"A bunch of people doing their own thing", as you put it, is how the FOSS movement was started and largely continues. Your (Microsoft's) SEC filings indicate that you view FOSS as your major competitive threat. So, how insane is it?
Hell, I recall ppl doing similar way back during AltaVista, before HotBot was thought of. Course it was on a smaller scale, but then everything was smaller.
I used to be that way until I figured out to stir-fry it with a pat of butter. Then coat liberally with some grated parmesan cheese and crushed garlic.
Enjoy!
"
So if I gather correctly, you can grab my bookmarks or downloaded files, IF I actually type all the letters to those specific paths? That's it?
I'd be more worried about Windows graphic driver exploits - graphics drivers seem a bit shoddy- plus they are all about performance, not security. And currently it's basically - Nvidia, ATI and Intel."
Instant slashdot classic, just add warm flat beer with a touch of sarcasm. Kudos!
Um, factual correction: FUD was invented by IBM ironically enough, during their competition with Amdahl. Further ironically, IBM was embroiled in an antitrust case at the time.
However, the interesting part about SCO is how they try to play "methods and concepts" without actually having any patents in the case. For that matter, if it isn't in the code then it just doesn't exist, regardless of the actual ownership (IANAL).
I've long thought your scenario will eventually happen. The important thing to realize, IMHO, is just *who* will determine the outcome, and why? Will it be determined by:
- Businessmen (free as in gratis)?
- Developers (free as in libre)?
- Lawyers
or some combination of all the above?
MS runs a risk of alienating both businesses (due to licensing costs and lock-in), and developers (technology and freedom). Microsoft's business depends on a supply of both businessmen and developers. They will need to explore the depths of how much each group is willing to tolerate.
Sure its an industry trade organization. What's wrong with that? After all, we also have the BSA, the RIAA, and a plethora of standards bodies and "think tanks", "focus groups", ad nauseum and et cetera.
Wow, that sucks. Even my RH/Fedora box is easier than that, and I keep it locked down pretty tight. I can do whatever in my home directory but not anywhere else. No extra prompts or hassles. Of course, if I delete something, it's gone for good (as usual).
DRM 10, eh? That's what Snort and Ethereal are for. Sniff a few packets and figure out what the Wal-Mart site wants to hear. Compare dumps between an Win/IE boxand one of the alternatives... Oh wiit! I don't even *own* a Win/IE box! How am I supposed to get legal videos?
More than that, Bill Gates (and by inference Microsoft) risk becoming an political embarassment. Such a move is unlikely to endear Microsoft to all the politicians they have contributed to. Simply stated, government *hates* competition, when some upstart corporation or religion thinks they are more powerful than a sovereign nation-state. Microsoft is also well-known for its competitive attitudes, but this issue may just be the thing that teaches them where the buck stops.
FWIW, the folks at GrokLaw have dug out copies of the Bill Gates deposition videos from the anti-trust trial. It's a pretty big download, but funny and sad as hell when you look back at it.
Slashdot Mirror
Shouldn't that be abacii ?
IMHO there is a huge difference between morals and ethics. Mr. Thompson and his actions are the perfect illustration of this phenomenon.
"A bunch of people doing their own thing", as you put it, is how the FOSS movement was started and largely continues. Your (Microsoft's) SEC filings indicate that you view FOSS as your major competitive threat. So, how insane is it?
"Where are the true objectivists?" If there was a true objectivist, how would you know? Even Einstein was deeply religious.
freakin rare event, hell must have frozen over! /me takes a snapshot of the moment and feels badly for all the BSD-folk
Hey, the pols know who they're greasing. After all, those campaign ads are gonna be broadcast on those same TV's.
Now all we need is something that lets you type with *both* hands and collects all those piles of kleenex!
Nice sig.
That, or some salaries could be used for a tax write-off, or goodwill/PR. I've heard of it happening every now and then.
Hell, I recall ppl doing similar way back during AltaVista, before HotBot was thought of. Course it was on a smaller scale, but then everything was smaller.
I used to be that way until I figured out to stir-fry it with a pat of butter. Then coat liberally with some grated parmesan cheese and crushed garlic. Enjoy!
I'd be more worried about Windows graphic driver exploits - graphics drivers seem a bit shoddy- plus they are all about performance, not security. And currently it's basically - Nvidia, ATI and Intel."
Instant slashdot classic, just add warm flat beer with a touch of sarcasm. Kudos!
Um, factual correction: FUD was invented by IBM ironically enough, during their competition with Amdahl. Further ironically, IBM was embroiled in an antitrust case at the time.
However, the interesting part about SCO is how they try to play "methods and concepts" without actually having any patents in the case. For that matter, if it isn't in the code then it just doesn't exist, regardless of the actual ownership (IANAL).
I've long thought your scenario will eventually happen. The important thing to realize, IMHO, is just *who* will determine the outcome, and why? Will it be determined by: - Businessmen (free as in gratis)? - Developers (free as in libre)? - Lawyers or some combination of all the above? MS runs a risk of alienating both businesses (due to licensing costs and lock-in), and developers (technology and freedom). Microsoft's business depends on a supply of both businessmen and developers. They will need to explore the depths of how much each group is willing to tolerate.
Ever have a mother-in-law?
Prove it.
"...by any chance take the National Enquirer as your daily newspaper?"
I just read it for the articles. No, really.
Sure its an industry trade organization. What's wrong with that? After all, we also have the BSA, the RIAA, and a plethora of standards bodies and "think tanks", "focus groups", ad nauseum and et cetera.
So, what's the issue?
"So what would have been a better solution?"
*NIX had a better solution before MS Windows was even thought of.
Wow, that sucks. Even my RH/Fedora box is easier than that, and I keep it locked down pretty tight. I can do whatever in my home directory but not anywhere else. No extra prompts or hassles. Of course, if I delete something, it's gone for good (as usual).
DRM 10, eh? That's what Snort and Ethereal are for. Sniff a few packets and figure out what the Wal-Mart site wants to hear. Compare dumps between an Win/IE boxand one of the alternatives... Oh wiit! I don't even *own* a Win/IE box! How am I supposed to get legal videos?
More than that, Bill Gates (and by inference Microsoft) risk becoming an political embarassment. Such a move is unlikely to endear Microsoft to all the politicians they have contributed to. Simply stated, government *hates* competition, when some upstart corporation or religion thinks they are more powerful than a sovereign nation-state. Microsoft is also well-known for its competitive attitudes, but this issue may just be the thing that teaches them where the buck stops.
FWIW, the folks at GrokLaw have dug out copies of the Bill Gates deposition videos from the anti-trust trial. It's a pretty big download, but funny and sad as hell when you look back at it.
please move along.