Windows users don't seem to need insurance - or, at least, no one seems to be selling insurance against BSA raids.
But Linux users (at least big corporations using Linux) DO need insurance against meritless lawsuits??? Meritless lawsuits supported by whom???
Hmmm. Sounds like protection money to me.
Microsoft wanted to make running Linux more expensive than it was, relative to Windows. By threatening Linux through their proxy, SCO, they have succeeded in increasing the cost of Linux: Linux users need to take out insurance that Windows users don't need to buy.
This SHOULD be considered a criminal act - a form of racketeering. Where is the Anti-Trust Act when it is really needed? Why charge someone with a criminal act for stealing some minor item worth one or two dollars out of a shop, and then let a billionaire attempt to steal an entire market - with all the billions of dollars of consumer money and industry inefficiency it costs?
Some people find the GIMP inadequate. I find the GIMP overkill. Simple xpaint does all the graphics I need to do at work. Even MS Windows Paint would suffice.
Moral of the story: use the tool that YOU need. Some people need more than the GIMP. Some need less. And for some, the GIMP is just right.
It is like the arguments over MySQL. It is adequate for some people, overkill for others, and just not SQL-compliant enough for the PostgreSQL, DB/2 or Oracle crowd (that includes me).
Pick the one that meets your need. Stop bitching about others that have different needs. And if the problem is that Photoshop or whatever doesn't run on Linux, complain to Adobe. Oracle and IBM moved their "professional" database packages to Linux ages ago. And even Adobe supplies Acrobat reader for Linux.
According to K&R, it is perfectly OK to leave out any - or all - of the expressions inside the "for" loop header, and they themselves use "for (;;)" to implement an infinite loop. It means "loop without any initial action, without any test after each iteration, and without any action after each iteration".
A "while(foo)" loop is exactly the same as "for (;foo;)". "for" loops are very versatile.
Do you understand the word "predatory", as in the sentence: "The abusive monopolist behaved in a predatory fashion"?
Through its government-backed monopoly (which is what copyright, trademarks, patents, etc are: government-backed monopolies... corporate welfare supposedly to "encourage" greater efficiency in the marketplace), Microsoft has accumulated an incedibly large war-chest of funds, which it uses in a predatory fashion to maintain and enhance its monopoly.
THAT is the problem.
When a thug punches someone, he says, "Aw, I was just stretching my arm out. It was an accident. There's no law against stretching your arm." And when Microsoft behaves in a predatory manner, they say, "We are just exercising our right to hire and fire." You wouldn't want to defend the thug, and you don't have to be an apologist for the monopolist - after all, you are one of their victims.
It certainly boots faster than Windows, and has no networking vulnerabilities. But I guess it must have some drawbacks that level the score, making it just as "good" as Windows overall. Just as "good" inherently, that is.
It's a bit suspicious that Linux users might need to buy insurance but the users of the dominant (can we say "convicted monopolist's"?) operating system don't. (Say, what about selling insurance policies against litigation by the BSA????)
I mean, we *all* need fire and auto insurance - not just some of us. But when it is only the *competitors* of a convicted bully who need the insurance... well, draw your own conclusion.
Maybe it should just be called the Microsoft Threat insurance policy. And that means that Microsoft has already won: they have successfully made Linux dearer to own and run.
A more appropriate action is to hunt down the money trail to Microsoft, then BREAK IT APART. A company that is bent on KILLING its opposition needs more than a rap on the knuckles. Everyone would be better off without the abusive monopoly - even its shareholders would probably benefit.
(1) I set my slaves free. But don't abolish the institution of slavery. Former slaves unable to support themselves, "freely" sell themselves back into slavery. Back to Square One.
(2) I set my slaves free AND make it illegal to buy or sell slaves evermore. Former slaves are "forced" to remain free. Of course, I have to think about the starving free persons on my doorstep - maybe help them gain a material independence. Like I should have done when I set them free.
BSD is like option 1 - temporary freedom. GPL is like option 2 - permanent freedom.
Now, what were you saying about the BSD licence being more free?
I think you under-estimate his entertainment value.
