Retailers could just direct you to contact Microsoft directly (if, for example, they have a NO RETURNS ON SOFTWARE policy). At that point Microsoft would it surprise anyone that they would find a way to invoke the $5 refund clause of the EULA?
If rumors are true that Microsoft is seeking to replace NTFS with SQL Server providing the 'file system manager, registry, etc.' in whatever follows Windows XP, perhaps Linux also move towards a user filesystem based on a database, like Sybase, Oracle, DB2 or Postgres? (Ding) Wait...Red Hat buys into Postgres...hmmm... Isolating kernal filesystem from user 'filesystem'...hmmm. I wonder if IBM or Sybase would like to contribute towards this? Then a Linux user gets database'd filesystem of choice vs. a one size DBFS fits all from Mygrossoftware?
Time to get organized folks...build the real NET.
The June 18th Infoworld carried a glossy Bill Gates insert describing.NET. It was geekily dated June 14, 2001, 11:49AM and outlined his plans for the internet. This C# and CLR issue may be a smoking red herring.
The real drivers here are
the various 10+ Microsoft Windows and.NET Framework Servers required for businesses and developers to participate (smell billions in server and CAL license sales here),
the requirement to use the new Microsoft-experience clients (Windows CE, ME, Xbox, Tablet PC, Stinger-phone, UltimateTV, and of course the freely available (Conexion) XP),
plus the enormous role of Microsoft in authenticating participants, 'enabling' secure XML transactions, through payment and delivery, via HailStorm.
Microsoft MSN services (and its group of trusted MSN businesses) are being positioned to insert themselves into private and business communications and transactions as a middle man, collecting for use of its tools, platforms, tolls for verification/authentication. Their goal is no less than to be the software buttons and levers and systems supporting the world economies. Microsoft basically is asking the world to turnover the scary, bad internet (with it's cancerous, commie-hippie-freak non-standard, non-BSD platforms) to Microsoft so the internet experience can be trusted, safe and secure, and profitable--well, to them at least. And, unless a less costly, more anonymous alternative exists, the sheep will go.
You already know MSN won't use POP3 with Messenger anymore...you'll use their new proprietary email messaging format. So far, few have objected to this.
The real challenge and call to arms is to present an open source alternative to this entire framework. We Open Sorcerors need to develop and present the business case and solution set for a trusted, safe, secure internet experience suitable for private communication and business transctions, that doesn't require Microsoft's hands in everyone's personal wallet and passport...wait, it's called Microsoft Wallet/Passp[ort. Geez, under the MS framework, we don't even get to own our own wallet or passport! Well, of course, it must be authenticated by Microsoft...I'm sorry sir, Microsoft invalidated your wallet...your passport failed sir, Windows has detected the presense of a non Microsoft OS, you will be held for the authorities and prompt extradication of your inauthentic alien operating system.
So, Open Sorcerors let's look in our bag of GPL'd code and collaborate on an OPEN FRAMEWORK that can circumscribe and circumvent.NET. Perhaps we can come up with something that combines privacy, security and authentication with Napster like P2P, B2P and B2B. Call it ANY2ANY4ANY, ANY3, or.ANY, for anywhere, anytime, anyone...get the idea out there, anyone can safely use it for any normal human interaction.
We need a private 'vouchsafe' trading system, that says party X is good for $bucks and party Y is good for the goods.
We need private secure chat, media and email communications, so that chat, games, video, email, fax is encrypted, private, and authenticated, and delivery validated. We need the servers and clients modified to do this well and fast, even on sub-100Mhz Pentiums.
We'll need parental content access controls (I know you are going to scream...please hold) but this is important to many heads of family. An xml based open source rating system could do this.
We'll need world wide cooperation on this, with worldwide points of presence. That way, if one or two is shutdown by Microsoft legal tactics, we can maintain services.
We need to deliver this option, able to run using today's supply of older PC's, assuming a 16Mb, SVGA, 2Gb, fast 486 as the starting point. Recycling the existing PC stock into viable platforms is the most crucial tactical move we can make. This move is key to slowing the rate at which Microsoft can enforce the adoption of it's plan on the world through XP. There are far more existing Windows 95/98 PCs that are 2 years or older, than new. It turns out that businesses and people can't afford a new computer every 2-3 years like Microsoft expects, either in terms of money or migration hassle. We can control the internet through these.
So we need our own embrace and extend migration path. Let's find a sub $100 way to get Linux out there without losing PC user data. We must provide the means to retain current Windows apps and data on the PC. Win4Lin, VMware, whatever... We need the install process and hardware combination that takes a 10Gb or 40Gb hard drive with a free OS and all needed applications configured to go, and have it bring over everything from an older drive into a new Windows partition. We need it to set up the.ANY services and clients with the minimum of human input. We need it build cooperation with and tie into existing ISPs or alternative ISPs.
Radio Shack has dropped offering the OS-neutral Direct PC for the MSN broadband satellite MSN-hosted service. We need to work to ensure ISP satellite options are opened for.ANY.
We need to create some subscriber based broadband options that aren't under MSN's thumb. It can include up to the minute updates for Linux security, etc.
Slashdot Mirror
Retailers could just direct you to contact Microsoft directly (if, for example, they have a NO RETURNS ON SOFTWARE policy). At that point Microsoft would it surprise anyone that they would find a way to invoke the $5 refund clause of the EULA?
