This is simply wild speculation based on unconfirmed and unreliable sources. Its absolute nonsense. Do you have a quote from a Microsoft person that states that?
Common sense would not allow any intelligent person to believe this even for a second. Common sense says I shouldn't buy a book, clothes, toaster or anything else that I have to call the manufacturer/publisher and ask for permission to use it. You do have to do that with Windows XP.
I can tell you without a doubt that if Microsoft decided to shut down the software that I paid for and installed, there would be a large, lucrative class action lawsuit filed against them by individuals and many, many lawsuits filed by the corporations that would lose thousands upon thousands of dollars per day as a result of this. I just hope my firm could get a peice of that delicious and expensive pie. You clicked on the EULA. What part of you don't have any Rights did you not understand? You agreed to it. If you work for a Law firm, then you should know better. I'd imagine that Microsoft has better lawyers. If the judge agrees that you signed a contract by clicking OK, your screwed.
Not only that, but in a market with emerging OS alternatives, why in the world would Microsoft risk a massive exodus from their software. Because they think that you won't change. They are betting that you are too stupid and it would be too much trouble to switch.
a) Ask yourself why Windows XP disables itself (gives you 30 days) if you upgrade your Graphics, RAM, hardrive. b) Ask yourself why you have to call Microsoft for a new key to use the hardware you bought. c) Ask yourself why you need to have your computer searched when your a legitimate owner. d) Why does the Windows CD that comes with your computer, only work for the OEM box? If the OEM box gets fried, why can't you use the CD?
I have over twelve original Windows Licences and several MSDOS ones. Microsoft says I'm a thief, and no I don't share my Windows License numbers. Do you allow yourself to be frisked upon entering any store? Automatically your a thief for running Windows, once you get frisked, then your ok.
I'm sure there are programmers at Microsoft who are against this policy. Microsoft used to known for selling good swoftware reguardless of the platform. Now they are just protecting thier Windows OEM cash cow. If Microsoft is a better solution for you, then keep on using thier software. Be prepared to be frisked for using it.
Customer: I made a CD of the songs I bought using the Microsoft Song Service and it won't play in my car. MS Support: You have to install Windows in your car to play CDs from the Mircrosoft Song Service. MS Support: Give us your license number so we can make sure your not a thief. Customer: WTF?
As for all the other things I mentioned 'already' being available, that is not true. Find even ONE product or paper that address what the WDDM model in Vista is doing? There is none outside of Microsoft, even ATI and NVidia have not dealt with the new technologies 'MICROSOFT' introduced. WDDM is special? Explain why please, it hasn't been covered in detail in the ACM or Dr Dobbs yet. Any links?
Also the 'way' the speech technologies in Vista work are new. Oh and BTW MS had Speech recognition back in 1992, far before you could get it on a Mac. (Go look up MS Sound System) Um, Microsoft Licensed the technology from Dragon. OS/2 Warp 4 had it before windows. Please provide links for proof of Microsoft using this in 1992.
For everyone who has problems with Linux, whether your using/installing SuSE, FC4, Ubuntu, Slackware, etc. Go to http://www.linuxquestions.org/. You won't get RTFM responses. No I'm not affliated with the web site and have no vested interest.
Slashdot, while being a great forum, is not the place to get Linux help,
By installing it on a DX and then switching the disk to another machine? Only stuff that specifically checks for an SX won't run on an SX. It might be embarassingly slow, but it'll run.
No, I had a spare hardrive that had Win95 on it. My Parents computer (386/16 SX) hardisk went bad so I replaced it. Until you hit a 32bit operation it ran fine.
The 386SX is internally identical to the 386DX No, its not. Extenal yes. Internal No.
You seem to think I am claiming that Win9x and NT are the same. I was countering your supposition that Win9x is somehow obsolete and that were all stupid for still running it. From a simple programs perspective, there is no difference between the two platforms. Win32 binaries run the same on both. A bad driver on both will BSOD.
Um, of course it ran... Ok, you do REALIZE that a 386 processor is 32bit? The 386SX was designed for systems designers who were looking for 386 capabilities at 286 system prices. Like the 286, the 386SX is restricted to only 16 bits when communicating with other system components, such as memory. What part of 386sx did you not read in my orginal post? You should have asked how I got Win95 running on a 386sx because the installer won't run.
The Win9x kernel was NOTHING like the NT kernel, you seriously need to read 'Inside WindowsNT' or at least go to WikiPedia. What part of different kernels did you not read in my original post? I should of also included system DLLS, but I assumed you would know what I meant.