Re:From sSomeone who pitches those PHB's...
on
Why PHBs Fear Linux
·
· Score: 1
Nup.
Governments are seriously looking at Linux because it is cheaper (and their IT sections have to do more with less). Interest is growing, and growing very strongly. My state government is looking at Microsoft licences as the equivalent of three new hospitals in the capital city.
When governments change, private companies will change too. Especially when they see IBM and Novell running their servers AND their desktops all on Linux - and it works.
PHBs talk to each other, and copy each other. They are very fashion conscious. And as soon as another manager says, "I cut my licence bill by 50% using Linux, and now have one of the lowest IT overheads in the industry..." - you'll have all the other PHBs clenching their fists and saying, "Why can't WE have lower overheads like them?"
PHBs don't like to stand out from the pack. Risk averse, that's the word. Zealotry just happens to be noticeable to them because it is *all* they can see at the moment. It is just a symptom of the early adoption phase.
I don't use Linux as a Microsoft replacement. I use it as a *Windows* replacement.
And I use Apache as an *IIS* replacement. And OOo as an *MS Office* replacement, and PHP as an *ASP* replacement, and Mozilla as an *IE* replacement....
You may think I am being picky - but all the other things besides the Linux kernel are things that I have replaced while *still using Windows*.
FOSS != Linux Much FOSS *can* run on Windows - and on Unixes and BSDs, and on Macs...
I have converted a number of continuing Windows users to run Mozilla.
Slashdot Mirror
In America, the PATRIOT Act describes you!
When the people see that something doesn't work, they have to change it
Which is why the US government is working so hard to make sure you DON'T see it.
And one clown.
Windows users don't seem to need insurance - or, at least, no one seems to be selling insurance against BSA raids.
But Linux users (at least big corporations using Linux) DO need insurance against meritless lawsuits??? Meritless lawsuits supported by whom???
Hmmm. Sounds like protection money to me.
Microsoft wanted to make running Linux more expensive than it was, relative to Windows. By threatening Linux through their proxy, SCO, they have succeeded in increasing the cost of Linux: Linux users need to take out insurance that Windows users don't need to buy.
This SHOULD be considered a criminal act - a form of racketeering. Where is the Anti-Trust Act when it is really needed? Why charge someone with a criminal act for stealing some minor item worth one or two dollars out of a shop, and then let a billionaire attempt to steal an entire market - with all the billions of dollars of consumer money and industry inefficiency it costs?
Hello, planet earth???
and to germans, the americans seem to be on prozac
Well, they are, aren't they?
They keep sending me emails to buy some.
You know, at first I thought you were talking about Bill Gates...
If the GPL were viral, it would be found on shower curtains.
Debian isn't an option? Geez, what have I been doing since late last year then (work and home)?
Dropped RH7.1. Installed Debian unstable. Been doing regular dist-upgrades via synaptic since then.
Worked great for me.
Some people find the GIMP inadequate. I find the GIMP overkill. Simple xpaint does all the graphics I need to do at work. Even MS Windows Paint would suffice.
Moral of the story: use the tool that YOU need. Some people need more than the GIMP. Some need less. And for some, the GIMP is just right.
It is like the arguments over MySQL. It is adequate for some people, overkill for others, and just not SQL-compliant enough for the PostgreSQL, DB/2 or Oracle crowd (that includes me).
Pick the one that meets your need. Stop bitching about others that have different needs. And if the problem is that Photoshop or whatever doesn't run on Linux, complain to Adobe. Oracle and IBM moved their "professional" database packages to Linux ages ago. And even Adobe supplies Acrobat reader for Linux.
Why write "for (1;1;1)" ?
According to K&R, it is perfectly OK to leave out any - or all - of the expressions inside the "for" loop header, and they themselves use "for (;;)" to implement an infinite loop. It means "loop without any initial action, without any test after each iteration, and without any action after each iteration".
A "while(foo)" loop is exactly the same as "for (;foo;)". "for" loops are very versatile.
Do you understand the word "predatory", as in the sentence: "The abusive monopolist behaved in a predatory fashion"?
... corporate welfare supposedly to "encourage" greater efficiency in the marketplace), Microsoft has accumulated an incedibly large war-chest of funds, which it uses in a predatory fashion to maintain and enhance its monopoly.
