Wrong. GPL != Socialism. The GPL forces a programmer to work in a fashion similar to a scientist. When a scientist discovers a new fact about the universe he immediately publishes the information so that other scientists can learn from and test his/her results.
Socialism is defined as a system of social reform which contemplates a complete restructuring of society, with a more "just and equitable" distribution of property and labor.
The sharing of source code/information is in no way comparable to socialism since it has more to do with individual freedom and freedom of speech than with the equalization of social classes which is the falsehood which socialism proposes.
Most who make this argument: 1) post anonymously and 2) don't understand the reasons behind the movement and 3) download the software at the same time as decrying it's author's as socialists.
Linux is very much alive. Mac OS X has it's advantages, but is not as powerful as Linux. Comparing the GNU approach to communism merely exposes one's ignorance of it's purpose.
Too far off the beaten path. One word folks "marketing". Come on sound it out... you can do it! When was the last time you saw an add for anything but Sun, Apple, or Microsoft? Companies need to market, or no one know about thier product.
For example, I had an old friend from High School ask me recently "What's Linux". Of course She's not a computer person, but it shocked me because I thought everyone knew about it. I sometimes forget that I'm a geek.;) The point is that the average person *does not care* which OS is running on his/her box. All they want is for it to boot up and work.
BeOS is, by Be's own admission, a "multimedia OS" which aims it squarely at a certain portion of individuals which, by definition, makes it a niche. In addition Be's total Q2 revenues were $715,000 which most came from "integration services for customers" see http://www.be.com/press/pressreleases/01-07-25_q2r esults.html
for more info. I would say that with sales figures that low, not many people are buying BeOS.
In summary, while I agree BeOS is cool, sometimes cool is just not enough to make it.
It seems that the same disconnect is in place when it comes to guns control as well, but we won't go there.
Most people don't understand cryptography. They here a question like: "The evil ones used crypto to keep authorities from monitoring thier communication when all those terrible things happened. Are you for backdoors in crypto to prevent things like that from happening again?" (See "Do you still beat your wife?" for more info on questions like this.)
There are decisions best left to the pros, and not the general public (i.e. unwashed masses).
Yes. Given that any such law would MANDATE the presence of a backdoor all that is left is to find it. It might be difficult to find, but once uncovered it would make us vulnerable.
Please mail your concerns to them and don't just post them here. Everyone, please let your representatives in congress know how you feel about this issue.
How many more times will it take before MS beefs up its attention to security problems? I have seen so many of these bugs for Windows lately it's not funny anymore.
The IT dept at my company was having trouble, not because we were infected, but because other companies were and they were hitting us. Hmmmmmm.. Each time this happens people are prevented from doing work and companies loose money.
How much more damage will Microsofts poor attention to security cost us? This begs the question: Is it safe to use MS based OSes in mission critical, military, or other applications where lives or large amounts of money are at stake?
Most recently, there has been talk in congress of bills which would deny the follow rights:
1) Your freedom to have private communication via email. That is to say the gov't will, if the bill passes the house, the right to eavsdrop on anyones private e-mail without a warrant.
2) The right to look up information on the internet without fear of someone "watching". The
gov't will have the right to track where you go and what you do on line without a warrant.
3) Your right to use encryption software which does not contain a backdoor. Such a backdoor could compromise your data and allow the gov't access to your personal information.
All of this boils, quite simply, down to privacy. Which, I'm sure you'll agree, is a basic right.
There are those of us willing to fight for it and those of us who have already given up.
Let me first say that I love my country (USA) and I want to see the attacks avenged. I don't, however, think that taking away the rights of ordinary citizens is one of the things that should be done to prevent this type of thing from happening again.
There are two very simple things which could have been done by the Airlines which would have made all the difference:
1) Security doors to the cockpit which do not allow access from the cabin.
2) Sky marshals (i.e) armed guards who sit on the plane to act as a deterrent to hijackings. Do you really think that a bunch of guys with box cutters would have tried something against a guy with a gun? (They used to have these guys about 10 years ago, BTW...)
RMS is correct in his belief that the US is reacting in a way which could effect our lives for years to come. Benjamin Franklin once said "He who gives up his rights for temporary security shall have neither."
We all owe it to ourselves to make sure that it doesn't happen.
This short story illustrates the evils which could be put into play if digital paper is ever realized. The technology itself is a wonderful leap forward, but, I suspect, that the companies controlling the content might get a little greedy.
Although it's doubtful things will get as bad as are described in the story, the technology certainly opens the door for some of it.
Slashdot Mirror
Socialism is defined as a system of social reform which contemplates a complete restructuring of society, with a more "just and equitable" distribution of property and labor.
The sharing of source code/information is in no way comparable to socialism since it has more to do with individual freedom and freedom of speech than with the equalization of social classes which is the falsehood which socialism proposes.
