I see some of these labels and just have to shake my head. Not because they are so stupid (they are) but because chances are there is at lease one person dumb enough to try what the label is warning against.
I remember my brother had this girl friend that was almost as intelligent as a hamster. She believed that if you blew up a balloon (with your breath) it would float!
Knowing that there are people like that dumbing down the gene pool makes the stupid labels sad rather than funny.:-/
What you say seems logical but Dell still must prepare the hard drives. Since they only would sell a small fraction of Linux drives the cost of setup is distributed over a few hundred drives rather than many thousands.
I'm not sure if this is what is really going on but that's their story.
Microsoft "negotiated" terms for giving OEMs better rates on Windows. Bottom line is that if hardware vendors don't put an OS on each and every PC/ laptop that they sell they end up paying more for Windows.
The effect is that the Microsoft Tax becomes great enough that the hardware vendor can't compete with other vendors who get Windows for a cheaper price. Being that Microsoft has a monopoly on operating systems any vendor that doesn't go along goes out of business.
Microsoft originally required that only Microsoft OS could be installed but this was illegal so they did the next best thing. BTW Dell use to sell computers with Linux installed. I don't know if they do any more but instead of being cheaper they charged more because they can't just grab one off of an assembly line. It takes special attention and therefore costs more. So Microsoft is still leveraging there monopoly power through their price breaks given to vendors who won't sell a bare PC.
"It has taken a good product and made it better and fresher..."
Why yes... The old Word use to allow the letters to slide down the page... **Cough, cough**
Come on people! This new "innovative" user interface has little to do with improving anything. Microsoft has already set conditions for developers who want to use THEIR new interface. This change has everything to do with quickly switching their monopoly user base to something that will look significantly different than their competition in an effort to use new patent laws and FUD of litigation to kill competition.
Same ol' Microsoft. Soon we'll get to see if the new Democrat Congress members are as big corporate whores as the old Republican Congress was.
For better or worse George W. Bush is a celebrity and according to him the jury is still out on evolution. Amazing isn't it? Kind of makes me take three steps back.
Patents cost lives in more than just medicine. I remember hearing about an African country that turned down a shipment of grain because it had been genetically altered. The fact that it was genetically altered wasn't the problem. The problem was that there were patents on the alterations and the government knew that farmers would use some of the grain to raise new crops. That country chose to let their people starve rather than face the consequences of patent infringement.
Corporations don't give a shit about people. They could care less if you as an individual lived or died. You and I are nothing but prospective customers, a possible source of profit and it is only to that end they care.
...that Microsoft zealots like you would get a clue. It becomes so tiring to have to to rebut the same old bullshit lies over and over again. Oh well, here we go (again).
"Linux is *not* user friendly, and until it is Linux will stay with >1% marketshare.
Take installation. Linux zealots are now saying "oh installing is so easy, just do apt-get install package or emerge package": Yes, because typing in "apt-get" or "emerge" makes so much more sense to new users than double-clicking an icon that says "setup"."
What version of Linux are you trying to install? Oh yeah, you're not. You're a Windows user just parroting old FUD.
I haven't used every distro out there but I have used Mandriva, Suse and Ubuntu. None of them require using any command line commands to setup the OS or to add software after. THEY ALL HAVE GUI INTERFACES THAT DO EVERYTHING FOR YOU.
I find that setting up Windows is far more difficult because I almost always must install my hardware drivers from a separate CD. And yes reboot after each driver is installed. With Linux I don't have to go through that pain. Everything is installed and configured automatically for me. No hassles.
"Linux zealots are far too forgiving when judging the difficultly of Linux configuration issues and far too harsh when judging the difficulty of Windows configuration issues."
Hard to answer a blatant generalization without being rude so I'll just say that most blatant generalizations like the one you just gave are made by people who don't really have any facts and just want to group people to make it easier to attack them.
You give an made up story about how "Linux zealots" would go about setting up Quake on both Windows and Linux an what they might say. Very cute but just a made up story none the less.
"So, I guess the point I'm trying to make is that what seems easy and natural to Linux geeks is definitely not what regular people consider easy and natural. Hence, the preference towards Windows."
The first part of this statement is true. Geeks are a special breed. The second part makes a bullshit assumption that Linux REQUIRES geek skills to setup and use. Then you draw a bullshit conclusion based on your bullshit premise.
What Novell and Microsoft are claiming is that they CAN incorporate patent encumbered IP into GPL v2 software. I believe that that claim is being examined by a FOSS lawyers. If the GPL v2 license doesn't prevent that (as Novell and Microsoft assert) then we have a real problem using that license.
The mere fact that Novell entered into a patent agreement does several things:
1.It tells the world that Novell does not care about the intent of the GPL. 2.It casts doubts about any projects that they may contribute to the FOSS community. 3.It will be a major FUD source for Microsoft.
And yes, any corporation that uses GPL'd software but does not abide by the intent of the GPL needs to pay a heavy price. I really hope that Novell realizes their mistake and comes back to the community but until then I won't use their products. It really hurt to wipe Suse off my PC. It was one of the best distros I have ever used but I'm adjusting to Ubuntu.
