I wonder the same thing. Why choose.wma, a proprietary format that is controlled by Microsoft and costs money to implement, when superior things exist? It can't be too hard to DRM an ogg, or something.
Does it really matter so much if it's easy to install? I have my computer illiterate family running Slackware full-time, and they're not having any problems... because I set it up. Most of the time, people get geeks to install Windows for them as well. I think the install matters less and less, and ease of use once it's actually installed is what matters... and in that department, pretty much every distro is the same, as long as they don't bloat it up with 50 icons on the desktop ala Mandrake.
Indeed, I use giFT myself, and I find the clients much cleaner and nicer to work with than Kazaa or Kazaa Lite. I just hope they never block that out, because it lacks their spyware and ads.
I'd buy if it was in.ogg format, but it's not. The problem with these download services is that they're using proprietary formats... like AAC for Apple's, and MS' will definitely use WMA. We should AT LEAST have the option of MP3 if we can't have ogg.
One of the reasons I use Linux is to avoid ads and spyware. Now if I choose to use Mandrake, I can only avoid spyware... but for how long? I think I'll just stick to Slack, like I have for the past few years.
The fact that he's working on it again. A sudden change of heart, apparently. I can remember slashdotters posting hate about this guy because he was claiming the Linux desktop was dead; claims like E having failed and that being his way of taking it.
This is all great, but I think this sort of thing needs more press. Every time SCO speaks, it's everywhere, but these sorts of things are never mentioned. Hopefully some people notice.
We all know how MS works... they continually lock us in as time passes. In that amount of time, there will simply be no going back if you're already using MS software.
I have this overwhelming feeling that India will still be enslaved by MS, just like most of the rest of the world. How many years will it take for Linux to become mainstream there? 5? If so, the fight is already over.
I love FreeBSD. I would run it in place of Linux... but my Audigy doesn't work. And I don't have accelerated nvidia drivers (though I did read something about those coming to FreeBSD?). But the nvidia issue isn't important... I need sound, and that's all there is to it... and I refuse to use those payware drivers that apparently don't support the digital out on the card.
I've been using Slack for about 2 years now. I've tried various other distributions (Mandrake, Red Hat, Debian, Gentoo), but I just love Slack so much I can never leave it. It's the way Linux was meant to be... I know exactly where everything is, and my filesystem isn't dirty like with the rest of the distros.
I'm glad to see something like this getting some press... keeps me knowing that Slack is still going strong, despite what some trolls like to say. (Slackware has no money left!)
On a side note, who needs a package manager? I never use packages, except when installing the distro... compiling is better:B. I guess Joe Sixpack isn't really into that idea, but hey, Slack's not for everyone.
I read a long time back that The HURD would be "ready" very soon. However, The HURD just keeps chugging along at a slow pace... how many people really care about it? I know there's a Debian GNU/HURD, but does anyone use it? Hopefully this is a big step to more widespread adoption of the thing.
The 3.0 name could be great for marketing purposes, but all around it really means nothing, as it will be the same kernel in the end. All I know is that I'll be compiling it the day it's labelled stable:B
I read about this yesterday, and I got worried. However, I read more, and discovered that you can disable Palladium if you choose, unlike the Intel implementation (I'm assuming you can't, nothing was said about it).
Xbox the best console on the market? That's certainly arguable. Xbox has to be the WORST console on the market right now. Hardware doesn't make the console, games do. There is one game on the Xbox that interests me, and it isn't even out yet. However, the Playstation2 and Gamecube have many gems already...
And the Xbox controllers just plain SUCK! I can barely fit my hand on it! The plastic it's made of feels very low-quality as well, and yes, the plastic quality does matter.
Second point... XP has not improved all that much over the other Windows releases. I used XP for an extended period of time, and it seems like nothing more than Windows 2000 with a Fisher Price gui. I'd gladly use Windows 2000 over it any day, as it is a smaller install.
Third point... MS may have the right to charge for their products, but is it moral to charge $500 for a copy of Windows XP (I live in Canada, and that would be the price of XP Pro)? Then there's Office, which adds even more to that price... then there's 3rd party programs with high price tags. If you legitimately pay for all of your software, it doesn't take long for your software to be worth more than your hardware! Personally, I think something is wrong when that happens. Piracy would be cut down if software was cheaper.
I don't trust anything wireless. Not even a wireless mouse. Sorry, I just like having cords... it makes me feel more secure. Microsoft + wireless is NOT a good idea. However, it might be a great way to show Joe Sixpack that MS products are not secure, when he gets hacked by the script kiddie across the street.
I'm betting they're adding Palladium. It seems likely, since these days you must make sacrifices to gain things. XP Service Pack 1 will fix a few security holes, but at the cost of your privacy. Hammer will be 64-bit and more powerful than anything you've got now, but will probably be Palladium-enabled.
Or maybe I'm being a pessimist and they're not adding Palladium. Lets hope not:|
Slashdot Mirror
I wonder the same thing. Why choose .wma, a proprietary format that is controlled by Microsoft and costs money to implement, when superior things exist? It can't be too hard to DRM an ogg, or something.
