, now more people have heard about Janne 'Tempest' Sunni so he'll be able to sell more records at his next show.
What evidence do you want? It's common knowledge that Windows 2003 is not Windows XP with just "a few server goodies". Perhaps the slashbots comment was unwarranted, perhaps it was but damn, why mod a comment like the OP's as informative when it is clearly not? It was not only uninformative, it was blatant flamebait to boot.
You sir are an idiot. I've set up a file/print/web server on Windows 2003 and had no trouble whatsoever. IIS works just for hosting my portfolio site and all the computers can access the file/print server wirelessly. Once I get my XPS M2010 (waiting on Vista) I'll be able to connect my XBOX 360 to the mix as a MC extender and store all the TV shows on the server. I had no trouble setting up the latter with the beta of Vista Ultimate. By the way, I'm just a graphic designer and was able to to all this with no problems whatsoever and no CS degree or certifications required.