Hypothetically, ending M$ monopoly in operating systems would allow true innovation to begin again in computer software. That in turn would lead many times more jobs in the long run.
I am surprised nobody has mentioned Junta yet. I recall many happy hours of playing this at university.
Basically, the players take on the roles of president and ministers of a banana republic.
Each round consists of splitting the country's "foreign aid", voting on the budget, and (attempted or succesful) assasinations of other players.
Players can also declare a coup (if they have a coup excuse), at which point there is a military phase, followed by either the ex-president or a traitor being sent to the firing squad.
Another nice feature of the game is blank currency notes, which can be palmed off to other players.
If you have never played it, I would recommend checking it out. The only potential downside is that requires 5 - 7 players to make it work properly.
That's really a straw-man argument. Historically demand for operating systems was very low, no more than a few tens of thousands of units per year. So many machines are sold these days that the operating system can be commoditised.
Your argument also falls down in other ways. For computers like the C64, Apple II, Sinclair Spectrum, etc. the operating system was free.
You could also argue that Linux is only free (as in price) because it's the only way to compete with a monopoly. If it operates outside the capitalist system, perhaps that is because there is no capitalist system in operating systems. There is a monopoly, and everything else.
judgements like this are the reason windows sells for $300-400 instead of 50-100
Nope. I think you have it the wrong way round. The fact that Microsoft is an (illegally maintained) monopoly, is what *allows* them to sell an operating system for 300 - 400 instead of a more reasonable 50 - 100.
I'm all in favor of Microsoft opening some of their interfaces...
That's exactly the point. The EU told Microsoft to do so two years ago, and Microsoft failed to comply. What else should the EU do other than fine Microsoft ? Hold a gun to Bill's head until he's finished writing the documentation ? Put the company executives in jail ?
Not everything is black and white. Giving a laptop to every child in India, think how many of those hundreds of millions of kids might be helped out of poverty by greater access to education and information. Pushing them out of poverty would enable them to live healthier lives and afford medicines and vaccinations which they might not otherwise.
Nobody is disagreeing that the temperature of the Earth varies a few degrees here or there. The point is, these temperature changes normally happen over tens or hundreds of thousands of years. That allows ample time for the ecosystem of the planet to adjust to these temperature variations.
In this case, the temperature changes are happening over centuries and decades. Natural changes do not occur this rapidly, so there is most likely a man-made cause behind it. The last time such a rapid climate change occured (due to a meteor collision), the dinosaurs became extinct.
Slashdot Mirror
Try to fall in head first. Bound to be less painful that way.
and then...
"Dude, where did you crash it ?"
"Lacus *Excellentiae*, dude !"
Except that airplanes are much much more expensive than cars.
A Linux solution on the other hand is cheaper (or at least you get more value for money) than an OSX one.
Actually, you are not so far from the truth...
There are still plenty of jobs around, unless you particulary dream of working on an assembly line.
Hypothetically, ending M$ monopoly in operating systems would allow true innovation to begin again in computer software. That in turn would lead many times more jobs in the long run.
You mean like this ?
...welcome our new space station based super-computer overlord !
Chuck Norris.
Basically, the players take on the roles of president and ministers of a banana republic. Each round consists of splitting the country's "foreign aid", voting on the budget, and (attempted or succesful) assasinations of other players.
Players can also declare a coup (if they have a coup excuse), at which point there is a military phase, followed by either the ex-president or a traitor being sent to the firing squad.
Another nice feature of the game is blank currency notes, which can be palmed off to other players.
If you have never played it, I would recommend checking it out. The only potential downside is that requires 5 - 7 players to make it work properly.
We have a time-war with the Daleks.
You mean to say all our music will be faster ?
Hmmm...this looks like the kind of handy tool Kryten would be able to attach to his "groinal socket".
Will it play ogg vorbis files ?
The researchers also announced that the first full program for their quantum computers would be entitled "Duke Nukem Forever".
"The game will be amazing", stated the researchers, "with state of the art graphics and the ability to play in multiple universes simultaneously."
The first beta release was expected some 25 years from now.
Are they sure what they are doing ? I can just imagine it now...
Dark and light clothes have been inserted together.
The wash program has performed an illegal operation.
Cancel Abort Retry
How long till Google strike back ?
I have a suggestion for a name:
GBay
That's really a straw-man argument. Historically demand for operating systems was very low, no more than a few tens of thousands of units per year. So many machines are sold these days that the operating system can be commoditised.
Your argument also falls down in other ways. For computers like the C64, Apple II, Sinclair Spectrum, etc. the operating system was free.
You could also argue that Linux is only free (as in price) because it's the only way to compete with a monopoly. If it operates outside the capitalist system, perhaps that is because there is no capitalist system in operating systems. There is a monopoly, and everything else.
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition !
Given the development rate of Vista, it will be a very long time until Microsoft compiles.
Nope. I think you have it the wrong way round. The fact that Microsoft is an (illegally maintained) monopoly, is what *allows* them to sell an operating system for 300 - 400 instead of a more reasonable 50 - 100.
That's exactly the point. The EU told Microsoft to do so two years ago, and Microsoft failed to comply. What else should the EU do other than fine Microsoft ? Hold a gun to Bill's head until he's finished writing the documentation ? Put the company executives in jail ?
You make it sound like it's a new thing. Hasn't this always been the case ?
Not everything is black and white. Giving a laptop to every child in India, think how many of those hundreds of millions of kids might be helped out of poverty by greater access to education and information. Pushing them out of poverty would enable them to live healthier lives and afford medicines and vaccinations which they might not otherwise.
Nobody is disagreeing that the temperature of the Earth varies a few degrees here or there. The point is, these temperature changes normally happen over tens or hundreds of thousands of years. That allows ample time for the ecosystem of the planet to adjust to these temperature variations.
In this case, the temperature changes are happening over centuries and decades. Natural changes do not occur this rapidly, so there is most likely a man-made cause behind it. The last time such a rapid climate change occured (due to a meteor collision), the dinosaurs became extinct.