I think the author is missing one of the points. It's not necessary to be usable for endusers to be good for them.
For example; I work for a semi-large dental office. 3 offices, 100+ employees. Each and everyone of those employees benefit from OSS, even if they don't know it. From the spam being kept out of their mail boxes, to email being delivered all together, to the IM network, not to mention the file server. I won't even go into how the phones are handled.
I am the only one ( on the payroll ) that knows how any of this works, and that benefits at least 100+ people ( not to mention the secondary effects of such a setup ). That's the true power of opensource software.
The public doesn't care. They have their Idol, they have their gas guzzingly SUV. What do they care that the president is the one breathing heavy on the other end of the line.
That might be true, however, in lots of places a degree is something that is worth a higher salary.
Be that as it may, from my own personal experience I am worth more with the real world experience I have as apposed to someone freshly graduated. Or even someone a couple years out of school, depending on their experience.
Because the field is undefined. What is a computer scientist? What do they do after they graduate?
I earn my paycheck doing network admin, in all that encompasses. I went to college for a year and half before I realized that the education I was getting wasn't going to prepare me for my chosen profession.
The schools get CS majors ready to be programmers ( bad ones at that ). That's it. There is a huge gap between what the schools teach and what businesses need from their computer personel.
I'm more valuable now than I would have been had I stuck around and graduated.
Not that I'm excusing bad manners, but here's the otherside of the equation:
I used to help out quite a bit with linux noobs. I'd show them where to find the answers, and I'd give them suggestions. I don't anymore. 99% of the time, after I'd show them where they could find their answer, they come back asking the same question, obiously not reading the source I had sited. Not only that, but they'd get upset that I suggest they go read the site again, as if their time was so valuable that they simply couldn't take time to read it.
I'd get flamed, emailed, IM'd because I had politely suggested that the answer to their question was at so-and-so's site. I didn't tell them to RTFM, nor would I call them names or otherwise be an ass to them. I'd tell them where their answers were, and I'd receive all sorts of idiotic flaming for my efforts.
I have since chosen to only help those truly interested in learning, but I can see going the otherway and returning the flames. I don't agree with it, and I think a lot of people in general need to grow up, but I can see why some people would do it.
This needs to be modded insightful. I was only looking at the negative initially, but you are absolutely right. If philips gets the patent on this, no one else will be able to do it.
There's nothing special about open source software.
Sure there is. It's unique in the fact that most OSS projects haven't got the cash to fight a prolonged legal battle. Given a OSS project that does something better than a closed source version, and you have a situation ripe for legal abuse.
It doesn't necessarily have to be *right*, it just has to give a company an "in" to sue the bejebus out of someone else until their project dies.
The problem being once these important OSS coders see oracle source, they are tainted. Any further OSS contributions will have to be heavily scrutinized for IP violations.
So oracle does not need to keep them. They just need to expose them to even bits of their db source, and they have tainted the coder.
Devious, if you ask me. I am impressed. Or I would be if it didn't damage my own interests.
If you confess to a crime in a public place, then yes, the cops have every right to open a case against you.
This isn't rocket science, nor an infringment of your rights. It's simply common sense.
Myspace is like walmart ( only I'd rather visit a walmart than myspace ). If you walk into walmart, and say in a loud voice over and over again how you had sex with an underage child, you can bet your ass you will be investigated. To do anything otherwise would be incomptence on the part of the cops.
Except the telcos have more money than God. So what would actually happen would be we'd get a great package at a great price from the telcos while they try to starve out the cable companies ( but we'd still get the same bullshit we get from the telcos now. I bet they'd even try to slip the broadcast flag through ). Once they had control of the market, they'd bend us over a barrel.
Speaking of the broadcasting flag, wasn't the FCC for it, but the cable companies against it? That'd certainly paint this into a different picture.
Slashdot Mirror
Did anybody else get a powerful urge to install the client on as many machines as possible?
I can handle the increase in spam, I hardly ever see it anyway ( thank you spamassassin+bayes+RBL+spamhaus ).
I think the author is missing one of the points. It's not necessary to be usable for endusers to be good for them.
For example; I work for a semi-large dental office. 3 offices, 100+ employees. Each and everyone of those employees benefit from OSS, even if they don't know it. From the spam being kept out of their mail boxes, to email being delivered all together, to the IM network, not to mention the file server. I won't even go into how the phones are handled.
I am the only one ( on the payroll ) that knows how any of this works, and that benefits at least 100+ people ( not to mention the secondary effects of such a setup ). That's the true power of opensource software.
*cough* dvdshrink *cough*
snes9x.
'nuff said.
