There are lots of posts already outlining the technical aspects of why (Speed/Power/Momentum/whatever), and while they are certainly important, I think it misses the crux entirely.
x86 is dominant, because Microsoft Windows has a monopoly on the desktop computer market, with an operating system that runs on x86. Intel and Microsoft have massive synergies - Intel gets dominance of the CPU market because it has Microsoft Windows, and so it can spend massive amounts of R&D and win the speed/power/technical merit wars (sometimes, or enough), and this massive amount of CPU power allows Microsoft to bring us amazing breakthroughs like the Aero interface (and the new Office ribbon!)...
Why Microsoft got that monopoly, and why it does/doesn't deserve to keep it, gives us endless comments on slashdot already, so no real point in going in to it here.
(Yes, I'm aware there has been Windows for other architectures, but the massive backlog of x86 software that runs on Windows and won't be recompiled for something else is HUGELY important)
The bottom line here, that Linus and so many other often ignored people are pushing, is that the GPL, and all other *copy*right licenses, are only licenses that effects distribution.
Putting artificial measures into the Linux kernel that affect users of Linux, even when they're building their own kernels is BAD. Technology rules, ok?
Even RMS would recognise that the GPL is about freedom to do WTF you want with it once you've got it, but if you want to offer it to others, you damn well better give them those same freedoms.
Unfortunately, as any longtime/. reader knows, almost any license discussion degenerates into the idiots that think being GPL means you CAN'T do what you want. As Linus so well pointed out, the RIAA sux, why do we have to?
I'd agree with you. However, with the rate online advertising is growing, and the amount of money they're likely to gain from that growth, the best thing for their bottom line may well be to keep all of this legit and above board.
At some point it becomes criminal, and you start hauling directors and execs off to jail.
In general big companies may play around where fines are concerned, but when it comes to the things that might send directors to jail they play by the rules.
They very much take the attitude that shareholders money is theirs to play with, but when it's their own ass on the line they're more circumspect.
I'd just like to point out that those of us in Australia are obviously doing our bit.
You Americans and Europeans obviously need to do a lot more. Probably a lot more than every second street light if you're ever going to meet our high standards in low light pollution.
We're had this for years in FPS's- used to be that I used to have to practice for ages just to compete with the young kids at FPS's. Then along came some great 'acceleration' technology, and it's been so much easier. I call mine a bot.
Ever since it hasn't been about upgrading my CPU or graphics cards to get that head-shot. I've been offloading all that work!
Re:this is BAD in my opinion
on
Netscape Reborn?
·
· Score: 5, Insightful
This is GOOD. Firefox will still be around- AOL can't make it go anywhere.
But having Netscape back is great for many reasons. Having a commercial vendor chasing bug fixes and adding features helps, but most importantly Firefox was born from the Ashes of Netscape, but the code was set free first. The more companies that can see a project like this happen the more they'll be inclined to release code that they've run out of legs to push.
IBM has helped pave the way- opening big chunks of code and hoping others will help them push the projects along, but the open source movement will be helped tremendously if this is happening across a wide open front.
While I can see that Microsoft can use this to spin more fud, surely this could actually help development of major open source projects?
If good developers have a clearer path to obtaining work in the field then this will help keep and entice in new developers to major projects. I realise that a lot of the article is about administrators for these projects, but it seems to me that being a contributor would look fairly good on the resume if these are in demand.
This is a long way from paying the bills by being an open source developer, but fewer obstacles to people getting involved in projects in any capacity seems like a good thing.
If this copyright law dates back to 1968 than there are bound to be some loop-holes that should get these guys off. They just need a decent lawyer.
The original law dates back to 1968, but has been ammended many times since. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it's still outdated and horrible, but we do have active law makers here;)
and congratulations to you - while they mispelled your nick, you got a mention.
I was never particularly happy that your sniffer leaked to Phrack through Anthrax and the Melbourne crowd tho'.. Even though it was a long time after you'd first started using it.
While the accounts of Anthrax aren't exactly the truth as I heard them at the time, it still makes interesting reading.
You should write a book of your experiences though, certainly could be more interesting.
Slashdot Mirror
Xilinx is the worlds largest producer of FPGAs.
Their biggest customer? Cisco. (by far)
The big iron routing guys use heaps in high end devices.
--Q
A Stanford business Professor remarked to me that Google offers a day off a week to work on your own projects, but that that day is normally Sunday.
(Many many people at Google, at least in the Bay Area, work incredibly long hours)
--Q
There are lots of posts already outlining the technical aspects of why (Speed/Power/Momentum/whatever), and while they are certainly important, I think it misses the crux entirely.
x86 is dominant, because Microsoft Windows has a monopoly on the desktop computer market, with an operating system that runs on x86. Intel and Microsoft have massive synergies - Intel gets dominance of the CPU market because it has Microsoft Windows, and so it can spend massive amounts of R&D and win the speed/power/technical merit wars (sometimes, or enough), and this massive amount of CPU power allows Microsoft to bring us amazing breakthroughs like the Aero interface (and the new Office ribbon!)...
