Has anyone noticed that the Mirra software is just another Trojan Horse. Well it acts like one, in my opinion.
It phones home. It gets unattended software updates. It accepts remote commands to upload the users' files, bypassing firewalls.
Why would one trust a third party with sensitive or private data without checking them out first?
I think services like this, although hugely useful, have significant privacy risks. Somebody will hack this service eventually - who will have your data then?
Notwithstanding all this bickering over RMS, I simply do not understand why anyone would think that charging _per seat_ licenses for linux is actually a good idea.
It's a poor strategy, and here's why I think so:
1) I'm not as much concerned about the cost of the licenses as I am by the cost of having to track the licenses. Why build in additional costs and undercut a major Gnu/Linux competitive advantage.
2) How will the vendors ensure compliance? After all, if you are going to go through the expense of instituting per-seat licenses, can an occasional AUDIT really be that far behind? Again, this undercuts the Gnu/Linux advantage.
3) What actually counts as a seat? If I have 1 server and 20 users running X, is this 1 seat or 20?
4)How will this be tracked? Will there be license management software on the systems?("Sorry, you are not licensed to use this workstation")
5)Will the systems require some kind of "Product Activation" or other asinine scheme where changing your NIC, IP address, or Hostname will require a new activation.
Actually, it would be the height of irony if the only non-GPL'd software on these distros is the license management component.
== I went to Redmond and all I got was this lousy OS
>Thats the funniest damn thing I've read on Slashdot in awhile:)
Actually, your post is the funniest.
I particularly liked your assertion that:
Using a PC doesn't mean you know squat, other than how to use a PC. You don't magically know how to program all of the sudden, or how to design a PCB, or even how to swap out a PCI card
Hilarious and quite true. I am sure the vast majority of PC users are just that, users. They see the computer as a tool and have no interest in knowing how the tool works.
However, I take exception (non-fatal) to your assertion that knowledge of PCB design and programming are prerequisites for having a GENERAL UNDERTANDING of how computers work.
I think anyone who has had the dubious pleasure of tweaking qemm to optimize memory back in the days of DOS and Windows 3.11 does indeed have at the very least a general understanding.
I have an RCA VCR (yeah, with VHS tapes) that has a commercial skip feature. It's maybe 5 years old.
After it finishes recording a program, it scans through the tape and seems to mark where it thinks the commercials are. On playback, it skips right over the commercials, and I see a blue screen for a couple of seconds.
It seems to me that the Replay box is inherently no different than a VCR.
A VCR allows you to see commercial free TV programs whenever you want.
A VCR allows you to lend/copy/give tapes to your friends.
I think the posts that seem to say "screw him" or "just too bad, he had his chance" are a complete disgrace to the open source movement.
Just change the name to something else like ThanksForInventingItnowFuckOFFSH, or maybe just FreSH.
I see no justification for the strident tones and bully stances adopted by you fellow slashdotters.
Let the guy make his money, change the freakin name, and save the passion for the real corporate bastards. You guys are crapping all over your own kind.
Lovely way to attract people to the open sores movement.
Slashdot Mirror
As far as I know, chips are not currency. If you leave a casino with uncashed chips, you may have a problem cashing them in later on.
When I was in Vegas a couple of years ago, I never left without cashing in.
Has anyone noticed that the Mirra software is just another Trojan Horse. Well it acts like one, in my opinion.
It phones home.
It gets unattended software updates.
It accepts remote commands to upload the users' files, bypassing firewalls.
Why would one trust a third party with sensitive or private data without checking them out first?
I think services like this, although hugely useful, have significant privacy risks. Somebody will hack this service eventually - who will have your data then?
I am surprised nobody has raised this so far.
Notwithstanding all this bickering over RMS, I simply do not understand why anyone would think that charging _per seat_ licenses for linux is actually a good idea.
It's a poor strategy, and here's why I think so:
1) I'm not as much concerned about the cost of the licenses as I am by the cost of having to track the licenses. Why build in additional costs and undercut a major Gnu/Linux competitive advantage.
2) How will the vendors ensure compliance? After all, if you are going to go through the expense of instituting per-seat licenses, can an occasional AUDIT really be that far behind? Again, this undercuts the Gnu/Linux advantage.
3) What actually counts as a seat? If I have 1 server and 20 users running X, is this 1 seat or 20?
4)How will this be tracked? Will there be license management software on the systems?("Sorry, you are not licensed to use this workstation")
5)Will the systems require some kind of "Product Activation" or other asinine scheme where changing your NIC, IP address, or Hostname will require a new activation.
Actually, it would be the height of irony if the only non-GPL'd software on these distros is the license management component.
==
I went to Redmond and all I got was this lousy OS
>Thats the funniest damn thing I've read on Slashdot in awhile :)
Actually, your post is the funniest.
I particularly liked your assertion that:
Using a PC doesn't mean you know squat, other than how to use a PC. You don't magically know how to program all of the sudden, or how to design a PCB, or even how to swap out a PCI card
Hilarious and quite true. I am sure the vast majority of PC users are just that, users. They see the computer as a tool and have no interest in knowing how the tool works.
However, I take exception (non-fatal) to your assertion that knowledge of PCB design and programming are prerequisites for having a GENERAL UNDERTANDING of how computers work.
I think anyone who has had the dubious pleasure of tweaking qemm to optimize memory back in the days of DOS and Windows 3.11 does indeed have at the very least a general understanding.
Your post reeks of technohubris.
I have an RCA VCR (yeah, with VHS tapes) that has a commercial skip feature. It's maybe 5 years old.
After it finishes recording a program, it scans through the tape and seems to mark where it thinks the commercials are. On playback, it skips right over the commercials, and I see a blue screen for a couple of seconds.
It seems to me that the Replay box is inherently no different than a VCR.
A VCR allows you to see commercial free TV programs whenever you want.
A VCR allows you to lend/copy/give tapes to your friends.
Is Replay really that different?
I think the posts that seem to say "screw him" or "just too bad, he had his chance" are a complete disgrace to the open source movement.
Just change the name to something else like ThanksForInventingItnowFuckOFFSH, or maybe just FreSH.
I see no justification for the strident tones and bully stances adopted by you fellow slashdotters.
Let the guy make his money, change the freakin name, and save the passion for the real corporate bastards. You guys are crapping all over your own kind.
Lovely way to attract people to the open sores movement.
M