I used to work for a large educational organisation in the UK. Microsoft wanted to work with us on their stand at BETT, which is a big education fair in the UK. I met with the Microsoft people and they explained what they wanted - basically educationalists from the organisation I worked for to do various demonstrations using MS software showing how it could be used in schools. We would get a load of free software in return.
I raised the point that I thought that the demonstrations they were suggesting were not very educational and poorly designed. I was amazed at the response I got from them. They basically said they didn't care if they weren't educational. They were just there to get schools to buy MS software and to try to get the maximum profit from schools. They actually said that, bare faced. I couldn't believe it - at least they could have pretended to be a bit interested in the educational aspect.
And before some of you respond "they're a business, what do you expect, it's only about profit" etc... I have worked with various companies before on joint projects between industry and education and most of them have been great - really helpful, genuinely interested, really wanting to do something to help educational organisations. IBM were great on one project for instance, and they didn't try to milk it for publicity either. That day with Microsoft I felt I'd really seen into the heart of the beast, and it's not pleasant.
In IBM vs. SCO, the only winners will be: the lawyers.
Actually, if everything proceeds well I think that Linux might be a winner. If SCO loose big-time, then it will reduce the effectiveness of the FUD that Microsoft can spread about the legality of the GPL. This case could actually be really good for Linux in the long term.
Has anyone thought about the fact that the US Government may take a pro-SCO stance in all of this? You see, however much you might hate large corporations like Microsoft and others, they do make up the bread and butter of our economy.
This struck me. It wouldn't surprise me if what SCO are trying to do is actually get the law changed, and they are going to lobby to do that. The problem is that if the USA pass laws the other countries find repressive or dumb they will just ignore them, and in the long term it will be very bad if the rest of the world moves to OSS and the USA is stuck with Microsoft etc. The EU for instance seems very keen on OSS, and so I can't see them implementing any new laws that suppress it. And the current administration in the USA haven't proven themselves to be the brightest decision makers, so I can see this happening.
Did they do this on purpose, or are they just incompetent?
I guess the answer is "incompetent". I just tried to install Java on my Windows XP machine and crashed it. Admittedly it was much easier to install though!
What I've never understood about Sun is why they didn't make it easier to install Java on a client machine. If you tried to do it (on either Windows or Linux) you would find that the process was increadably badly designed. Most members of the normal public wouldn't stand a chance installing it.
Did they do this on purpose, or are they just incompetent? I've just noticed that they've made it much easier, but for years it was very difficult, at least for normal people.
If the enemy in a war (legal or otherwise) is not defeated on every front, it will come back to fight again in the future. This is an ingrained law in our survival instincts. It's all about obtain resources to ensure survival. It's also a component or the very seat of primate social dynamics and POLITICS. The Borg undefeated, will regroup and launch another attack in a DIFFERENT area. Has Star Trek taught us nothing?
You are so right!!! Why can't people understand that??!? It's seems like it's only you and me that get it!! I hate having to hide all the time! And the corpses under the floor and in the garden are really starting to smell!! If only people understood that I had to kill them!! Tehy were my enemies!!! They had to be defeated completely!! I'm glad you seem to understand..!
Microsoft requires companies that license the protocols to be audited -- at their own expense, by a third-party auditor selected by Microsoft -- to ensure that they are only using them for appropriate purposes.
What are "appropriate purposes" when it comes to protocols?
Auditor [pointing, exasperated] And what the hell are you using that one for?
Company rep Oh, we keep donuts in that one.
Auditor And that one?
Company rep Oh, that one is forced into the green button on the air-conditioner, otherwise it keeps switching itself off.
Auditor That one?
Company rep Oh. Erm. Sorry. We ran out of cat litter.
Auditor I am truly shocked at your inappropriate use of MS protocols! You'll be hearing from Bill Gates about this!
You suddenly find yourself working 50-60 hour weeks, put on call with no compensation, given unreasonable amounts of work and generally treated like dirt.
Sensible options:
1) Start looking for another job. 2) Become self employed. 3) Consider a career change.
Too many people are scared of options 2 and 3. They are real options, and to prempt your response, yes you can.
Not sensible option:
Try to change the behaviour of your employer. Try to get 'revenge'.
Because the EU is forcing people who live outside the EU (the stores) to conform to their own laws.
But this already happens. If I sell a product to someone in the USA, then loads of laws apply to me, even if I do not live in the USA. For instance, laws about selling faulty or dangerous or prohibited goods.