Heck, challenge yourself, go look up 'real' information on the NT kernel and the NT Architecture. From my original post, right back at you. "might I suggest Windows System Programming Secrets by Matt Pietrek or any Windows programming book by Andrew Schulman."
The resposes to this article are more proof that a majority of people on SlashDot don't realize that Win9x and Win2k/XP are ENTIRELY different OSes. Different code bases, actually different code all around.
Sort of. The kernals are different, the DLL's are pretty much the same. The Win32 API is an abstract layer that Microsoft sold us on. One of the selling points was "code for win32 and your programs will run on 9.x and NT based systems". Win98SE runs wicked fast on my wifes AMD64 and has an uptime of over three months.
Win9x was a 32bit OS built on top of Win3.x technology and again was programmed using C and Assembly in a lot of areas. Um, Win95 ran on my 386/16sx (PS/1). I have screen shots. It worked fine until you enabled 32bit disk support. If you don't know the differences between the 9.x and NT kernels might I suggest Windows System Programming Secrets by Pietrek or any Windows programming book by Andrew Schulman.
WinXP is the modern version of WindowsNT, still built completely in portable C and C++ with no assembly optimization allowed outside of the HAL. XP Modern kernal my ass. Its the same HAL/Kernal that was released with Windows NT 3.1 It has more kernal calls with some code reviews thrown in. Disassemble or do a bdiff someday on the different NT kernels. You will get sued by Microsoft if you publish the results.
Applications run differently on WinXP. I'm sorry, say what? Other than isolated address space the programs run the same. Any version of Windows is just a layer above the hardware. The CPU still fetches and runs the instructions. Thats why Win98 still runs on any box you can buy out of the store today.
No flame intended. Your post was your opinion, this was mine.
ObDisc: I work for VMware, but I don't speak for them in any way, shape, or form. This is a highly unofficial reply.
Keep up the good work. I finally convinced the boss I would be more productive if I didn't have to spend three minutes rebooting into Windows/Linux (I'm a embedded Wince/Linux programmer). I went down to CompUSA to purchase a copy of VMWare and its not on the shelf anymore. It used to be.
The brain dead associate (called employee in more traditional times), had no idea why they didn't have VMWare or what it was. My question. Was compUSA out of stock, or did you stop selling retail?
You stopped being a customer of Microsoft once they decided to enable GenuineCheck.exe for all downloads. Your a thief, even if you own a legit Windows licence( I own +8). If that doesn't insult you then you must be braindead. Name one retailer that comes into your home looking for stolen goods?
Switch, or continue being called a theif by Microsoft.
Windows isn't a generic OS anymore. You can't program your own devices. You have no control over what drivers are loaded. You can't delve into the inner chamber of ring 1 or 2. Vista means 'You can't get there from here'. Welcome to the world of centralized computing. A Mainframe on your desktop/laptop. Instead of being controled by IT, your computer is controlled by Microsoft.
Its not a personal computer if you don't have full control over it. Its a Microsoft approved appliance.
Why on earth would any sane person knowingly allow a computer program to impersonate themselves or others? CBT. Computer based training programs use this feature. But like everything else, Microsoft innovated/integrated the feature into the OS instead of making it optional.
My gut feeling is that MS and other software mfg want more control of MY and YOUR computer without us knowing it.
It stopped being your computer when you had to call Microsoft after adding/changing your hardware. Running Windows means you have a "Microsoft Certified Appliance", not a personal computer.
Flamebait? Come on moderators, either you know the subject and can moderate or you don't and you shouldn't.
PHP is the worse language found on the web. The only reason it exists is because its easy. Java/ruby/python make a much better solution than PHP on any platform.
Other people want the reliability and the dependability that comes from a commercial software model.' Translation: You people aren't keeping our revenue stream up.
Whatever. I just spent another $120US over at Tux Games. http://www.tuxgames.com/ When will Microsoft treat me like a customer instead of a thief?
Next time, take a step back from your leetness and look at it as someone who wants a alternative to Windows but doesn't have a CIS degree.
I wasn't being leet. If you understand how a computer works then installing Linux isn't any harder than installing Windows. In both cases you need to know what components you have. I'm pretty sure the mom and pop computer stores around you will sell you a white box computer with Linux installed.
Hmmm....you have been working on Linux for 16 years huh? Maybe you have not had a problem BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR 16 years! I also don't have any problems with Windows or OS/2 or Apple or Atari or Amigas. I enjoy personal computers. I've been enjoying them since 1982. I make my living on knowing how all computers work.
