I attend one of the largest universities in the U.S. (and indeed the world) and over the past three years or so, Microsoft has been very busy blitzing our entire school and IEEE and ACM organizations with advertisements, promotions, donations,... the whole hundred yards. So much of our computing tools (both software and *hardware*) are provided by them. ISOs for XP, Visual Studio, etc. are provided to all of our CS faculty and students freely. On the surface, this seems very good and positive, except that they have an ulterior and very selfish motive - to get the entire next generation our CS students hooked on their proprietary and frequently restrictive and intrusive products, and start developing for their platform thereby strenthening their stranglehold on the industry. Instead of these students to first be exposed and learn to use the openly specified, standardized and frequently free tools, and then later on moving onto any platforms they prefer, all they hear and learn about now is Microsoft (which was never the case until Microsoft became this rich and powerful). I hate to say it, but Microsoft sure knows what they need to do to maintain their monopoly, and they are doing it to the fullest. And the scheme is proving to be fruitful. Over the years (as those "donations" have come), I have seen our CS department in particular and our entire engineering college in general switch slowly but steadily from Unix boxes to PCs (even where we needed the power of the Unix workstations), from Unix to Windows (even where development was traditionally taught in Unix first, everything else later), from Linux PCs to Windows PCs (even though the former were free and simpler to implement and maintain in a multi-user development environment), from gcc to Visual C++ (simply because it has a nice interface and debugger, and MS provided it ->f-reely, the Freedom of gcc notwithstanding)... The list goes on and on. The prognosis, for my school anyway, seems bleak as we move more and more to "the dark side" and increasingly trap ourselves into a world where everything is proprietary, and we only promote the power of the most powerful global corporations at the expense of open, collaborative, community development.
"The only thing which they seem to want is defense."
Of course they will always invest heavily in defense in order to protect and maintain their power.
But you're right. These days, governments seem less interested in ensuring that all their citizens get what they need to ensure a good standard of living than they are about pursuing power. How is the Internet any different in importance compared to roads, education, health, etc., but they stumble here. Who is in a much better position to provide such a nation-wide service at a low cost than the government? Instead, they choose to leave the job to corporations - entities who have money, and not the welfare of the public, as their main concern. Don't get me wrong: I really don't mind corporations offering services too - hey, the more choice, the better. However, for something this crucial, it is pertinent that there is also a good public offering by the government that is available to all.
I don't care too much for Microsoft but I think we can do a lot without their code. *We have done a lot without their code.* As a matter of fact, I don't care for their code. We can do better, and give it away for free and Free.
Another seemingly minor but, IMHO, very crucial point is that I believe in the right that we all (yes, Micro$oft included) have to own property, to pursue happiness,... I believe in the rights of every individual (and I guess these days, corporations are regarded as individuals. Funny, huh.) Forcing them to give up their code is similar to (but not exactly) forcing them to give up their property, and no matter how much I dislike anyone, I can't always agree with that. Anyone not bothered by Microsoft's intentions and practices can stay with them. Those that see the evil have a choice, thank God. I think it is much more important to protect the liberties that guarantee that we have a choice in Free Software, than to chase Microsoft's tail everywhere. That is the crucial point that makes or breaks everything. Too bad many of us in the public don't understand this. Microsoft, OTOH understands this exceedingly well, and has spent a fair bit of time and money pursuing legislation (think DMCA, SDMI,...) that potentially robs individuals of their liberties and would essentially criminalize many Free Software projects. This is the more important issue.
So, to hell with their source code. Besides, we can and have done better.
Focus on how much serious $$$ MONEY $$$ will be saved by adopting Linux. That's the only thing that government officials seem to understand.
(The fact that, with Free Software, they get the source code and the liberty to do what they desire, is the more important but, ironically, less appreciated point.)
And I trust Microsoft so little as to believe that the less I have to do with them, the freer and happier I end up being.
However, I also believe in choice because freedom without choice is not really freedom. And so if one chooses (blindly, IMO) to go with Micro$oft, then so be it. I, on the other hand, will always look to open and Free (as in FREEDOM and LIBERTY) alternatives first.
They don't care about being morally upright.
Hit them where they will only listen: In the money. That's the only language they understand.
Bastards.
One single currency???
on
The Euro
·
· Score: 0, Flamebait
"Today sees the historic introduction of the new European Currency (Euro) into European hands. The Eurozone market, with a population of 300 million people, will be cashing in their Punts, Francs and Deutschmarks in favour of the new common Euro currency. This is the biggest currency transition in history, vive l'Europe!"
You may think that with this move, you gain some kind of unitive power, but in actuality, you lose all individuality and a great deal of control over your own economy.
