I have been using Linux in the desktop for 8 years, all the people I work with use it at home, many as their main desktop.
I know of many people that are not computer specialists that are happy with a Linux solution with minimal support (for hardware issues mainly).
The desktop is almost there, the naysayers will stop their nonsense very soon, as they did long time ago when it came as Linux as a business ready server platform.
The professions you mentioned are known tobe of an altruistic nature, the compensation comes from a work well done.
Many in the gaming industry in particular and the IT world in general have glamourized the image of the overworked gaming programmer (and for extension anybody related to the industry), to the advantage of the gaming industry of course.
In any case, your reasoning is a fallacy. Any industry could claim that and then launch in a escapade of employee explotation.
Some things are immoral, no matter if the victim is a willing participant (young programmers are generaly too stupid to know any better).
So what you are saying is that the GPL is bad because commercial interests can't be arsed to invest in R&D and would prefer to obtain things without any effort?
Well, I welcome that. If well known examples are any indication, companies will run with things, will pretend they are innovating and the most cynical will even start using their "IP portfolio" in creative legal ways.
If the only way to protect the commons is by keeping at bay potential abusers then the GPL is a wonderfool legal tool to achieve just that.
Re:Count me as a fellow Lone CoderWhat exactly is
on
Is The Lone Coder Dead?
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
And frankly I despair when I see such nonsense rated insightful.
If you are referring to the software you write yourself, nobody is forcing you to license its distribution under the GPL. Of course people writing similar applications and releasing them under the GPL will have a competitive advantage: I as an user want to own my IT infrastructure and am tired of vendor lock in. If you can't deal with that, thoug, but still nobody is forcing you to release the fruits of your labour under the GPL.
If is other people's software you are complaining about then get a grip, the authors can release it under wathever licensing scheme they see fit and is none of your business dictating how they do it.
Software is a comodity, rarely a luxury product anymore.
Most programmers do not realize that their role has changed in many instances from IT Designer or Engineer to IT Quick FIx or Janitorial Service.
If you do not understand the nature of software today do not expect to receive sympathy for a vision of the wolrd that is contradicted by day to day reality and facts.
The only thing copyright infringers can't copy is your personaly lended support. The more software you write and release under open licensing schemes, the more software there is out ther to be mantained and customized.
Programmers should not see themselves anymore as designers but mantainers and IT tailors.
Write useful software, release unencumbered of close licenses and make it known you are the final authority regarding the software.
If it is truly useful you will have business expanding its usefulness.
If it is not (yet another window manager for example) then frankly you should not expect much recompense for your efforts, appart from the joy of learning.
Why does a programmer needs to waste time doing something badly when he can hire somebody else to do it properly?
The most simplistic cost/benefit analysis (for a professional, if you are a hobbyst you can waste your time in any manner you wish) dictates that your money is best invested hiring a pro.
Computer manufacturers are not harrasing me with legalese if I run Linux in the hardware they sell me.
MS does in regards to how I can use the software. The purpose of that harrasment is to force me to use the software in a product that they commercialize. Only somebody delussional would claim that such software is free of any cost since its conditions are one of the oldest commercial practices (giving something for free only if you buy something else).
The most remarkable achievement of MS is to have convinced so many people that this is free. If a shop would be giving you something for "free" only if you buy something else we all know it is not really free and that its price has already been factored in the cost of the product one buys.
In one or two years time, you will have as much memory as you needed in any device.
New mobile phones come with 16 MB of memory, no respectable MP# player will come with less than 64MB, PDA device have 16 or 32 nowadays. A 256MB memory card costs 25 GBP.
TO still be trying to desing for future projects with constraints that will dissapear with 100% certainty in the medium term is pretty short sighted.
I rarely go religiously through all the thread, but I did this time (I am orphaned tonight, so have lots of time on my hands).
The list of industrialized toys of all kind is very telling to somebody with a different cultural background (most people are USians here).