Why Microsoft got that monopoly, and why it does/doesn't deserve to keep it, gives us endless comments on slashdot already, so no real point in going in to it here.
(Yes, I'm aware there has been Windows for other architectures, but the massive backlog of x86 software that runs on Windows and won't be recompiled for something else is HUGELY important)
--Q
No no no.
Go read the GPL. Linux is upholding the freedoms the GPL delivers to users.
The GPL fundamentally covers distribution. Users have freedom. We should all fight for that freedom.
--Q
The bottom line here, that Linus and so many other often ignored people are pushing, is that the GPL, and all other *copy*right licenses, are only licenses that effects distribution.
/. reader knows, almost any license discussion degenerates into the idiots that think being GPL means you CAN'T do what you want. As Linus so well pointed out, the RIAA sux, why do we have to?
Putting artificial measures into the Linux kernel that affect users of Linux, even when they're building their own kernels is BAD. Technology rules, ok?
Even RMS would recognise that the GPL is about freedom to do WTF you want with it once you've got it, but if you want to offer it to others, you damn well better give them those same freedoms.
Unfortunately, as any longtime
--Q
'cause, like, that'd work.
Obviously.
--Q
Asked to clarify how it worked, the CEO noted- "Just add water, and in a few minutes it'll be ready!".
--Q
I'd agree with you. However, with the rate online advertising is growing, and the amount of money they're likely to gain from that growth, the best thing for their bottom line may well be to keep all of this legit and above board.
Why risk the goose that lays your golden eggs?
--Q
At some point it becomes criminal, and you start hauling directors and execs off to jail.
In general big companies may play around where fines are concerned, but when it comes to the things that might send directors to jail they play by the rules.
They very much take the attitude that shareholders money is theirs to play with, but when it's their own ass on the line they're more circumspect.
--Q
nt
Cry more noob ! :)
I'd just like to point out that those of us in Australia are obviously doing our bit.
You Americans and Europeans obviously need to do a lot more. Probably a lot more than every second street light if you're ever going to meet our high standards in low light pollution.
--Q
This is ridiculous.
We're had this for years in FPS's- used to be that I used to have to practice for ages just to compete with the young kids at FPS's. Then along came some great 'acceleration' technology, and it's been so much easier. I call mine a bot.
Ever since it hasn't been about upgrading my CPU or graphics cards to get that head-shot. I've been offloading all that work!
.. and the Netscape dudes had a knack for milking the cash out of AOL.
;)
$4.2 Billion can't be wrong
This is GOOD. Firefox will still be around- AOL can't make it go anywhere.
But having Netscape back is great for many reasons. Having a commercial vendor chasing bug fixes and adding features helps, but most importantly Firefox was born from the Ashes of Netscape, but the code was set free first. The more companies that can see a project like this happen the more they'll be inclined to release code that they've run out of legs to push.
IBM has helped pave the way- opening big chunks of code and hoping others will help them push the projects along, but the open source movement will be helped tremendously if this is happening across a wide open front.
-- Q
While I can see that Microsoft can use this to spin more fud, surely this could actually help development of major open source projects?
If good developers have a clearer path to obtaining work in the field then this will help keep and entice in new developers to major projects. I realise that a lot of the article is about administrators for these projects, but it seems to me that being a contributor would look fairly good on the resume if these are in demand.
This is a long way from paying the bills by being an open source developer, but fewer obstacles to people getting involved in projects in any capacity seems like a good thing.
--Q
Yeah, I've had this happen many, many times. A bit annoying, and it only seems to happen to me on slashdot.
I'm writing this in firefox. It rocks. Internet Explorer sucks. When will Microsfoft learn?
;)
Now, on to business- New Here's posting record rocks, check it out
Yeah 'cause there is no way that we won't see hacked firmware released for TV capture cards like we do for dvds.
I'm sure we also won't see someone using a felt tipped marker thanks to the wonderful people protecting the world with great laws like this..
Of course all the people using such things will be terrorists, so I guess that's ok. I hear there are other bits of Cuba to fill anyway.
Polls tend to tell you what's popular rather than give information about what might be best for you.
Even since I started rejecting emails that had headers I've received no spam. I highly recommend it. :)
Not to be a karma whore, but in case of the /. effect, here is the complete article text.
-----------------
If this copyright law dates back to 1968 than there are bound to be some loop-holes that should get these guys off. They just need a decent lawyer.
;)
The original law dates back to 1968, but has been ammended many times since. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it's still outdated and horrible, but we do have active law makers here
and congratulations to you - while they mispelled your nick, you got a mention.
.. Even though it was a long time after you'd first started using it.
I was never particularly happy that your sniffer leaked to Phrack through Anthrax and the Melbourne crowd tho'
While the accounts of Anthrax aren't exactly the truth as I heard them at the time, it still makes interesting reading.
You should write a book of your experiences though, certainly could be more interesting.
--Q
(Ah - the memories)