Does it really matter so much if it's easy to install? I have my computer illiterate family running Slackware full-time, and they're not having any problems... because I set it up. Most of the time, people get geeks to install Windows for them as well. I think the install matters less and less, and ease of use once it's actually installed is what matters... and in that department, pretty much every distro is the same, as long as they don't bloat it up with 50 icons on the desktop ala Mandrake.
Indeed, I use giFT myself, and I find the clients much cleaner and nicer to work with than Kazaa or Kazaa Lite. I just hope they never block that out, because it lacks their spyware and ads.
So does SCO get $699 profit from each one sold ;)?
I'd buy if it was in .ogg format, but it's not. The problem with these download services is that they're using proprietary formats... like AAC for Apple's, and MS' will definitely use WMA. We should AT LEAST have the option of MP3 if we can't have ogg.
So it's finally almost here. Is the framebuffer fixed yet?
One of the reasons I use Linux is to avoid ads and spyware. Now if I choose to use Mandrake, I can only avoid spyware... but for how long? I think I'll just stick to Slack, like I have for the past few years.
http://slashdot.org/articles/02/07/20/1342205.shtm l?tid=106
The fact that he's working on it again. A sudden change of heart, apparently. I can remember slashdotters posting hate about this guy because he was claiming the Linux desktop was dead; claims like E having failed and that being his way of taking it.
Wasn't this guy preaching the death of the Linux desktop not very long ago?
This is all great, but I think this sort of thing needs more press. Every time SCO speaks, it's everywhere, but these sorts of things are never mentioned. Hopefully some people notice.
Do you think the SCO case has merit? If it does, and SCO wins in court, what do you see happening with the Linux kernel?
We all know how MS works... they continually lock us in as time passes. In that amount of time, there will simply be no going back if you're already using MS software.
I have this overwhelming feeling that India will still be enslaved by MS, just like most of the rest of the world. How many years will it take for Linux to become mainstream there? 5? If so, the fight is already over.
I love FreeBSD. I would run it in place of Linux... but my Audigy doesn't work. And I don't have accelerated nvidia drivers (though I did read something about those coming to FreeBSD?). But the nvidia issue isn't important... I need sound, and that's all there is to it... and I refuse to use those payware drivers that apparently don't support the digital out on the card.
I've been using Slack for about 2 years now. I've tried various other distributions (Mandrake, Red Hat, Debian, Gentoo), but I just love Slack so much I can never leave it. It's the way Linux was meant to be... I know exactly where everything is, and my filesystem isn't dirty like with the rest of the distros.
:B. I guess Joe Sixpack isn't really into that idea, but hey, Slack's not for everyone.
I'm glad to see something like this getting some press... keeps me knowing that Slack is still going strong, despite what some trolls like to say. (Slackware has no money left!)
On a side note, who needs a package manager? I never use packages, except when installing the distro... compiling is better
I read a long time back that The HURD would be "ready" very soon. However, The HURD just keeps chugging along at a slow pace... how many people really care about it? I know there's a Debian GNU/HURD, but does anyone use it? Hopefully this is a big step to more widespread adoption of the thing.
The 3.0 name could be great for marketing purposes, but all around it really means nothing, as it will be the same kernel in the end. All I know is that I'll be compiling it the day it's labelled stable :B
I read about this yesterday, and I got worried. However, I read more, and discovered that you can disable Palladium if you choose, unlike the Intel implementation (I'm assuming you can't, nothing was said about it).
You can't use more than 24-bit on Linux. Period. It doesn't make a difference on Linux though, unlike Windows.
Xbox the best console on the market? That's certainly arguable. Xbox has to be the WORST console on the market right now. Hardware doesn't make the console, games do. There is one game on the Xbox that interests me, and it isn't even out yet. However, the Playstation2 and Gamecube have many gems already...
And the Xbox controllers just plain SUCK! I can barely fit my hand on it! The plastic it's made of feels very low-quality as well, and yes, the plastic quality does matter.
Second point... XP has not improved all that much over the other Windows releases. I used XP for an extended period of time, and it seems like nothing more than Windows 2000 with a Fisher Price gui. I'd gladly use Windows 2000 over it any day, as it is a smaller install.
Third point... MS may have the right to charge for their products, but is it moral to charge $500 for a copy of Windows XP (I live in Canada, and that would be the price of XP Pro)? Then there's Office, which adds even more to that price... then there's 3rd party programs with high price tags. If you legitimately pay for all of your software, it doesn't take long for your software to be worth more than your hardware! Personally, I think something is wrong when that happens. Piracy would be cut down if software was cheaper.
I don't trust anything wireless. Not even a wireless mouse. Sorry, I just like having cords... it makes me feel more secure. Microsoft + wireless is NOT a good idea. However, it might be a great way to show Joe Sixpack that MS products are not secure, when he gets hacked by the script kiddie across the street.
How low is low? Will these cost $500 or $100?
I can see myself buying one maybe as a secondary PC, or perhaps a Christmas gift to my parents, if the price is right.
I'm betting they're adding Palladium. It seems likely, since these days you must make sacrifices to gain things. XP Service Pack 1 will fix a few security holes, but at the cost of your privacy. Hammer will be 64-bit and more powerful than anything you've got now, but will probably be Palladium-enabled. Or maybe I'm being a pessimist and they're not adding Palladium. Lets hope not :|
Would it not violate an MS patent if they did?