It seems a little cynical that at the end of the first article at Traffick.com there's an advertisement for 'Wordtracker', which supposedly will make you RICH if you just fork over a few bucks and let them show YOU how using the right keywords will make you RICH. Did I mention they'll make you RICH?
Yes, I'm sure Microsoft is just salivating at the thought of selling software to a bunch of broke starving students. As we all know, this is the segment of society that tends to pirate software the least.
Oh, and look over there. Some nice black helicopters.
The free/open movement is known for its open implementations of closed source apps. StarOffice, the KDE groupware, etc. etc. Software is written both to satisfy a requirement and to bring a given functionality set to OSs like Linux and BSD (and to compete). Sometimes software is also written to bring balance to the force - i.e., Ogg was developed because MP3 has too much licensing baggage.
Unfortunately this is not something that can be done with GNU. There is a *shitload* of software that ships with Linux distros (not to mention the ones used to *create* the OS in the first place).
But let's think about this for a moment - how much effort would be required for creating new versions of gcc, libgc and so on (a BIG so on)?
Also, it seems to me Stallman was more than happy to let Linux use his stuff (and yes, its his stuff, judging from these inane FAQ/political statement ramblings) for the longest time but now he sees himself relegated to obscurity and he wants, quite literally, a piece of the pie. He is not associated with free software, Linus Torvalds is. And while he certainly deserves the credit, it's extremely stupid to try to force it out of everyone at this point using tactics like these.
Now, how different is this from a situation such as Unisys allowing everyone and their mother use the GIF format for years and then coming up with "oh, by the way, we just realized we have a patent on the compression method. Line up and bend over". Or the Rambus debacle? Not very different, except that Rambus didn't accuse Intel of supporting of the atomic bomb. And I do wonder WTF he was smoking when he came up with that. "Poster boy" indeed. Is it just me or does anyone else detect a bit of psychotic envy here?
Not being a speaker of Spanish, it looks to me like this example is just using "con" as a conjunction, like saying "GNU and Linux."
It's a play on a phrase like "papas con catsup" or "coca cola con ron bacardi" in that french fries always *mix* well with ketchup and cola goes well with rum, and so on. Kinda like "gin and tonic".
You just keep repeating that. Maybe it will come true. In the meantime, see that light at the end of the tunnel coming rapidly towards you? That's not a bowl of cereal.
HTH!
Not to karma whore or anything...
on
Google Does the News
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· Score: 0, Offtopic
But Google just absofreakinglutely rocks. I can't imagine going back to crappy Yahoo or Altavista. And I can't imagine doing my job effectively without the Usenet archives.
I hope they keep growing and making a crapload of money. Actually, Google is one of the few things in the 'net I'd pay good money for. It's definitely worth it.
And why, oh why must every "open source/free software columnist" being their articles with a potshot to Microsoft as a way to justify Linux's existence? Must they always do that? How about letting the technology stand by itself?
So here I am thinking, there are so many arguments to make in favor of Open Source and free software, etc. And this is what you come up with to prove that softwarechoice.org is evil?
Then, according to your metrics, 99% of all HTML pages out there are evil constructs of a bloated multinational keiretsu bent on undermining the rights of people to choose software... or something. I mean, those are not pictures of a wedding or a guy's pet hedgehog, noooo. They're expressions of evil, pure and simple.
But then, fighting FUD with more FUD is apparently all the rage these days.
And I propose than when we find him, we kill him. I suggest we start our search in India.
While we're at it, we'll probably run into the asswipe that came up with 'r' instead of 'are'; 'thx' instead of 'thanks' and 'pls' or 'plz' instead of 'please'. We can kill them too.
I agree with the article to the extent that Mozilla is a far better "platform" than IE is or ever was, mainly because of Microsoft's insistance on using ActiveX as the glue technology, which is either so simplistic it's not worth doing at all (think VB) or so hard it's not worth doing at all (think VC++). Otherwise there would be many more 'thingies' like the excellent Google NavBar. IMO, Microsoft *did* attempt to turn the browser into a platform but failed essentially because it's too difficult to get right.
I like XUL. I think it's a great idea and the implementation rocks. But most of all, it's simple. There are no DLLs, no IUnknown pointers or registry issues to deal with. Mozilla is a great browser, in many respects superior to IE, and in some inferior (my dream browser would be a combination of IE, Mozilla and Konqueror which runs on Windows, OSX and Linux. Oh well). But the difference it was designed from the sart to *be* a platform, where with IE platformitis was an afterthought.
But I disgress. The key here is going to be Mozilla's ability to gain critical mass with average developers in Windows for it to take off. I'm not talking about XPCOM hackers, I'm talking about the ones quoted in the Salon article. It will do Mozilla no good if it takes off in Linux, because Linux has no desktop presence to speak of, and it has a far greater variety of browsers that, while good for competition, also cause fragmentation.
I think Microsoft's response to this (if they do get to the point where they consider the Mozilla *platform* a threat) will be to essentially take IE and turn it into a.NET platform. If they can offer a platform to people writing C# and VB.NET and JScript.NET, they'll be all set - assuming the.NET thing does take off like they want to. Of course, one of the catalysts to.NET acceptance will be how many computers it happens to be installed in - imagine if anyone who wants to use the next version of IE has to download the.NET runtime?
