Some of those are already available with the right distributions, and nearly all are possible in some way or another, but they require violating the two cardinal rules of the Home User: "I can't type" and "compiling is something only developers do". Fixing some of the above issues requires alterations to the kernel itself. Others just require improvements in user-side software, others are an issue of driver distribution and open vs. closed source driver availability.
This is precisely why there is a huge opportunity, not only for the big boys (IBM and Novell), but any developer or team of developers.
There is room for both standardization and choice. It's going to take IBM and/or Novell to standardize, but there will be nothing stopping anyone from "doing their own thing".
I don't see anything inherently wrong with IBM or Novell standardizing different features of linux. They can't change the underlying license, so we are still free to do things the way we want.
This points out the opportunity that some company (Novell? IBM? Some other company?) will have my standardizing on a WM for office workstations. Heck, they don't even have to standardize on one, they could offer a few choices if they have the resources to support it.
Linux is a desktop solution. It is just not easy for the unsophisticated user to set up. The "noob" needs someone to configure it; he or she won't care about tweaking, at least initially. This is one of the strengths of OS X. It's good to go out of the box. Users can do minor tweaks and add functionality as they become comfortable, power users can delve deeper with the CLI. There is nothing stopping anyone from someone distributing a desktop linux that does this.
I can appreciate that you are working inside the system, trying to make a positive change. Good for you. I am not one of those who would rather die before accepting DRM. I actually use DRMed music in the form of protected AAC files from the iTunes Music Store. At least AAC is based on an open standard.
I am very suspicious of your company, and by extension, you. Statements like "f you can't even do that, please at least try not to actively antagonize the few people like me inside this company that might actually be sympathetic to your views." tend to bolster that suspicion, rather than alleviate it.
To answer your question, I've given money to the EFF. Have you? I've also spent money at the iTunes store.
Kudos to you for fighting the good fight, but In suspect that anything positive you achieve won't make it past marketing.
"One thing I can say for sure is that if I were to leave Microsoft I can guarantee you my replacement at Microsoft would be worse to you from a consumer rights perspective."
Excuse me, maybe I'm taking this the wrong way, but I find this extremely arrogant and condescending, as well as a bit chilling.
Are you trying to good cop/bad cop us? Is there an implied threat there? If you don't accept quietly what I'm trying to shove down your throat, it'll just be worse for you?
Pardon me if this is NOT what you mean, but when I think of your employer, I think the opposite of warm & fuzzy. I think boot to the throat.
Maybe I'm all wrong about your company. If I am, maybe you'd care to point out how DRM helps the end user.
I bought a 10 GB 2nd Generation iPod from the Apple Store's Special Deal refurb section for $169. They sell out fast, so you need to check in the morning, and frequently. Good luck!
Oh, it was sold as refurb, but it was brand new "old stock" they were clearing out.
True! And we haven't even gotten to the potential suits from the copyright holders (Linus, et alia) of the Linux kernel. If the GPL is valid, SCO will be in big trouble for continuing to distribute the code.
I'll be out cleaning pigshit off of my car from those damn flying pigs when C-Net publishes "5 Reasons Not to Buy a Windows XP PC". By my guestimation, about 30% of their advertising is from MS.
It's the firmware on the hardware that's usually the issue. In somecases you can flash the firmware on a PC to use the card in a mac, but not in all cases. I think this was more common with the old Voodoo cards.
Slashdot Mirror
WE'RE NUMBER 3!!
WE'RE NUMBER 3!!
WE'RE NUMBER 3!!
GOOOOOOOO TEAM!!
=)
It's Rip. Mix. Burn.
not
Rip. Mix. Burn. Distribute on a P2P Network.
If the R/W/B campaign indicates piracy to you, that says more about you than it does Steve Jobs.
But can she play solitaire without compiling it?
This is precisely why there is a huge opportunity, not only for the big boys (IBM and Novell), but any developer or team of developers.
Dang, forgot a double quote mark!
Kiosk
You can run a kiosk with Macs, but the hardware tends to be a bit expensive. You'd probably be better off with another platform, but it CAN be done.
wKiosk
k-Builder
Kiosk
And there's always Macromedia Director.
This is an area where I am ignorant, but doesn't IBM's Lotus have some of these groupware features? It's not open source, true.