Through its government-backed monopoly (which is what copyright, trademarks, patents, etc are: government-backed monopolies
THAT is the problem.
When a thug punches someone, he says, "Aw, I was just stretching my arm out. It was an accident. There's no law against stretching your arm." And when Microsoft behaves in a predatory manner, they say, "We are just exercising our right to hire and fire." You wouldn't want to defend the thug, and you don't have to be an apologist for the monopolist - after all, you are one of their victims.
There is no inherently "better" OS
Ah, still using CP/M, are you?
It certainly boots faster than Windows, and has no networking vulnerabilities. But I guess it must have some drawbacks that level the score, making it just as "good" as Windows overall. Just as "good" inherently, that is.
It's a bit suspicious that Linux users might need to buy insurance but the users of the dominant (can we say "convicted monopolist's"?) operating system don't. (Say, what about selling insurance policies against litigation by the BSA????)
I mean, we *all* need fire and auto insurance - not just some of us. But when it is only the *competitors* of a convicted bully who need the insurance... well, draw your own conclusion.
Maybe it should just be called the Microsoft Threat insurance policy. And that means that Microsoft has already won: they have successfully made Linux dearer to own and run.
A more appropriate action is to hunt down the money trail to Microsoft, then BREAK IT APART. A company that is bent on KILLING its opposition needs more than a rap on the knuckles. Everyone would be better off without the abusive monopoly - even its shareholders would probably benefit.
The people's right to load spyware shall not be infringed.
Naaah, that didn't happen with Windows.
Hey!
*I* have no problems with the removal of all legal protections from you.
Analogy time: back in the 1860s.
(1) I set my slaves free. But don't abolish the institution of slavery. Former slaves unable to support themselves, "freely" sell themselves back into slavery. Back to Square One.
(2) I set my slaves free AND make it illegal to buy or sell slaves evermore. Former slaves are "forced" to remain free. Of course, I have to think about the starving free persons on my doorstep - maybe help them gain a material independence. Like I should have done when I set them free.
BSD is like option 1 - temporary freedom.
GPL is like option 2 - permanent freedom.
Now, what were you saying about the BSD licence being more free?
Aye, they're verrah thrifty in Scotland!
Like one of my work colleagues said about international ocean-going yacht races:
"Wow! Our ruling class is better than your ruling class!"
Yes. Judges frequently make orders like this.
You can't give freedom to someone. They have to take it. Without permission."
But what if I *do* give you permission to be free?
Would that mean you could only rebel by conforming?
I think you under-estimate his entertainment value.
Nup.
Governments are seriously looking at Linux because it is cheaper (and their IT sections have to do more with less). Interest is growing, and growing very strongly. My state government is looking at Microsoft licences as the equivalent of three new hospitals in the capital city.
When governments change, private companies will change too. Especially when they see IBM and Novell running their servers AND their desktops all on Linux - and it works.
PHBs talk to each other, and copy each other. They are very fashion conscious. And as soon as another manager says, "I cut my licence bill by 50% using Linux, and now have one of the lowest IT overheads in the industry..." - you'll have all the other PHBs clenching their fists and saying, "Why can't WE have lower overheads like them?"
PHBs don't like to stand out from the pack. Risk averse, that's the word. Zealotry just happens to be noticeable to them because it is *all* they can see at the moment. It is just a symptom of the early adoption phase.
I don't use Linux as a Microsoft replacement. I use it as a *Windows* replacement.
...
And I use Apache as an *IIS* replacement. And OOo as an *MS Office* replacement, and PHP as an *ASP* replacement, and Mozilla as an *IE* replacement....
You may think I am being picky - but all the other things besides the Linux kernel are things that I have replaced while *still using Windows*.
FOSS != Linux
Much FOSS *can* run on Windows - and on Unixes and BSDs, and on Macs
I have converted a number of continuing Windows users to run Mozilla.
In a republic, it is the public (Latin 'publica') that are ripped off.
But in a democracy, it is the people (Greek 'demos') that are ripped off.
If you had a classical education, you would understand these distinctions better.