No RPM hell? You must either not use it, or work arou d it constantly. If you try todo the best thing (stay within your package mannager be it apt or yum or whatever), EVEN THEN there's been RPM hell. I had to actually remove packages and re-install them with yum because the dependencies were all screwed up. RPM hell happens.
With SuSE 9, they did an apt-get for rpm. Try synaptic sometime. I'm sure RedHat has a solution as well. What would be your solution to dependencies? Programs under Windows still have the same problem (DLL HELL). Microsoft provides a half-ass solution by backing up all the libraries/DLLs in a recovery folder.
Finally, why is there so many dependencies on some things?? I have had some packages with dependencies that don't make a lick of sense.
To illustrate, the reasons that Linux is not the dominant Operating system.
Linux is the dominate OS in my house.
* We need to get a truly working pluggable driver model. I'm not sure what you mean. I've written a driver under 2.2.x that ported to 2.4.x and 2.6.x with no major changes. My windows 95 driver and to be scrapped and rewritten for NT.
* We need to have a registry to track applications, and their installation paths, and installation parameters. (This will help with the install, uninstall, and dependency headaches) RPM fills this need (RPM+Apt-get even better).
* We need a unified configuration system and configuration user interface. LSB addresses this issue.
* We need a great GUI development IDE In english you said "We need a Graphical User Interface development Integrated Development Environment". Huh?
* We need to not release products with 200 dependencies that change every 4 weeks I purchase Linux games all the time, even the old loki-games have no problems running on my latest OpenSuSE10 box. I been in dependency hell just once in my last 16 years of Linux usage and that was because I was trying to install Oracle on an un-certified Linux distribution.
Thank you for your help. I'll do just that. No problem. Just don't judge Linux by all the Live CDS. Some have pretty bad hardware detection. Try the brand names first. OpenSuSE, Ubuntu, Debian, Mandrake etc.
I'd like to give Linux a spin so I downloaded the Ubuntu (breezy) dvd install. Installed on my external firewire drive but 75% of the way through it told me it couldn't install the boot loader. Did some googling and it seems you have to jump through some hoops to get it to work right.
Google has exhausted these values as well, and will introduce something called "protected mode page rank" where the slector is shifted farther to create a greater range of values.
The only way the pro-sharing people can support thier arguments is by discrediting this report. All Western Governments will react to that 6.1 billion figure, (Extra sales taxes you know) by passing more stupid DRM/Restriction laws on all computer/internet users.
How do the file traders prove the report wrong? Stop uploading/downloading CD/DVD/Software titles for six months. Either sales go up which means the publishers were right, or sales stay the same meaning the pro-sharing people are correct.
If the sales of new CDS/DVDS stay stagnant for too long (with no downloads available), look for the studios to lower prices. Thats good for everyone.
Because even your proposed kernel could be easily modified (http://www.daemonology.net/bsdiff/ [daemonology.net]).
Because your BIOS could be modified, and such modifications could be undetectable to any OS.
Your right. Then again your mistaken. I can lock the BIOS (see the freebios project). As a bonus from using Linux, it probes the devices on boot (which is why it takes longer). Unlike Windows which saves/checks the registry BIOS/Machine ID everytime it boots. Sample: Take a windows enabled hardisk and boot from a different machine. You can't. Take the same Linux hardisk to a different machine and you can. But your not going to get access to my encrypted files/partitions.
Under Linux I can modify the kernel to CRC the drivers before they load. You can't under Windows. As a Linux user, I can pretty much implement any security feature I want to add to lock my system down. As a Windows user, you don't have a choice.
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This is simply wild speculation based on unconfirmed and unreliable sources. Its absolute nonsense.
Do you have a quote from a Microsoft person that states that?
Common sense would not allow any intelligent person to believe this even for a second.
Common sense says I shouldn't buy a book, clothes, toaster or anything else that I have to call the manufacturer/publisher and ask for permission to use it. You do have to do that with Windows XP.
I can tell you without a doubt that if Microsoft decided to shut down the software that I paid for and installed, there would be a large, lucrative class action lawsuit filed against them by individuals and many, many lawsuits filed by the corporations that would lose thousands upon thousands of dollars per day as a result of this. I just hope my firm could get a peice of that delicious and expensive pie.
You clicked on the EULA. What part of you don't have any Rights did you not understand? You agreed to it. If you work for a Law firm, then you should know better. I'd imagine that Microsoft has better lawyers. If the judge agrees that you signed a contract by clicking OK, your screwed.