This is exactly the same as the US trying to enforce the DMCA in Europe.
No it's not. This is about transactions between companies in the USA and people in the EU.
Don't make me have to pay it instead because I've never even been to that continent.
You don't appear to understand the tax. You, if you are in the USA, will not have to pay this tax. You mean collect it. Also, if you are a small trader, this doesn't apply to you. It only applies to big companies.
But... this VAT change will just hurt US net retailers. Shipping costs + VAT + local customs fees = no point in buying from the states. Prices were competitive when the VAT wasn't in the equation. Add 15-25% to the price and this is no longer true.
So, if we are going to be selfish about this, isn't it a good this? I mean, that EU companies are benefiting over US ones? The US has show itself willing to be very agressive in all senses recently, so personally as an EU citizen I am happy to see us punching back.
Doesn't this give companies with EU offices a competitive advantage?
The situation before - where an EU based company would have to charge VAT but a US based one wouldn't, was biased towards US based companies. This way is fairer.
Besides, this only applies to big companies that are likely to have offices based in the EU anyway.
In truth this sounds to me like an alternative method of adding a 15-25% Tarriff on non EU Goods and services and really should face reciprocal tarriffs from the USA etc.
Seeing as UK companies have to add VAT, isn't this actually making things fairer in the UK? Otherwise non-UK companies would have a bit benefit over UK based companies, which of course is not in our interests.
if companies in the US, especially small etailers, don't bother?
They may not have to bother. Unless trade to zone is aboved a prescribed amount (which I believe is pretty high), I believe they don't have to collect the tax. Thus this only applies to bigger companies.
And sorry Mr. or Ms. EU Citizen, your website subscription now costs 15% to 25% more, starting July 1. Hope you like this added value."
Assuming that governments have to collect taxes somehow, why is this a bad way to do it, as opposed to income or corporate tax?
Although many Americans give the impression that they think all taxes are evil, over here in Europe we quite like having things like free health care for everyone, tidy streets etc. We think that it makes for a fairer and more civilized society, even if it means that we are all a little poorer (in monetary terms) than you guys. Many of us find the attitude of some Americans - that taxes and social government are 'evil' - frankly a bit bizzare.
Although I guess it is understandable looking at the current state of politics in the USA. How is it that you guys no longer seem to be bothered about such essentials of democracy as transparency and avoiding rid of conflict of interest in your political leaders?
The news report goes on to state that the RIAA is now prowd owners of an old bike, a Pentium II numerous games, a pair of worn-out jeans and a large untidy pile of magazines.
I am sick and tired of being treated like a criminal both by the RIAA/MPAA as well as the computer software industry.
Me too!
A couple of days ago I had to reinstall all the software on my laptop because of a hard disc problem.
I tried to install the MS Office 2000 Professional that I had paid lots of money for, and it told me it was an upgrade version and wouldn't install. So I searched high and low for the Windows 97 discs that I purchased six years ago, and I found them, but not the paper with the serial number on, so I couldn't install that either.
So f*** them, I've installed OpenOffice and will never buy any more Microsoft software ever again.
Personally, if I am going on vacation, I want to spend as much time OUT of the hotel room as possible
When you go on holiday, you go to interesting places. When you travel for business, very often you find yourself in a motel by the side of a motorway 200km from anywhere interesting. In that kind of situation, what you want is a stocked minifridge and some decent porn.
I've no idea what the porn channels are like in the USA. I imagine they are quite prudish if things like Playboy any indication. You should see what it's like in Europe (not the UK - they're also prudes). But Germany and France, for instance, they know how to do real porn.
Well, sometimes I will be working with a OSS software package and I see a way to make a little change to make it better, or fix a bug. Why should any employer/client worry about that?
I'm still amazed that the whole of the business world is happy to accept MSWord.doc as the standard to store virtually all of their documentation. I don't think the film industry would be happy standardizing on.avi or the music industry on.wav, so why doesn't the business word get it's act together and accept a better format than the crappy.doc?
Take a look at this - 1dok.org - an open document format
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I used to work for a large educational organisation in the UK. Microsoft wanted to work with us on their stand at BETT, which is a big education fair in the UK. I met with the Microsoft people and they explained what they wanted - basically educationalists from the organisation I worked for to do various demonstrations using MS software showing how it could be used in schools. We would get a load of free software in return.
