A few years back the US Federal Government mandated that they would only buy computers that were "Energy Star" compliant. Very quickly, all manufacturers leaped to meet this criteria. Power consumption is now taken into serious consideration (for various reasons beyond the original government contracts) when hardware, and increasing software is designed. Everyone benefitted.
What if the Feds were to step up to the plate again with a new initiative; All operating systems on Federal purchase orders must have a retail shelf price of $30.00 or less. Already Linux and *BSD are freebies, and I'm certain Be would negotiate with a bonanza like that offered.:) That only leaves you know who.
If Microsoft does play ball; The prices come crashing down to Earth! MS would start unbundling their OSes to make money the stuff that should be separate in the first place, best of breed software returns. OEMs have a set low price no matter which OS they choose to offer. MS loses it's ability to threaten price increases.
If Microsoft doesn't play ball; Linux, BeOS and their ilk start appearing on lots of computers. With a huge market created, it's fair to assume that many new programmers (plus the reassigned Government coders) and companies will release more applications and drivers. It would be the snowball effect that Windows currently benefits from.
Either way; Other countries and Fortune 500s, would monitor the outcome closely. A major precedent will have been made and it would only be a matter of time before the world followed. This defiantly would need to be a phased in program, (unless Microsoft agreed the same day) and there would still be teething problems, but a lot of Taxpayers money would be saved.
There would be no need for Government regulation. If Microsoft (or any other vender) doesn't wish to sell at that price, then they should leave to tender bidding to competitors that will. US Capitalism would have an opportunity to save face.
Mainframes would be a harder lot to lump into this equation, but with the value of service contracts spanning over several years, IBM could probably give the OS away.:)
Lots of great suggestions mentioned, so I'm mostly repeating what's already said.
For a programing language take a look at Rebol. It's very modern design and straight forward syntax makes a coding a snap. "Rebol in Ten Steps" provides a thorough explanation. http://www.rebol.com/rebolsteps.html I'm impressed with it's total approach. On the downside it's a messaging language, so there's no graphics or the like to get his attention, pity.
I liked the idea of introducing HTML. Initially, I feel that getting his interest is the most important part. He's still using his skills to create, which is ultimately the goal. With his work up on the Web he can show his friends at school (maybe register a domain, if it proves his thing)
Although males and females use computers differently (solitary versus socially) you could try to include his friends. That way he'll have some geek pals in the school yard to bounce his ideas off.:)
Music is great. Sadly, kids often aren't interested when their young, but give it a try. Computers have an appeal that a piano or guitar doesn't. When I young was I resisted learning music. Now that I'm older I've come back to the idea, and I'm keen to learn.
Are his reading and verbal skill at a good level? I realize these skills use different parts of the brain, but they really are the most important assets any person can have. Encourage his reading and make him read out loud every day. Anyway he'll need to love reading, for there comes time when a young man must buy his first O'Rielly book.:)
He's still quite young and hasn't figured out what he wants in life. His computer skills are something he'll always have, but if he decides to be a bohemian fashion designer, that's OK too.
This tax is dubious on many counts. As a poster mentioned earlier 35% of radio air-play is Canadian music, therefore 65% is foreign. Album sales and associated piracy should reflect this (although I have no real idea of Canadians buying habits). Will the body in change analyze album sales, and forward the correct sum to their foreign counterparts?
Apparently, only music is pirated. There is no contingency for Canadian software companies, who are no doubt robbed of millions though piracy as well. This shows the government has 100% capitulated to the recording industry lobbyists. The government isn't genuinely interested in fostering talent (regardless of discipline), just greasing palms.
Where will the money go? Considering that a $17.00 album yields $1-2.00 for the artist, I would guess a $2.50 tax would equate to about $0.22. Sadly, this is logical. It would only show how shameful the recording industry is, if they started rewarding an artist more for the pirated copy then the original.
The major radio stations don't give new artists much of a chance, so all we get is more Rush, Tragically Hip and BNL. In my area the radio plays new artists in a spot called "Red, White and New", it's runs weekly and 22:00 at night. This is pretty sad. Before running to taxation as a solution, maybe the industry show look at it's self first.
This tax is going to be with us now in one form or another (taxes NEVER get revoked). I would like to ask other posters, how one may go about registering as a recording artist to start collecting a portion of the booty. Hey if we all scratched something together in Cakewalk/Cubase we get back what we put in (minus the $2.28 administration overhead.)