Not only that, but in a market with emerging OS alternatives, why in the world would Microsoft risk a massive exodus from their software.
Because they think that you won't change. They are betting that you are too stupid and it would be too much trouble to switch.
a) Ask yourself why Windows XP disables itself (gives you 30 days) if you upgrade your Graphics, RAM, hardrive.
b) Ask yourself why you have to call Microsoft for a new key to use the hardware you bought.
c) Ask yourself why you need to have your computer searched when your a legitimate owner.
d) Why does the Windows CD that comes with your computer, only work for the OEM box? If the OEM box gets fried, why can't you use the CD?
I have over twelve original Windows Licences and several MSDOS ones. Microsoft says I'm a thief, and no I don't share my Windows License numbers. Do you allow yourself to be frisked upon entering any store? Automatically your a thief for running Windows, once you get frisked, then your ok.
I'm sure there are programmers at Microsoft who are against this policy. Microsoft used to known for selling good swoftware reguardless of the platform. Now they are just protecting thier Windows OEM cash cow. If Microsoft is a better solution for you, then keep on using thier software. Be prepared to be frisked for using it.
Enjoy,
Customer: I made a CD of the songs I bought using the Microsoft Song Service and it won't play in my car.
MS Support: You have to install Windows in your car to play CDs from the Mircrosoft Song Service.
MS Support: Give us your license number so we can make sure your not a thief.
Customer: WTF?
Enjoy,
As for all the other things I mentioned 'already' being available, that is not true. Find even ONE product or paper that address what the WDDM model in Vista is doing? There is none outside of Microsoft, even ATI and NVidia have not dealt with the new technologies 'MICROSOFT' introduced.
WDDM is special? Explain why please, it hasn't been covered in detail in the ACM or Dr Dobbs yet. Any links?
Also the 'way' the speech technologies in Vista work are new. Oh and BTW MS had Speech recognition back in 1992, far before you could get it on a Mac. (Go look up MS Sound System)
Um, Microsoft Licensed the technology from Dragon. OS/2 Warp 4 had it before windows. Please provide links for proof of Microsoft using this in 1992.
Enjoy,
For everyone who has problems with Linux, whether your using/installing SuSE, FC4, Ubuntu, Slackware, etc. Go to http://www.linuxquestions.org/. You won't get RTFM responses. No I'm not affliated with the web site and have no vested interest.
Slashdot, while being a great forum, is not the place to get Linux help,
Enjoy,
By installing it on a DX and then switching the disk to another machine? Only stuff that specifically checks for an SX won't run on an SX. It might be embarassingly slow, but it'll run.
No, I had a spare hardrive that had Win95 on it. My Parents computer (386/16 SX) hardisk went bad so I replaced it. Until you hit a 32bit operation it ran fine.
The 386SX is internally identical to the 386DX
No, its not. Extenal yes. Internal No.
Enjoy.
I'm sorry you had to spend time responding to my post. I bow down to your vast computer knowledge and experience. Your the best and I'm an asshole.
Meanwhile, the (Win9X/NT/Linux) POS drivers I wrote are still running fine across the planet. 6000+ at last count (US/Canada/Mexico/Peru).
Enjoy,
You seem to think I am claiming that Win9x and NT are the same. I was countering your supposition that Win9x is somehow obsolete and that were all stupid for still running it. From a simple programs perspective, there is no difference between the two platforms. Win32 binaries run the same on both. A bad driver on both will BSOD.
."
Um, of course it ran... Ok, you do REALIZE that a 386 processor is 32bit?
The 386SX was designed for systems designers who were looking for 386 capabilities at 286 system prices. Like the 286, the 386SX is restricted to only 16 bits when communicating with other system components, such as memory. What part of 386sx did you not read in my orginal post? You should have asked how I got Win95 running on a 386sx because the installer won't run.
The Win9x kernel was NOTHING like the NT kernel, you seriously need to read 'Inside WindowsNT' or at least go to WikiPedia.
What part of different kernels did you not read in my original post? I should of also included system DLLS, but I assumed you would know what I meant.
Heck, challenge yourself, go look up 'real' information on the NT kernel and the NT Architecture.
From my original post, right back at you. "might I suggest Windows System Programming Secrets by Matt Pietrek or any Windows programming book by Andrew Schulman
Have a good weekend,
Enjoy.
The resposes to this article are more proof that a majority of people on SlashDot don't realize that Win9x and Win2k/XP are ENTIRELY different OSes. Different code bases, actually different code all around.