Slashdot Mirror
I attend one of the largest universities in the U.S. (and indeed the world) and over the past three years or so, Microsoft has been very busy blitzing our entire school and IEEE and ACM organizations with advertisements, promotions, donations, ... the whole hundred yards. So much of our computing tools (both software and *hardware*) are provided by them. ISOs for XP, Visual Studio, etc. are provided to all of our CS faculty and students freely. On the surface, this seems very good and positive, except that they have an ulterior and very selfish motive - to get the entire next generation our CS students hooked on their proprietary and frequently restrictive and intrusive products, and start developing for their platform thereby strenthening their stranglehold on the industry. Instead of these students to first be exposed and learn to use the openly specified, standardized and frequently free tools, and then later on moving onto any platforms they prefer, all they hear and learn about now is Microsoft (which was never the case until Microsoft became this rich and powerful). I hate to say it, but Microsoft sure knows what they need to do to maintain their monopoly, and they are doing it to the fullest. And the scheme is proving to be fruitful. Over the years (as those "donations" have come), I have seen our CS department in particular and our entire engineering college in general switch slowly but steadily from Unix boxes to PCs (even where we needed the power of the Unix workstations), from Unix to Windows (even where development was traditionally taught in Unix first, everything else later), from Linux PCs to Windows PCs (even though the former were free and simpler to implement and maintain in a multi-user development environment), from gcc to Visual C++ (simply because it has a nice interface and debugger, and MS provided it ->f-reely, the Freedom of gcc notwithstanding)... The list goes on and on. The prognosis, for my school anyway, seems bleak as we move more and more to "the dark side" and increasingly trap ourselves into a world where everything is proprietary, and we only promote the power of the most powerful global corporations at the expense of open, collaborative, community development.
"The only thing which they seem to want is defense."
Of course they will always invest heavily in defense in order to protect and maintain their power.
But you're right. These days, governments seem less interested in ensuring that all their citizens get what they need to ensure a good standard of living than they are about pursuing power. How is the Internet any different in importance compared to roads, education, health, etc., but they stumble here. Who is in a much better position to provide such a nation-wide service at a low cost than the government? Instead, they choose to leave the job to corporations - entities who have money, and not the welfare of the public, as their main concern. Don't get me wrong: I really don't mind corporations offering services too - hey, the more choice, the better. However, for something this crucial, it is pertinent that there is also a good public offering by the government that is available to all.
I don't care too much for Microsoft but I think we can do a lot without their code. *We have done a lot without their code.* As a matter of fact, I don't care for their code. We can do better, and give it away for free and Free.
... I believe in the rights of every individual (and I guess these days, corporations are regarded as individuals. Funny, huh.) Forcing them to give up their code is similar to (but not exactly) forcing them to give up their property, and no matter how much I dislike anyone, I can't always agree with that. Anyone not bothered by Microsoft's intentions and practices can stay with them. Those that see the evil have a choice, thank God. I think it is much more important to protect the liberties that guarantee that we have a choice in Free Software, than to chase Microsoft's tail everywhere. That is the crucial point that makes or breaks everything. Too bad many of us in the public don't understand this. Microsoft, OTOH understands this exceedingly well, and has spent a fair bit of time and money pursuing legislation (think DMCA, SDMI, ...) that potentially robs individuals of their liberties and would essentially criminalize many Free Software projects. This is the more important issue.
Another seemingly minor but, IMHO, very crucial point is that I believe in the right that we all (yes, Micro$oft included) have to own property, to pursue happiness,
So, to hell with their source code. Besides, we can and have done better.
Windows ME does this using the "Hibernate" feature.
Focus on how much serious $$$ MONEY $$$ will be saved by adopting Linux. That's the only thing that government officials seem to understand.
(The fact that, with Free Software, they get the source code and the liberty to do what they desire, is the more important but, ironically, less appreciated point.)
And I trust Microsoft so little as to believe that the less I have to do with them, the freer and happier I end up being.
However, I also believe in choice because freedom without choice is not really freedom. And so if one chooses (blindly, IMO) to go with Micro$oft, then so be it. I, on the other hand, will always look to open and Free (as in FREEDOM and LIBERTY) alternatives first.
Obscurity is some kind of security, but only as long as it stays closed.
But the security is far better if it uses encryption that remains open, and yet unbroken.
Boycott them en masse.
They don't care about being morally upright. Hit them where they will only listen: In the money. That's the only language they understand.
Bastards.
"Today sees the historic introduction of the new European Currency (Euro) into European hands. The Eurozone market, with a population of 300 million people, will be cashing in their Punts, Francs and Deutschmarks in favour of the new common Euro currency. This is the biggest currency transition in history, vive l'Europe!"
You may think that with this move, you gain some kind of unitive power, but in actuality, you lose all individuality and a great deal of control over your own economy.
You guys are doomed.