I raised the point that I thought that the demonstrations they were suggesting were not very educational and poorly designed. I was amazed at the response I got from them. They basically said they didn't care if they weren't educational. They were just there to get schools to buy MS software and to try to get the maximum profit from schools. They actually said that, bare faced. I couldn't believe it - at least they could have pretended to be a bit interested in the educational aspect.
And before some of you respond "they're a business, what do you expect, it's only about profit" etc... I have worked with various companies before on joint projects between industry and education and most of them have been great - really helpful, genuinely interested, really wanting to do something to help educational organisations. IBM were great on one project for instance, and they didn't try to milk it for publicity either. That day with Microsoft I felt I'd really seen into the heart of the beast, and it's not pleasant.
In IBM vs. SCO, the only winners will be: the lawyers.
Actually, if everything proceeds well I think that Linux might be a winner. If SCO loose big-time, then it will reduce the effectiveness of the FUD that Microsoft can spread about the legality of the GPL. This case could actually be really good for Linux in the long term.
Has anyone thought about the fact that the US Government may take a pro-SCO stance in all of this? You see, however much you might hate large corporations like Microsoft and others, they do make up the bread and butter of our economy.
This struck me. It wouldn't surprise me if what SCO are trying to do is actually get the law changed, and they are going to lobby to do that. The problem is that if the USA pass laws the other countries find repressive or dumb they will just ignore them, and in the long term it will be very bad if the rest of the world moves to OSS and the USA is stuck with Microsoft etc. The EU for instance seems very keen on OSS, and so I can't see them implementing any new laws that suppress it. And the current administration in the USA haven't proven themselves to be the brightest decision makers, so I can see this happening.
Did they do this on purpose, or are they just incompetent?
I guess the answer is "incompetent". I just tried to install Java on my Windows XP machine and crashed it. Admittedly it was much easier to install though!
at least for normal people
By 'normal people', I meant non-geeks.
What I've never understood about Sun is why they didn't make it easier to install Java on a client machine. If you tried to do it (on either Windows or Linux) you would find that the process was increadably badly designed. Most members of the normal public wouldn't stand a chance installing it.
Did they do this on purpose, or are they just incompetent? I've just noticed that they've made it much easier, but for years it was very difficult, at least for normal people.
If the enemy in a war (legal or otherwise) is not defeated on every front, it will come back to fight again in the future. This is an ingrained law in our survival instincts. It's all about obtain resources to ensure survival. It's also a component or the very seat of primate social dynamics and POLITICS. The Borg undefeated, will regroup and launch another attack in a DIFFERENT area. Has Star Trek taught us nothing?
You are so right!!! Why can't people understand that??!? It's seems like it's only you and me that get it!! I hate having to hide all the time! And the corpses under the floor and in the garden are really starting to smell!! If only people understood that I had to kill them!! Tehy were my enemies!!! They had to be defeated completely!! I'm glad you seem to understand..!
From the article:
Microsoft requires companies that license the protocols to be audited -- at their own expense, by a third-party auditor selected by Microsoft -- to ensure that they are only using them for appropriate purposes.
What are "appropriate purposes" when it comes to protocols?
Auditor [pointing, exasperated] And what the hell are you using that one for?
Company rep Oh, we keep donuts in that one.
Auditor And that one?
Company rep Oh, that one is forced into the green button on the air-conditioner, otherwise it keeps switching itself off.
Auditor That one?
Company rep Oh. Erm. Sorry. We ran out of cat litter.
Auditor I am truly shocked at your inappropriate use of MS protocols! You'll be hearing from Bill Gates about this!
You suddenly find yourself working 50-60 hour weeks, put on call with no compensation, given unreasonable amounts of work and generally treated like dirt.
Sensible options:
1) Start looking for another job.
2) Become self employed.
3) Consider a career change.
Too many people are scared of options 2 and 3. They are real options, and to prempt your response, yes you can.
Not sensible option:
Try to change the behaviour of your employer.
Try to get 'revenge'.
Because the EU is forcing people who live outside the EU (the stores) to conform to their own laws.
But this already happens. If I sell a product to someone in the USA, then loads of laws apply to me, even if I do not live in the USA. For instance, laws about selling faulty or dangerous or prohibited goods.
This is exactly the same as the US trying to enforce the DMCA in Europe.
No it's not. This is about transactions between companies in the USA and people in the EU.
Don't make me have to pay it instead because I've never even been to that continent.
You don't appear to understand the tax. You, if you are in the USA, will not have to pay this tax. You mean collect it. Also, if you are a small trader, this doesn't apply to you. It only applies to big companies.