Sort of. The kernals are different, the DLL's are pretty much the same. The Win32 API is an abstract layer that Microsoft sold us on. One of the selling points was "code for win32 and your programs will run on 9.x and NT based systems". Win98SE runs wicked fast on my wifes AMD64 and has an uptime of over three months.
Win9x was a 32bit OS built on top of Win3.x technology and again was programmed using C and Assembly in a lot of areas.
Um, Win95 ran on my 386/16sx (PS/1). I have screen shots. It worked fine until you enabled 32bit disk support. If you don't know the differences between the 9.x and NT kernels might I suggest Windows System Programming Secrets by Pietrek or any Windows programming book by Andrew Schulman.
WinXP is the modern version of WindowsNT, still built completely in portable C and C++ with no assembly optimization allowed outside of the HAL.
XP Modern kernal my ass. Its the same HAL/Kernal that was released with Windows NT 3.1
It has more kernal calls with some code reviews thrown in. Disassemble or do a bdiff someday on the different NT kernels. You will get sued by Microsoft if you publish the results.
Applications run differently on WinXP. I'm sorry, say what? Other than isolated address space the programs run the same. Any version of Windows is just a layer above the hardware. The CPU still fetches and runs the instructions. Thats why Win98 still runs on any box you can buy out of the store today.
No flame intended. Your post was your opinion, this was mine.
Enjoy.
ObDisc: I work for VMware, but I don't speak for them in any way, shape, or form. This is a highly unofficial reply.
Keep up the good work. I finally convinced the boss I would be more productive if I didn't have to spend three minutes rebooting into Windows/Linux (I'm a embedded Wince/Linux programmer). I went down to CompUSA to purchase a copy of VMWare and its not on the shelf anymore. It used to be.
The brain dead associate (called employee in more traditional times), had no idea why they didn't have VMWare or what it was. My question. Was compUSA out of stock, or did you stop selling retail?
Thanks,
You stopped being a customer of Microsoft once they decided to enable GenuineCheck.exe for all downloads. Your a thief, even if you own a legit Windows licence( I own +8). If that doesn't insult you then you must be braindead. Name one retailer that comes into your home looking for stolen goods?
Switch, or continue being called a theif by Microsoft.
Enjoy,
Windows isn't a generic OS anymore. You can't program your own devices. You have no control over what drivers are loaded. You can't delve into the inner chamber of ring 1 or 2. Vista means 'You can't get there from here'. Welcome to the world of centralized computing. A Mainframe on your desktop/laptop. Instead of being controled by IT, your computer is controlled by Microsoft.
Its not a personal computer if you don't have full control over it. Its a Microsoft approved appliance.
My two cents.
Enjoy,
Why on earth would any sane person knowingly allow a computer program to impersonate themselves or others? CBT. Computer based training programs use this feature. But like everything else, Microsoft innovated/integrated the feature into the OS instead of making it optional.
My gut feeling is that MS and other software mfg want more control of MY and YOUR computer without us knowing it.
It stopped being your computer when you had to call Microsoft after adding/changing your hardware. Running Windows means you have a "Microsoft Certified Appliance", not a personal computer.
Enjoy,
Flamebait? Come on moderators, either you know the subject and can moderate or you don't and you shouldn't.
PHP is the worse language found on the web. The only reason it exists is because its easy. Java/ruby/python make a much better solution than PHP on any platform.
Enjoy,
Other people want the reliability and the dependability that comes from a commercial software model.'
Translation: You people aren't keeping our revenue stream up.
Whatever. I just spent another $120US over at Tux Games. http://www.tuxgames.com/
When will Microsoft treat me like a customer instead of a thief?
Enjoy,
Next time, take a step back from your leetness and look at it as someone who wants a alternative to Windows but doesn't have a CIS degree.
I wasn't being leet. If you understand how a computer works then installing Linux isn't any harder than installing Windows. In both cases you need to know what components you have. I'm pretty sure the mom and pop computer stores around you will sell you a white box computer with Linux installed.
Hmmm....you have been working on Linux for 16 years huh? Maybe you have not had a problem BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR 16 years!
I also don't have any problems with Windows or OS/2 or Apple or Atari or Amigas. I enjoy personal computers. I've been enjoying them since 1982. I make my living on knowing how all computers work.
No RPM hell? You must either not use it, or work arou d it constantly. If you try todo the best thing (stay within your package mannager be it apt or yum or whatever), EVEN THEN there's been RPM hell. I had to actually remove packages and re-install them with yum because the dependencies were all screwed up. RPM hell happens.