...
...
inux advocates: we're ready for the desktop!
big corporations: no, not quite yet...
linux advocates: we're ready for the desktop!
big corporations: no, not quite yet...
linux advocates: we're ready for the desktop!
big corporations: no, not quite yet...
linux advocates: we're ready for the desktop!
big corporations: no damnit! Your only good for servers and maybe now kiosks
big corporations: we're ready for the desktop!
slashdot freaks: Oh no! The evil corporate monoliths are going to spoil the party (somehow)!!
There is room for both standardization and choice. It's going to take IBM and/or Novell to standardize, but there will be nothing stopping anyone from "doing their own thing".
I don't see anything inherently wrong with IBM or Novell standardizing different features of linux. They can't change the underlying license, so we are still free to do things the way we want.
Sounds like a cool set up you've got going there.
This points out the opportunity that some company (Novell? IBM? Some other company?) will have my standardizing on a WM for office workstations. Heck, they don't even have to standardize on one, they could offer a few choices if they have the resources to support it.
Linux is a desktop solution. It is just not easy for the unsophisticated user to set up. The "noob" needs someone to configure it; he or she won't care about tweaking, at least initially. This is one of the strengths of OS X. It's good to go out of the box. Users can do minor tweaks and add functionality as they become comfortable, power users can delve deeper with the CLI. There is nothing stopping anyone from someone distributing a desktop linux that does this.
Haven't they already done this with a 50 million dollar investment in a company that develops Ximian?
I'm sorry, but giving everyone a book and sending them to "Security Summer Camp" does not qualify as R & D.
I can appreciate that you are working inside the system, trying to make a positive change. Good for you. I am not one of those who would rather die before accepting DRM. I actually use DRMed music in the form of protected AAC files from the iTunes Music Store. At least AAC is based on an open standard.
I am very suspicious of your company, and by extension, you. Statements like "f you can't even do that, please at least try not to actively antagonize the few people like me inside this company that might actually be sympathetic to your views." tend to bolster that suspicion, rather than alleviate it.
To answer your question, I've given money to the EFF. Have you? I've also spent money at the iTunes store.
Kudos to you for fighting the good fight, but In suspect that anything positive you achieve won't make it past marketing.
Last sentence edit:
Maybe I'm all wrong about your company. If I am, maybe you'd care to point out how MS DRM helps the end user.
"One thing I can say for sure is that if I were to leave Microsoft I can guarantee you my replacement at Microsoft would be worse to you from a consumer rights perspective."
Excuse me, maybe I'm taking this the wrong way, but I find this extremely arrogant and condescending, as well as a bit chilling.
Are you trying to good cop/bad cop us? Is there an implied threat there? If you don't accept quietly what I'm trying to shove down your throat, it'll just be worse for you?
Pardon me if this is NOT what you mean, but when I think of your employer, I think the opposite of warm & fuzzy. I think boot to the throat.
Maybe I'm all wrong about your company. If I am, maybe you'd care to point out how DRM helps the end user.
I don't consider WMA support important.
I bought a 10 GB 2nd Generation iPod from the Apple Store's Special Deal refurb section for $169. They sell out fast, so you need to check in the morning, and frequently. Good luck!
Oh, it was sold as refurb, but it was brand new "old stock" they were clearing out.
I'm just a caveman. Your proprietary format frightens and confuses me.
True! And we haven't even gotten to the potential suits from the copyright holders (Linus, et alia) of the Linux kernel. If the GPL is valid, SCO will be in big trouble for continuing to distribute the code.
I'll be out cleaning pigshit off of my car from those damn flying pigs when C-Net publishes "5 Reasons Not to Buy a Windows XP PC". By my guestimation, about 30% of their advertising is from MS.
Then why are you still here? =)
>ay the judge goes with IBM and dismisses the case, then what?
Then the IBM countersuit goes forward. Oh, SCO will still have some explaining to do.
Since /. is about 1:9 signal:noise, I doubt we'll notice an overall drop of 1%.
Interesting mechanism/model you are developing. You think this could translate to funding software development?
It's the firmware on the hardware that's usually the issue. In somecases you can flash the firmware on a PC to use the card in a mac, but not in all cases. I think this was more common with the old Voodoo cards.