The public doesn't care. They have their Idol, they have their gas guzzingly SUV. What do they care that the president is the one breathing heavy on the other end of the line.
Personal liberties? What are those?
I can get my very own droud.
I'm so excited.
Right.... so after dropped out of school you started a $65k/yr job with prospects for quick advancement ?
Er..yes. More actually, it's *why* I left college.
Because thats what some of us who DID stick around and graduate are ending up with.
Then you are in the minority, and count yourself lucky.
That might be true, however, in lots of places a degree is something that is worth a higher salary.
Be that as it may, from my own personal experience I am worth more with the real world experience I have as apposed to someone freshly graduated. Or even someone a couple years out of school, depending on their experience.
Because the field is undefined. What is a computer scientist? What do they do after they graduate?
I earn my paycheck doing network admin, in all that encompasses. I went to college for a year and half before I realized that the education I was getting wasn't going to prepare me for my chosen profession.
The schools get CS majors ready to be programmers ( bad ones at that ). That's it. There is a huge gap between what the schools teach and what businesses need from their computer personel.
I'm more valuable now than I would have been had I stuck around and graduated.
You got modded as troll, but that was actually pretty funny. :D
...it's a silly software patent being exploited to make cash.
On the other, they're taking a bite out of microsoft.
I just don't know how to feel about that.
Why must everything be "Edgy" now a days? When I think of edgy, I think of some dude strung out on too much caffiene and cigs.
If that's cool, whatever, I'm out of touch anymore anyway. But it still doesn't paint a good image.
Obscure reference to a great movie.
Someone mod the OP up. It's a moral imperative.
Not that I'm excusing bad manners, but here's the otherside of the equation:
I used to help out quite a bit with linux noobs. I'd show them where to find the answers, and I'd give them suggestions. I don't anymore. 99% of the time, after I'd show them where they could find their answer, they come back asking the same question, obiously not reading the source I had sited. Not only that, but they'd get upset that I suggest they go read the site again, as if their time was so valuable that they simply couldn't take time to read it.
I'd get flamed, emailed, IM'd because I had politely suggested that the answer to their question was at so-and-so's site. I didn't tell them to RTFM, nor would I call them names or otherwise be an ass to them. I'd tell them where their answers were, and I'd receive all sorts of idiotic flaming for my efforts.
I have since chosen to only help those truly interested in learning, but I can see going the otherway and returning the flames. I don't agree with it, and I think a lot of people in general need to grow up, but I can see why some people would do it.
This needs to be modded insightful. I was only looking at the negative initially, but you are absolutely right. If philips gets the patent on this, no one else will be able to do it.
But I need something that will work, not something I can feel good about.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the business world in a nutshell.
There's nothing special about open source software.
Sure there is. It's unique in the fact that most OSS projects haven't got the cash to fight a prolonged legal battle. Given a OSS project that does something better than a closed source version, and you have a situation ripe for legal abuse.
It doesn't necessarily have to be *right*, it just has to give a company an "in" to sue the bejebus out of someone else until their project dies.
You must be german.
The problem being once these important OSS coders see oracle source, they are tainted. Any further OSS contributions will have to be heavily scrutinized for IP violations.
So oracle does not need to keep them. They just need to expose them to even bits of their db source, and they have tainted the coder.
Devious, if you ask me. I am impressed. Or I would be if it didn't damage my own interests.
If you confess to a crime in a public place, then yes, the cops have every right to open a case against you.
This isn't rocket science, nor an infringment of your rights. It's simply common sense.
Myspace is like walmart ( only I'd rather visit a walmart than myspace ). If you walk into walmart, and say in a loud voice over and over again how you had sex with an underage child, you can bet your ass you will be investigated. To do anything otherwise would be incomptence on the part of the cops.
Except the telcos have more money than God. So what would actually happen would be we'd get a great package at a great price from the telcos while they try to starve out the cable companies ( but we'd still get the same bullshit we get from the telcos now. I bet they'd even try to slip the broadcast flag through ). Once they had control of the market, they'd bend us over a barrel.
Speaking of the broadcasting flag, wasn't the FCC for it, but the cable companies against it? That'd certainly paint this into a different picture.
He wants to allow the telcos, a demonstratively corrupt group of companies, access to traditional cable services?
And this benefits the average customers...how exactly?
Sony? Highest level of trust?
Sony?!
The public is either a mass of idiots waiting to be fleeced, or..uh...
I think I just answered my own question.
Microsoft, battling for the hearts and minds of professional gamers....
Oh come off it. If that's what they were doing, they'd simply supply a lifetime of free pizza and beer.
It'd be far cheaper than buying...er..."sponsering" these games.
oh yah, you like the shiza-videos too huh?
Doesn't everyone?