Still, Mozilla has the upper hand because it's off on the race and Microsoft is standing in the starting line wondering what the futz is going on and why are all these geeks cheering?
Slashdot Mirror
It seems a little cynical that at the end of the first article at Traffick.com there's an advertisement for 'Wordtracker', which supposedly will make you RICH if you just fork over a few bucks and let them show YOU how using the right keywords will make you RICH. Did I mention they'll make you RICH?
And your attitude is precisely the reason they're not about to be bothered to "address" the problem.
Oh, and look over there. Some nice black helicopters.
OMG! You so funny!
And the '$' in 'Microsoft'? Wow howdya come up with that??? It's hilarious!!!1!!
Hmmm yes. Well, thanks for making my point.
So I guess that balances the scale.
Unfortunately this is not something that can be done with GNU. There is a *shitload* of software that ships with Linux distros (not to mention the ones used to *create* the OS in the first place).
But let's think about this for a moment - how much effort would be required for creating new versions of gcc, libgc and so on (a BIG so on)?
Also, it seems to me Stallman was more than happy to let Linux use his stuff (and yes, its his stuff, judging from these inane FAQ/political statement ramblings) for the longest time but now he sees himself relegated to obscurity and he wants, quite literally, a piece of the pie. He is not associated with free software, Linus Torvalds is. And while he certainly deserves the credit, it's extremely stupid to try to force it out of everyone at this point using tactics like these.
Now, how different is this from a situation such as Unisys allowing everyone and their mother use the GIF format for years and then coming up with "oh, by the way, we just realized we have a patent on the compression method. Line up and bend over". Or the Rambus debacle? Not very different, except that Rambus didn't accuse Intel of supporting of the atomic bomb. And I do wonder WTF he was smoking when he came up with that. "Poster boy" indeed. Is it just me or does anyone else detect a bit of psychotic envy here?
<wink, wink>
It's a play on a phrase like "papas con catsup" or "coca cola con ron bacardi" in that french fries always *mix* well with ketchup and cola goes well with rum, and so on. Kinda like "gin and tonic".
Hmmmm. I think I need a burger and a drink now.
You just keep repeating that. Maybe it will come true. In the meantime, see that light at the end of the tunnel coming rapidly towards you? That's not a bowl of cereal.
HTH!
I hope they keep growing and making a crapload of money. Actually, Google is one of the few things in the 'net I'd pay good money for. It's definitely worth it.
<snicker/>
And why, oh why must every "open source/free software columnist" being their articles with a potshot to Microsoft as a way to justify Linux's existence? Must they always do that? How about letting the technology stand by itself?
Well of course not. It was Forrest Gump. Everybody knows that!
I mean, if you're going to copy a GUI at this point, might as well copy OS X, fer sakes.
... what distro was subsequently used and, more importantly, who the heck installed it =)
Wow.
And YOU are the MAN!
Then, according to your metrics, 99% of all HTML pages out there are evil constructs of a bloated multinational keiretsu bent on undermining the rights of people to choose software... or something. I mean, those are not pictures of a wedding or a guy's pet hedgehog, noooo. They're expressions of evil, pure and simple.
But then, fighting FUD with more FUD is apparently all the rage these days.
That's nice, but the dude didn't resign - he was fired.
Hope that helps.
How about you just DEAL with it instead of making vacuous rationalizations about how it "almost can't be happening"?
This is like those people who like to rationalize "they almost didn't lose".
Just DEAL with it.
Wow! Thanks for sharing!!
Who else?
Wow! People like you make the Linux experience a real pleasure. Thank you, Mr. Hansu, for being such an understanding and kind human being.
So, we have RMS and Hansu the Kracku here. Who's up next?
While we're at it, we'll probably run into the asswipe that came up with 'r' instead of 'are'; 'thx' instead of 'thanks' and 'pls' or 'plz' instead of 'please'. We can kill them too.
Only then will the world be safe.
I thought so.
I like XUL. I think it's a great idea and the implementation rocks. But most of all, it's simple. There are no DLLs, no IUnknown pointers or registry issues to deal with. Mozilla is a great browser, in many respects superior to IE, and in some inferior (my dream browser would be a combination of IE, Mozilla and Konqueror which runs on Windows, OSX and Linux. Oh well). But the difference it was designed from the sart to *be* a platform, where with IE platformitis was an afterthought.
But I disgress. The key here is going to be Mozilla's ability to gain critical mass with average developers in Windows for it to take off. I'm not talking about XPCOM hackers, I'm talking about the ones quoted in the Salon article. It will do Mozilla no good if it takes off in Linux, because Linux has no desktop presence to speak of, and it has a far greater variety of browsers that, while good for competition, also cause fragmentation.
I think Microsoft's response to this (if they do get to the point where they consider the Mozilla *platform* a threat) will be to essentially take IE and turn it into a .NET platform. If they can offer a platform to people writing C# and VB.NET and JScript.NET, they'll be all set - assuming the .NET thing does take off like they want to. Of course, one of the catalysts to .NET acceptance will be how many computers it happens to be installed in - imagine if anyone who wants to use the next version of IE has to download the .NET runtime?
Still, Mozilla has the upper hand because it's off on the race and Microsoft is standing in the starting line wondering what the futz is going on and why are all these geeks cheering?