Yes, that pretty much sums it up. Novell has always maintained that it hasn't infringed on Microsoft's patents but Microsoft has openly stated that Samba and Mono and other software does infringe.
So what you have is Microsoft offering.NET to the world as an "Open Standard" and then claiming that whoever implements it are using Microsoft's IP that are protected by the patent laws.
Microsoft has never been known for playing fair and it's time for the entire world to work hard to simply make them irrelevant. Don't implement standards that are not truly open. Don't support Microsoft in ANYTHING they do. Demand that they be held accountable for their continued antitrust violations. Microsoft needs to be broken into at least three separate companies in order to level the playing field. This can easily be justified by their continued lawless actions and the effects those actions have on the IT world.
You miss the point. Novell and Microsoft are saying that they can release code under GPL v2 that is encumbered by patents. If this is the case FOSS CANNOT use that code without denying the freedoms that were the intent of the GPL.
Microsoft could, for example, help Novell inject their IP and later tell users that they must pay or be sued for patent infringement.
I didn't support GPL v3 in the past but I do now. Let's close this loophole and shun Novell until they straighten up and fly right!
It's great that there are projects out there to setup the software and all but I could use some help in picking the right hardware. I don't want a noisy box rattling away while I'm using MythTV.
Can someone give a few links that allow someone to gather the hardware that will look good, work well and be totally silent?
But having a blind person discharge a deadly weapon makes even less sense than brail in drive through tellers. Of course I never have been able to understand getting pleasure from destroying helpless creatures.
He hit the nail right on the head. BTW deal is really important to Microsoft. Not that they care about interoperability. They just want to spread the impression that they have claim to parts of Linux so that they can destroy the free nature of OSS.
What a carefully worded survey given to cherry picked customers say isn't very relevant. The only thing relevant is what the people donating the code (that would be the Open Source community) feels. Most of us could care less if companies want to use our code.
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I see some of these labels and just have to shake my head. Not because they are so stupid (they are) but because chances are there is at lease one person dumb enough to try what the label is warning against.
:-/
I remember my brother had this girl friend that was almost as intelligent as a hamster. She believed that if you blew up a balloon (with your breath) it would float!
Knowing that there are people like that dumbing down the gene pool makes the stupid labels sad rather than funny.
What you say seems logical but Dell still must prepare the hard drives. Since they only would sell a small fraction of Linux
drives the cost of setup is distributed over a few hundred drives rather than many thousands.
I'm not sure if this is what is really going on but that's their story.
Microsoft "negotiated" terms for giving OEMs better rates on Windows. Bottom line is that if hardware vendors don't put an OS on each and every PC/ laptop that they sell they end up paying more for Windows.
The effect is that the Microsoft Tax becomes great enough that the hardware vendor can't compete with other vendors who get Windows for a cheaper price. Being that Microsoft has a monopoly on operating systems any vendor that doesn't go along goes out of business.
Microsoft originally required that only Microsoft OS could be installed but this was illegal so they did the next best thing. BTW Dell use to sell computers with Linux installed. I don't know if they do any more but instead of being cheaper they charged more because they can't just grab one off of an assembly line. It takes special attention and therefore costs more. So Microsoft is still leveraging there monopoly power through their price breaks given to vendors who won't sell a bare PC.
Before the proof of WMD comes in the form of a cough and runny nose.
Is it just me or do others feel that it is high time to start hearings to determine if George W. Bush has broken United State laws?
It seems to me that the buck stops anywhere but on the Emperor's... I mean President's desk.
"It has taken a good product and made it better and fresher..."
Why yes... The old Word use to allow the letters to slide down the page... **Cough, cough**
Come on people! This new "innovative" user interface has little to do with improving anything. Microsoft has already set conditions for developers who want to use THEIR new interface. This change has everything to do with quickly switching their monopoly user base to something that will look significantly different than their competition in an effort to use new patent laws and FUD of litigation to kill competition.
Same ol' Microsoft. Soon we'll get to see if the new Democrat Congress members are as big corporate whores as the old Republican Congress was.
1. I mentioned George W. Bush
or
2. I questioned creationism
Slashdot really needs more modirators who don't mod down simply because they disagree.
For better or worse George W. Bush is a celebrity and according to him the jury is still out on evolution. Amazing isn't it? Kind of makes me take three steps back.
http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=213160&thresho ld=-1&commentsort=0&mode=thread&cid=17336848
I was referring to corporations large enough to be traded on Wall Street. Even small businesses can incorporate and that isn't who I'm talking about.
The most people are guilty of only one thing; being powerless. What a fine comment you make. "They deserve to die."
Have a nice Christmas.
"In medicine, patents cost lives."
Patents cost lives in more than just medicine. I remember hearing about an African country that turned down a shipment of grain because it had been genetically altered. The fact that it was genetically altered wasn't the problem. The problem was that there were patents on the alterations and the government knew that farmers would use some of the grain to raise new crops. That country chose to let their people starve rather than face the consequences of patent infringement.