If rumors are true that Microsoft is seeking to replace NTFS with SQL Server providing the 'file system manager, registry, etc.' in whatever follows Windows XP, perhaps Linux also move towards a user filesystem based on a database, like Sybase, Oracle, DB2 or Postgres? (Ding) Wait...Red Hat buys into Postgres...hmmm... Isolating kernal filesystem from user 'filesystem'...hmmm. I wonder if IBM or Sybase would like to contribute towards this? Then a Linux user gets database'd filesystem of choice vs. a one size DBFS fits all from Mygrossoftware?
TuxPaq, LinPaq (wait...sounds like an old standard), MyPaq, MiPaq, MePaq, WeAllPaq
iPaqEN (Enhanced iPaq...but this sounds something to set off airport alarms)
HanPaq, execPaq, XPaq (trademark?), LuvPaq, a special version just for /. crowd: slashPaq!
IttyBittyPaq or I++yB++yPaq, I#yB#Paq, Paq++, Paq#, no-wince-Paq? QtPaq?
ComminglePAQ?
The real drivers here are .NET Framework Servers required for businesses and developers to participate (smell billions in server and CAL license sales here),
the various 10+ Microsoft Windows and
the requirement to use the new Microsoft-experience clients (Windows CE, ME, Xbox, Tablet PC, Stinger-phone, UltimateTV, and of course the freely available (Conexion) XP),
plus the enormous role of Microsoft in authenticating participants, 'enabling' secure XML transactions, through payment and delivery, via HailStorm.
Microsoft MSN services (and its group of trusted MSN businesses) are being positioned to insert themselves into private and business communications and transactions as a middle man, collecting for use of its tools, platforms, tolls for verification/authentication. Their goal is no less than to be the software buttons and levers and systems supporting the world economies. Microsoft basically is asking the world to turnover the scary, bad internet (with it's cancerous, commie-hippie-freak non-standard, non-BSD platforms) to Microsoft so the internet experience can be trusted, safe and secure, and profitable--well, to them at least. And, unless a less costly, more anonymous alternative exists, the sheep will go.
You already know MSN won't use POP3 with Messenger anymore...you'll use their new proprietary email messaging format. So far, few have objected to this.
The real challenge and call to arms is to present an open source alternative to this entire framework. We Open Sorcerors need to develop and present the business case and solution set for a trusted, safe, secure internet experience suitable for private communication and business transctions, that doesn't require Microsoft's hands in everyone's personal wallet and passport...wait, it's called Microsoft Wallet/Passp[ort. Geez, under the MS framework, we don't even get to own our own wallet or passport! Well, of course, it must be authenticated by Microsoft...I'm sorry sir, Microsoft invalidated your wallet...your passport failed sir, Windows has detected the presense of a non Microsoft OS, you will be held for the authorities and prompt extradication of your inauthentic alien operating system.
So, Open Sorcerors let's look in our bag of GPL'd code and collaborate on an OPEN FRAMEWORK that can circumscribe and circumvent .NET. Perhaps we can come up with something that combines privacy, security and authentication with Napster like P2P, B2P and B2B. Call it ANY2ANY4ANY, ANY3, or .ANY, for anywhere, anytime, anyone...get the idea out there, anyone can safely use it for any normal human interaction.
We need a private 'vouchsafe' trading system, that says party X is good for $bucks and party Y is good for the goods.
We need private secure chat, media and email communications, so that chat, games, video, email, fax is encrypted, private, and authenticated, and delivery validated. We need the servers and clients modified to do this well and fast, even on sub-100Mhz Pentiums.
We'll need parental content access controls (I know you are going to scream...please hold) but this is important to many heads of family. An xml based open source rating system could do this.
We'll need world wide cooperation on this, with worldwide points of presence. That way, if one or two is shutdown by Microsoft legal tactics, we can maintain services.
We need to deliver this option, able to run using today's supply of older PC's, assuming a 16Mb, SVGA, 2Gb, fast 486 as the starting point. Recycling the existing PC stock into viable platforms is the most crucial tactical move we can make. This move is key to slowing the rate at which Microsoft can enforce the adoption of it's plan on the world through XP. There are far more existing Windows 95/98 PCs that are 2 years or older, than new. It turns out that businesses and people can't afford a new computer every 2-3 years like Microsoft expects, either in terms of money or migration hassle. We can control the internet through these.
So we need our own embrace and extend migration path. Let's find a sub $100 way to get Linux out there without losing PC user data. We must provide the means to retain current Windows apps and data on the PC. Win4Lin, VMware, whatever... We need the install process and hardware combination that takes a 10Gb or 40Gb hard drive with a free OS and all needed applications configured to go, and have it bring over everything from an older drive into a new Windows partition. We need it to set up the .ANY services and clients with the minimum of human input. We need it build cooperation with and tie into existing ISPs or alternative ISPs.
Radio Shack has dropped offering the OS-neutral Direct PC for the MSN broadband satellite MSN-hosted service. We need to work to ensure ISP satellite options are opened for .ANY.
We need to create some subscriber based broadband options that aren't under MSN's thumb. It can include up to the minute updates for Linux security, etc.