With SuSE 9, they did an apt-get for rpm. Try synaptic sometime. I'm sure RedHat has a solution as well. What would be your solution to dependencies? Programs under Windows still have the same problem (DLL HELL). Microsoft provides a half-ass solution by backing up all the libraries/DLLs in a recovery folder.
Finally, why is there so many dependencies on some things?? I have had some packages with dependencies that don't make a lick of sense.
I dunno, but
Enjoy,
To illustrate, the reasons that Linux is not the dominant Operating system.
Linux is the dominate OS in my house.
* We need to get a truly working pluggable driver model.
I'm not sure what you mean. I've written a driver under 2.2.x that ported to 2.4.x and 2.6.x with no major changes. My windows 95 driver and to be scrapped and rewritten for NT.
* We need to have a registry to track applications, and their installation paths, and installation parameters. (This will help with the install, uninstall, and dependency headaches)
RPM fills this need (RPM+Apt-get even better).
* We need a unified configuration system and configuration user interface.
LSB addresses this issue.
* We need a great GUI development IDE
In english you said "We need a Graphical User Interface development Integrated Development Environment". Huh?
* We need to not release products with 200 dependencies that change every 4 weeks
I purchase Linux games all the time, even the old loki-games have no problems running on my latest OpenSuSE10 box. I been in dependency hell just once in my last 16 years of Linux usage and that was because I was trying to install Oracle on an un-certified Linux distribution.
My opinion,
Enjoy.
Thank you for your help. I'll do just that.
No problem. Just don't judge Linux by all the Live CDS. Some have pretty bad hardware detection. Try the brand names first. OpenSuSE, Ubuntu, Debian, Mandrake etc.
Enjoy,
I'd like to give Linux a spin so I downloaded the Ubuntu (breezy) dvd install. Installed on my external firewire drive but 75% of the way through it told me it couldn't install the boot loader. Did some googling and it seems you have to jump through some hoops to get it to work right.
If all you want to do is give Linux a spin then download and try one of the Live CDs. http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php
If you make a decision to install, then ask your firewire question here: http://www.linuxquestions.org/
Enjoy,
Google has exhausted these values as well, and will introduce something called "protected mode page rank" where the slector is shifted farther to create a greater range of values.
Don't forget the modifiers NEAR, FAR, and HUGE.
Enjoy,
It's true they do surface from time-to-time (like Anders Hejlberg)
Anders came from Borland, not Microsoft R&D.
http://www.happyarts.de/delphi/faq/goodbye_.htm
Enjoy,
Your not allowed to post/share benchmarks for any product they produce. Free speech be damned.
Enjoy,
I have (somewhere) and old powerpc mac with the 486 card.. It could run windows and mac.
:)
I had an 8088 PC Transporter running real mode Windows 3x on my IIgs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Applied_Engineering>
Enjoy,
The only way the pro-sharing people can support thier arguments is by discrediting this report. All Western Governments will react to that 6.1 billion figure, (Extra sales taxes you know) by passing more stupid DRM/Restriction laws on all computer/internet users.
How do the file traders prove the report wrong? Stop uploading/downloading CD/DVD/Software titles for six months. Either sales go up which means the publishers were right, or sales stay the same meaning the pro-sharing people are correct.
If the sales of new CDS/DVDS stay stagnant for too long (with no downloads available), look for the studios to lower prices. Thats good for everyone.
Food for thought,
Enjoy.
It seems that Steve and Bill have forgotten rules of acquisition. http://www.sjtrek.com/trek/rules/
#52: Never ask when you can take.
and
#218: Always know what you're buying.
Enjoy,
Because even your proposed kernel could be easily modified (http://www.daemonology.net/bsdiff/ [daemonology.net]).
Because your BIOS could be modified, and such modifications could be undetectable to any OS.
Your right. Then again your mistaken. I can lock the BIOS (see the freebios project). As a bonus from using Linux, it probes the devices on boot (which is why it takes longer). Unlike Windows which saves/checks the registry BIOS/Machine ID everytime it boots. Sample: Take a windows enabled hardisk and boot from a different machine. You can't. Take the same Linux hardisk to a different machine and you can. But your not going to get access to my encrypted files/partitions.
Under Linux I can modify the kernel to CRC the drivers before they load. You can't under Windows. As a Linux user, I can pretty much implement any security feature I want to add to lock my system down. As a Windows user, you don't have a choice.
Enjoy,