But... this VAT change will just hurt US net retailers. Shipping costs + VAT + local customs fees = no point in buying from the states. Prices were competitive when the VAT wasn't in the equation. Add 15-25% to the price and this is no longer true.
So, if we are going to be selfish about this, isn't it a good this? I mean, that EU companies are benefiting over US ones? The US has show itself willing to be very agressive in all senses recently, so personally as an EU citizen I am happy to see us punching back.
Doesn't this give companies with EU offices a competitive advantage?
The situation before - where an EU based company would have to charge VAT but a US based one wouldn't, was biased towards US based companies. This way is fairer.
Besides, this only applies to big companies that are likely to have offices based in the EU anyway.
In truth this sounds to me like an alternative method of adding a 15-25% Tarriff on non EU Goods and services and really should face reciprocal tarriffs from the USA etc.
Seeing as UK companies have to add VAT, isn't this actually making things fairer in the UK? Otherwise non-UK companies would have a bit benefit over UK based companies, which of course is not in our interests.
if companies in the US, especially small etailers, don't bother?
They may not have to bother. Unless trade to zone is aboved a prescribed amount (which I believe is pretty high), I believe they don't have to collect the tax. Thus this only applies to bigger companies.
And sorry Mr. or Ms. EU Citizen, your website subscription now costs 15% to 25% more, starting July 1. Hope you like this added value."
Assuming that governments have to collect taxes somehow, why is this a bad way to do it, as opposed to income or corporate tax?
Although many Americans give the impression that they think all taxes are evil, over here in Europe we quite like having things like free health care for everyone, tidy streets etc. We think that it makes for a fairer and more civilized society, even if it means that we are all a little poorer (in monetary terms) than you guys. Many of us find the attitude of some Americans - that taxes and social government are 'evil' - frankly a bit bizzare.
Although I guess it is understandable looking at the current state of politics in the USA. How is it that you guys no longer seem to be bothered about such essentials of democracy as transparency and avoiding rid of conflict of interest in your political leaders?
How could you misspell proud!
I thought that looked funny. My spelling has really deteriorated recently. I blame it on Bush.
The news report goes on to state that the RIAA is now prowd owners of an old bike, a Pentium II numerous games, a pair of worn-out jeans and a large untidy pile of magazines.
I am sick and tired of being treated like a criminal both by the RIAA/MPAA as well as the computer software industry.
Me too!
A couple of days ago I had to reinstall all the software on my laptop because of a hard disc problem.
I tried to install the MS Office 2000 Professional that I had paid lots of money for, and it told me it was an upgrade version and wouldn't install. So I searched high and low for the Windows 97 discs that I purchased six years ago, and I found them, but not the paper with the serial number on, so I couldn't install that either.
So f*** them, I've installed OpenOffice and will never buy any more Microsoft software ever again.
My favourite of them all, a tale in which Smith voyages to the land of the faeries via a magical cake.
That happened to me at the office Christmas party! Someone tooks photos and then put them up on the notice board. It was really embarassing.
Great post. Sorry I've got no mod points.
Wow. You Texans have obviously got the solution to the worlds problems all figured out! We should have a texan as world leader. Oh, wait...
Seriously, everything you say is fine, but I bet you won't be so enthusiastic about it if America starts losing it's superpower status to, say, China.
Personally, if I am going on vacation, I want to spend as much time OUT of the hotel room as possible
When you go on holiday, you go to interesting places. When you travel for business, very often you find yourself in a motel by the side of a motorway 200km from anywhere interesting. In that kind of situation, what you want is a stocked minifridge and some decent porn.
I've no idea what the porn channels are like in the USA. I imagine they are quite prudish if things like Playboy any indication. You should see what it's like in Europe (not the UK - they're also prudes). But Germany and France, for instance, they know how to do real porn.
Well, sometimes I will be working with a OSS software package and I see a way to make a little change to make it better, or fix a bug. Why should any employer/client worry about that?
I'm still amazed that the whole of the business world is happy to accept MSWord .doc as the standard to store virtually all of their documentation. I don't think the film industry would be happy standardizing on .avi or the music industry on .wav, so why doesn't the business word get it's act together and accept a better format than the crappy .doc?
Take a look at this - 1dok.org - an open document format
This allows the team to gain an understanding of how the UK landmass is likely to change over the coming centuries.
So, is the UK drifting west across the Atlantic, as some of paranoid us Brits fear?