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A few years back the US Federal Government mandated that they would only buy computers that were "Energy Star" compliant. Very quickly, all manufacturers leaped to meet this criteria. Power consumption is now taken into serious consideration (for various reasons beyond the original government contracts) when hardware, and increasing software is designed. Everyone benefitted.
:) That only leaves you know who.
:)
What if the Feds were to step up to the plate again with a new initiative; All operating systems on Federal purchase orders must have a retail shelf price of $30.00 or less. Already Linux and *BSD are freebies, and I'm certain Be would negotiate with a bonanza like that offered.
If Microsoft does play ball; The prices come crashing down to Earth! MS would start unbundling their OSes to make money the stuff that should be separate in the first place, best of breed software returns. OEMs have a set low price no matter which OS they choose to offer. MS loses it's ability to threaten price increases.
If Microsoft doesn't play ball; Linux, BeOS and their ilk start appearing on lots of computers. With a huge market created, it's fair to assume that many new programmers (plus the reassigned Government coders) and companies will release more applications and drivers. It would be the snowball effect that Windows currently benefits from.
Either way; Other countries and Fortune 500s, would monitor the outcome closely. A major precedent will have been made and it would only be a matter of time before the world followed. This defiantly would need to be a phased in program, (unless Microsoft agreed the same day) and there would still be teething problems, but a lot of Taxpayers money would be saved.
There would be no need for Government regulation. If Microsoft (or any other vender) doesn't wish to sell at that price, then they should leave to tender bidding to competitors that will. US Capitalism would have an opportunity to save face.
Mainframes would be a harder lot to lump into this equation, but with the value of service contracts spanning over several years, IBM could probably give the OS away.
Lots of great suggestions mentioned, so I'm mostly repeating what's already said.
:)
:)
For a programing language take a look at Rebol. It's very modern design and straight forward syntax makes a coding a snap. "Rebol in Ten Steps" provides a thorough explanation. http://www.rebol.com/rebolsteps.html
I'm impressed with it's total approach. On the downside it's a messaging language, so there's no graphics or the like to get his attention, pity.
I liked the idea of introducing HTML. Initially, I feel that getting his interest is the most important part. He's still using his skills to create, which is ultimately the goal. With his work up on the Web he can show his friends at school (maybe register a domain, if it proves his thing)
Although males and females use computers differently (solitary versus socially) you could try to include his friends. That way he'll have some geek pals in the school yard to bounce his ideas off.
Music is great. Sadly, kids often aren't interested when their young, but give it a try. Computers have an appeal that a piano or guitar doesn't. When I young was I resisted learning music. Now that I'm older I've come back to the idea, and I'm keen to learn.
Are his reading and verbal skill at a good level? I realize these skills use different parts of the brain, but they really are the most important assets any person can have. Encourage his reading and make him read out loud every day. Anyway he'll need to love reading, for there comes time when a young man must buy his first O'Rielly book.
He's still quite young and hasn't figured out what he wants in life. His computer skills are something he'll always have, but if he decides to be a bohemian fashion designer, that's OK too.
This tax is dubious on many counts. As a poster mentioned earlier 35% of radio air-play is Canadian music, therefore 65% is foreign. Album sales and associated piracy should reflect this (although I have no real idea of Canadians buying habits). Will the body in change analyze album sales, and forward the correct sum to their foreign counterparts?
Apparently, only music is pirated. There is no contingency for Canadian software companies, who are no doubt robbed of millions though piracy as well. This shows the government has 100% capitulated to the recording industry lobbyists. The government isn't genuinely interested in fostering talent (regardless of discipline), just greasing palms.
Where will the money go? Considering that a $17.00 album yields $1-2.00 for the artist, I would guess a $2.50 tax would equate to about $0.22. Sadly, this is logical. It would only show how shameful the recording industry is, if they started rewarding an artist more for the pirated copy then the original.
The major radio stations don't give new artists much of a chance, so all we get is more Rush, Tragically Hip and BNL. In my area the radio plays new artists in a spot called "Red, White and New", it's runs weekly and 22:00 at night. This is pretty sad. Before running to taxation as a solution, maybe the industry show look at it's self first.
This tax is going to be with us now in one form or another (taxes NEVER get revoked). I would like to ask other posters, how one may go about registering as a recording artist to start collecting a portion of the booty. Hey if we all scratched something together in Cakewalk/Cubase we get back what we put in (minus the $2.28 administration overhead.)