Some mentioned yo-yo, but not s single person mentioned simpler toys:
-Marbles. I spent unncountable hours playing with marbles, organizing tournaments against my friends, winning and lossing marbles in bets, and then building tracks for them with all kinds of materials to roll and roll and roll.
The most telling thing is that nobody mentioned a ball of any kind. Being Mexican I played with footballs most of my childhood to emulate the heros of the most popular sport in the world, but basketball and even volleyball where all close to my heart. Few things were more appreciated in Xmas time than a football, but most importantly a match with teams formed by uncles, cousins and the odd girl in the extended family after Xmas day brunch.
You guys north of the Rio Bravo, did not mention a bat and a baseball, a pitcher's glove, and US football ball, if there are any UKians, not a single cricket bat?
If somebody would have wanted a thread to highlight a geeky stereotype, this would be the one: mechanical contraptions, electronic gadgetry, all branded and commercialized, simplicity and physical activity sorely missing in the image that geeks have of chilhood's pleasures.
But perhaps this is also telling of the culture of fear permeating US society (fear of lawsuits, feel of being harmed)...
Slashdot Mirror
Right on!
Those Brits should devolve Guantanamo to Cuba and stop their shameful behaviour.
And they also should answer for their crimes in Abu Gharib.
And killing people hurt and unarmed.
And those Brits, executing teenagers and mentally deficient people.
Honestly, they should folow the shining US example.
Your are renlentlessly beating him!
Show us where in the article UK politicians are mentioned!
He is a fucking actor for bunny's sakes...
Such chimera does not exist.
I have been using Linux in the desktop for 8 years, all the people I work with use it at home, many as their main desktop.
I know of many people that are not computer specialists that are happy with a Linux solution with minimal support (for hardware issues mainly).
The desktop is almost there, the naysayers will stop their nonsense very soon, as they did long time ago when it came as Linux as a business ready server platform.
The professions you mentioned are known tobe of an altruistic nature, the compensation comes from a work well done.
Many in the gaming industry in particular and the IT world in general have glamourized the image of the overworked gaming programmer (and for extension anybody related to the industry), to the advantage of the gaming industry of course.
In any case, your reasoning is a fallacy. Any industry could claim that and then launch in a escapade of employee explotation.
Some things are immoral, no matter if the victim is a willing participant (young programmers are generaly too stupid to know any better).
... but we are not all masochists.
So what you are saying is that the GPL is bad because commercial interests can't be arsed to invest in R&D and would prefer to obtain things without any effort?
Well, I welcome that. If well known examples are any indication, companies will run with things, will pretend they are innovating and the most cynical will even start using their "IP portfolio" in creative legal ways.
If the only way to protect the commons is by keeping at bay potential abusers then the GPL is a wonderfool legal tool to achieve just that.
And frankly I despair when I see such nonsense rated insightful.
If you are referring to the software you write yourself, nobody is forcing you to license its distribution under the GPL. Of course people writing similar applications and releasing them under the GPL will have a competitive advantage: I as an user want to own my IT infrastructure and am tired of vendor lock in. If you can't deal with that, thoug, but still nobody is forcing you to release the fruits of your labour under the GPL.
If is other people's software you are complaining about then get a grip, the authors can release it under wathever licensing scheme they see fit and is none of your business dictating how they do it.
So exactly what is your point?
Software is a comodity, rarely a luxury product anymore.
Most programmers do not realize that their role has changed in many instances from IT Designer or Engineer to IT Quick FIx or Janitorial Service.
If you do not understand the nature of software today do not expect to receive sympathy for a vision of the wolrd that is contradicted by day to day reality and facts.
The only thing copyright infringers can't copy is your personaly lended support. The more software you write and release under open licensing schemes, the more software there is out ther to be mantained and customized.
Programmers should not see themselves anymore as designers but mantainers and IT tailors.
Write useful software, release unencumbered of close licenses and make it known you are the final authority regarding the software.
If it is truly useful you will have business expanding its usefulness.