Most who make this argument: 1) post anonymously and 2) don't understand the reasons behind the movement and 3) download the software at the same time as decrying it's author's as socialists.
100% Capitalist.... GJC
Linux is very much alive. Mac OS X has it's advantages, but is not as powerful as Linux. Comparing the GNU approach to communism merely exposes one's ignorance of it's purpose.
I have started a petition against software patents like this. Please sign the petition at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/pasp01/petition.html
I have required state and city, but if you don't feel comfortable giving that info you can simply put state or just USA.
Please help us in the fight against overly broad, non-innovative patents meant to hold back the many for the gain of the few.
GJC
Too far off the beaten path. One word folks "marketing". Come on sound it out... you can do it! When was the last time you saw an add for anything but Sun, Apple, or Microsoft? Companies need to market, or no one know about thier product.
;) The point is that the average person *does not care* which OS is running on his/her box. All they want is for it to boot up and work.
r esults.html
For example, I had an old friend from High School ask me recently "What's Linux". Of course She's not a computer person, but it shocked me because I thought everyone knew about it. I sometimes forget that I'm a geek.
BeOS is, by Be's own admission, a "multimedia OS" which aims it squarely at a certain portion of individuals which, by definition, makes it a niche. In addition Be's total Q2 revenues were $715,000 which most came from "integration services for customers" see http://www.be.com/press/pressreleases/01-07-25_q2
for more info. I would say that with sales figures that low, not many people are buying BeOS.
In summary, while I agree BeOS is cool, sometimes cool is just not enough to make it.
Later, GJC
It seems that the same disconnect is in place when it comes to guns control as well, but we won't go there.
Most people don't understand cryptography. They here a question like: "The evil ones used crypto to keep authorities from monitoring thier communication when all those terrible things happened. Are you for backdoors in crypto to prevent things like that from happening again?" (See "Do you still beat your wife?" for more info on questions like this.)
There are decisions best left to the pros, and not the general public (i.e. unwashed masses).
GJC
Yes. Given that any such law would MANDATE the presence of a backdoor all that is left is to find it. It might be difficult to find, but once uncovered it would make us vulnerable.
GJC
Please mail your concerns to them and don't just post them here. Everyone, please let your representatives in congress know how you feel about this issue.
GJC
How many more times will it take before MS beefs up its attention to security problems? I have seen so many of these bugs for Windows lately it's not funny anymore.
The IT dept at my company was having trouble, not because we were infected, but because other companies were and they were hitting us. Hmmmmmm.. Each time this happens people are prevented from doing work and companies loose money.
How much more damage will Microsofts poor attention to security cost us? This begs the question: Is it safe to use MS based OSes in mission critical, military, or other applications where lives or large amounts of money are at stake?
GJC
Most recently, there has been talk in congress of bills which would deny the follow rights:
1) Your freedom to have private communication via email. That is to say the gov't will, if the bill passes the house, the right to eavsdrop on anyones private e-mail without a warrant.
2) The right to look up information on the internet without fear of someone "watching". The
gov't will have the right to track where you go and what you do on line without a warrant.
3) Your right to use encryption software which does not contain a backdoor. Such a backdoor could compromise your data and allow the gov't access to your personal information.
All of this boils, quite simply, down to privacy. Which, I'm sure you'll agree, is a basic right.
There are those of us willing to fight for it and those of us who have already given up.
GJC
Let me first say that I love my country (USA) and I want to see the attacks avenged. I don't, however, think that taking away the rights of ordinary citizens is one of the things that should be done to prevent this type of thing from happening again.
There are two very simple things which could have been done by the Airlines which would have made all the difference:
1) Security doors to the cockpit which do not allow access from the cabin.
2) Sky marshals (i.e) armed guards who sit on the plane to act as a deterrent to hijackings. Do you really think that a bunch of guys with box cutters would have tried something against a guy with a gun? (They used to have these guys about 10 years ago, BTW...)
RMS is correct in his belief that the US is reacting in a way which could effect our lives for years to come. Benjamin Franklin once said "He who gives up his rights for temporary security shall have neither."
We all owe it to ourselves to make sure that it doesn't happen.
GJC
Such reckless disregard for human life should not be rewarded. No wonder this person posted anonymously.
Please don't post junk like this.
Bzzzzzzzt. We rebuilt Japan because we needed a stratigic ally in the area, not because we felt "guilty".
Fewer lives were sacrificed by using the bomb than would have been in an invasion.
GJC
http://www.gnu.ai.mit.edu/philosophy/right-to-read .html
This short story illustrates the evils which could be put into play if digital paper is ever realized. The technology itself is a wonderful leap forward, but, I suspect, that the companies controlling the content might get a little greedy.
Although it's doubtful things will get as bad as are described in the story, the technology certainly opens the door for some of it.
Later, GJC