Corporations don't give a shit about people. They could care less if you as an individual lived or died. You and I are nothing but prospective customers, a possible source of profit and it is only to that end they care.
Yes, well the same thing can be said for Windows, can't it?
...that Microsoft zealots like you would get a clue. It becomes so tiring to have to to rebut the same old bullshit lies over and over again. Oh well, here we go (again).
"Linux is *not* user friendly, and until it is Linux will stay with >1% marketshare.
Take installation. Linux zealots are now saying "oh installing is so easy, just do apt-get install package or emerge package": Yes, because typing in "apt-get" or "emerge" makes so much more sense to new users than double-clicking an icon that says "setup"."
What version of Linux are you trying to install? Oh yeah, you're not. You're a Windows user just parroting old FUD.
I haven't used every distro out there but I have used Mandriva, Suse and Ubuntu. None of them require using any command line commands to setup the OS or to add software after. THEY ALL HAVE GUI INTERFACES THAT DO EVERYTHING FOR YOU.
I find that setting up Windows is far more difficult because I almost always must install my hardware drivers from a separate CD. And yes reboot after each driver is installed. With Linux I don't have to go through that pain. Everything is installed and configured automatically for me. No hassles.
"Linux zealots are far too forgiving when judging the difficultly of Linux configuration issues and far too harsh when judging the difficulty of Windows configuration issues."
Hard to answer a blatant generalization without being rude so I'll just say that most blatant generalizations like the one you just gave are made by people who don't really have any facts and just want to group people to make it easier to attack them.
You give an made up story about how "Linux zealots" would go about setting up Quake on both Windows and Linux an what they might say. Very cute but just a made up story none the less.
"So, I guess the point I'm trying to make is that what seems easy and natural to Linux geeks is definitely not what regular people consider easy and natural. Hence, the preference towards Windows."
The first part of this statement is true. Geeks are a special breed. The second part makes a bullshit assumption that Linux REQUIRES geek skills to setup and use. Then you draw a bullshit conclusion based on your bullshit premise.
What Novell and Microsoft are claiming is that they CAN incorporate patent encumbered IP into GPL v2 software. I believe that that claim is being examined by a FOSS lawyers. If the GPL v2 license doesn't prevent that (as Novell and Microsoft assert) then we have a real problem using that license.
The mere fact that Novell entered into a patent agreement does several things:
1.It tells the world that Novell does not care about the intent of the GPL.
2.It casts doubts about any projects that they may contribute to the FOSS community.
3.It will be a major FUD source for Microsoft.
And yes, any corporation that uses GPL'd software but does not abide by the intent of the GPL needs to pay a heavy price. I really hope that Novell realizes their mistake and comes back to the community but until then I won't use their products. It really hurt to wipe Suse off my PC. It was one of the best distros I have ever used but I'm adjusting to Ubuntu.
The last thing we should do is let this pass.
Yes, that pretty much sums it up. Novell has always maintained that it hasn't infringed on Microsoft's patents but Microsoft has openly stated that Samba and Mono and other software does infringe.
.NET to the world as an "Open Standard" and then claiming that whoever implements it are using Microsoft's IP that are protected by the patent laws.
So what you have is Microsoft offering
Microsoft has never been known for playing fair and it's time for the entire world to work hard to simply make them irrelevant. Don't implement standards that are not truly open. Don't support Microsoft in ANYTHING they do. Demand that they be held accountable for their continued antitrust violations. Microsoft needs to be broken into at least three separate companies in order to level the playing field. This can easily be justified by their continued lawless actions and the effects those actions have on the IT world.
You miss the point. Novell and Microsoft are saying that they can release code under GPL v2 that is encumbered by patents. If this is the case FOSS CANNOT use that code without denying the freedoms that were the intent of the GPL.
Microsoft could, for example, help Novell inject their IP and later tell users that they must pay or be sued for patent infringement.
I didn't support GPL v3 in the past but I do now. Let's close this loophole and shun Novell until they straighten up and fly right!
Can you spell "fucking moron?" Sure you can!
And you sir are a bald face liar. No nice way to say it.
It's great that there are projects out there to setup the software and all but I could use some help in picking the right hardware. I don't want a noisy box rattling away while I'm using MythTV.
Can someone give a few links that allow someone to gather the hardware that will look good, work well and be totally silent?
Or to cut off net access for any non-windows PCs maybe?
But having a blind person discharge a deadly weapon makes even less sense than brail in drive through tellers. Of course I never have been able to understand getting pleasure from destroying helpless creatures.
(Let the flaming begin!)
He hit the nail right on the head. BTW deal is really important to Microsoft. Not that they care about interoperability. They just want to spread the impression that they have claim to parts of Linux so that they can destroy the free nature of OSS.
That the Open Source community IS the goose that lays the golden eggs. How WE feel is everything.
What a carefully worded survey given to cherry picked customers say isn't very relevant. The only thing relevant is what the people donating the code (that would be the Open Source community) feels. Most of us could care less if companies want to use our code.