If it is not (yet another window manager for example) then frankly you should not expect much recompense for your efforts, appart from the joy of learning.
In a convent?
Al Quaeda HQ?
The Whitehouse?
Honestly. Where in the civilized world do you work?
We know students get discounts to get hooked.
Thanks for the eye opener, nobody would have guessed it.
Gates would be funny if it was not for the fact that he has influence and power.
Pray your IT maters do not find your posting.
Your life will be misery and you will be constrained to make a living drawing portraits in a tourist spot in your town.
Look, he must be good at what he does since his name is easy to find, but good is not great.
I checked the IMDB and there was nothing tremendously impressive.
Why does a programmer needs to waste time doing something badly when he can hire somebody else to do it properly?
The most simplistic cost/benefit analysis (for a professional, if you are a hobbyst you can waste your time in any manner you wish) dictates that your money is best invested hiring a pro.
And you are not making billions of your paintings becaue a marketing conspiracy.
But we are all sure you are as good as van Gogh or Picasso.
An I want to play football like Pele.
I am sure I can learn.
The problem is that kicking a ball does not a Pele make.
I did not know you had elections recently there.
This is a pleasent although somewhat strange way to find that there is life on Mars.
.... find the same stone, look for organic matter in the same geological stratum, date that.
Bingo.
Computer manufacturers are not harrasing me with legalese if I run Linux in the hardware they sell me.
MS does in regards to how I can use the software. The purpose of that harrasment is to force me to use the software in a product that they commercialize. Only somebody delussional would claim that such software is free of any cost since its conditions are one of the oldest commercial practices (giving something for free only if you buy something else).
The most remarkable achievement of MS is to have convinced so many people that this is free. If a shop would be giving you something for "free" only if you buy something else we all know it is not really free and that its price has already been factored in the cost of the product one buys.
It is bread, Go on, pick one bread roll only, I don't want my generosity to be abused.
Where are you going? Did not you read the sign that clearly specifies that in order to get the free bread roll you must by 10 liters of milk? MS milk.
I hope you get it, if you don't you are beyond redemption.
Such practices are illegal in many countries btw.
In one or two years time, you will have as much memory as you needed in any device.
New mobile phones come with 16 MB of memory, no respectable MP# player will come with less than 64MB, PDA device have 16 or 32 nowadays. A 256MB memory card costs 25 GBP.
TO still be trying to desing for future projects with constraints that will dissapear with 100% certainty in the medium term is pretty short sighted.
It is not iike that could be, horrors of horrors, scripted somewhere....
... you are an expert about the quality of Ukranian education....
I rarely go religiously through all the thread, but I did this time (I am orphaned tonight, so have lots of time on my hands).
The list of industrialized toys of all kind is very telling to somebody with a different cultural background (most people are USians here).
Some mentioned yo-yo, but not s single person mentioned simpler toys:
-Marbles. I spent unncountable hours playing with marbles, organizing tournaments against my friends, winning and lossing marbles in bets, and then building tracks for them with all kinds of materials to roll and roll and roll.
- Did you guys have trompos?
- What about baleros?
-Roller skates?
The most telling thing is that nobody mentioned a ball of any kind. Being Mexican I played with footballs most of my childhood to emulate the heros of the most popular sport in the world, but basketball and even volleyball where all close to my heart. Few things were more appreciated in Xmas time than a football, but most importantly a match with teams formed by uncles, cousins and the odd girl in the extended family after Xmas day brunch.
You guys north of the Rio Bravo, did not mention a bat and a baseball, a pitcher's glove, and US football ball, if there are any UKians, not a single cricket bat?
If somebody would have wanted a thread to highlight a geeky stereotype, this would be the one: mechanical contraptions, electronic gadgetry, all branded and commercialized, simplicity and physical activity sorely missing in the image that geeks have of chilhood's pleasures.
But perhaps this is also telling of the culture of fear permeating US society (fear of lawsuits, feel of being harmed)...