Technically what you are asking, yes it could be written. But it couldn't really do anything usefull.
You could write an x86 asm routine that did not make an OS call. So it would not care what OS it is running on. I used to write my own string copy routines that would work on any OS.
But, if you take out all access to OS related functions you don't have much you can do. No reading or writing files. Unless you want to try and write a file system into it that would interface with the hardware to read any file system. No access to network interfaces, unless you wrote and added drivers for any hardware the machine might have. And so on.
So basicly you can write an OS that did not talk to a host OS, that is what Linux, Windows, BeOS, and all of those do. But it would not be a very small thing if you wanted to read the users files and send them somewhere.
This would be the same as any application running on more then one OS. You can buy different versions of programs to run on different OS's, but in general one file runs on one OS.
There might be a way to build a file that had multiple seperate programs in it, one for each OS that it will run on. I don't know enough about how each OS loads files to know if this is possible, but I don't think it is.
>> #3. Microsoft made it easy to execute apps, even via email.
Like requiring them to save a zip file, enter a password, and then execute the program?
Sorry. When Linux is as popular as Windows these USERS will be doing this on Linix. Save attachment, run config in the directory, chmod it, and then execute.
The recent crop of NetSky/Bagle/MyDoom show the future.
An OS shouldn't allow a firewall? Or not allow a system service to write to the hard disk? Or not allow a third party application to be installed? Or not allow a third party service be install?
Then what should an OS allow? How do we get another OS installed on a harddisk if the OS won't let anything write to the boot sectors or hard disk?
I am sure that most home users would agree that they should buy another box that connects them to the internet. And have another box to watch for updates and exploits for.
>> I generally love anything new and techie...but, I really miss the days of simpler cars.
I miss them too. I miss having to tune my car twice a year, change the plugs once a year, have two thermostats, and all the other goodies that went with simpler cars.
Now I am stuck buying a new car and not having to do anything to it for the first 100,000 miles except have someone look at it.
> They wouldn't hesitate to use it against individuals
Has MS ever used their patents against an individual? I know they have a few patents sitting there, but I don't even recall them using one of them for anything other then defense.
What pif file? Which one of these was a pif file? I thought they were zip files, some of them encrypted? The user had to enter a password on the things before they would run!
So we sue MS to make them decrypt and scan any zip files that we receive? Are you serious?
You can still buy a case and all the other pieces you want, and you can make them work together. No problem there. Or you can go to Dell and buy one already made, good deal here too.
But, Dell is NOT required to sell you just the pieces you want. They are allowed to sell their pieces as a complete system or not at all. Their choice. If you call Dell and say you want their case, motherboard, and memeory but will get your own power supply and video card, they are allowed to say "no deal".
So just because someone wants to buy pieces, does not mean Dell has to stop selling complete systems or have to sell the individual pieces they use.
So if you want to gather the pieces of your desktop enviroment together and make it work, that's great. Go for it. But you still have to let the companies that only sell complete packages the ability to sell their stuff too.
I would hate to loose any of my files. I have the OS on CD so those ones are easy to restore. But all my data and configuration is a real pain when I have to restore it.
If you think about it you are not paying for switching phone numbers with that monthly service charge. You are paying for the ABILITY to change.
Now, if we could just charge the first person to switch the 1 to 50 million dollars (depending on who you ask) it costs to be able to port the numbers then the rest of us would only have to pay the 1 to couple hundred dollars it costs each time.
Anyway you look at it, companies HAVE to charge their customers to provide something extra. Someone has to pay for it and that is the customers.
And no you can NOT go into any business and use the toilet there, unless there is some indication that the toilet is available for public use, or any other restrictions on it they have. I have seen places that did NOT make their toilets available for use, and other that restricted it to use by customers.
>>has no indication that it isn't available for whoever wants to use it
But, it is NOT indicating that is available for public use either. Unless you are given explicit permission to use someone else's property it is wrong to use it.
Doesn't matter if someone left the keys in their running car, it is still illegal to steal it.
There is no sign on the front of your house saying I cannot come in an take what I want, so does that imply that I am allowed to? Don't worry, I have a key like thing that will open your front door.
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Technically what you are asking, yes it could be written. But it couldn't really do anything usefull.
You could write an x86 asm routine that did not make an OS call. So it would not care what OS it is running on. I used to write my own string copy routines that would work on any OS.
But, if you take out all access to OS related functions you don't have much you can do. No reading or writing files. Unless you want to try and write a file system into it that would interface with the hardware to read any file system. No access to network interfaces, unless you wrote and added drivers for any hardware the machine might have. And so on.
So basicly you can write an OS that did not talk to a host OS, that is what Linux, Windows, BeOS, and all of those do. But it would not be a very small thing if you wanted to read the users files and send them somewhere.
Basicly no.
This would be the same as any application running on more then one OS. You can buy different versions of programs to run on different OS's, but in general one file runs on one OS.
There might be a way to build a file that had multiple seperate programs in it, one for each OS that it will run on. I don't know enough about how each OS loads files to know if this is possible, but I don't think it is.
>> #3. Microsoft made it easy to execute apps, even via email.
Like requiring them to save a zip file, enter a password, and then execute the program?
Sorry. When Linux is as popular as Windows these USERS will be doing this on Linix. Save attachment, run config in the directory, chmod it, and then execute.
The recent crop of NetSky/Bagle/MyDoom show the future.
An OS shouldn't allow a firewall? Or not allow a system service to write to the hard disk? Or not allow a third party application to be installed? Or not allow a third party service be install?
Then what should an OS allow? How do we get another OS installed on a harddisk if the OS won't let anything write to the boot sectors or hard disk?
I am sure that most home users would agree that they should buy another box that connects them to the internet. And have another box to watch for updates and exploits for.
>> I generally love anything new and techie...but, I really miss the days of simpler cars.
I miss them too. I miss having to tune my car twice a year, change the plugs once a year, have two thermostats, and all the other goodies that went with simpler cars.
Now I am stuck buying a new car and not having to do anything to it for the first 100,000 miles except have someone look at it.
Oh for the good old days.
>> why would baystar invest in SCO
maybe because it is the business they are in?
it is sort of how they make money, isn't it?
Well I know I would buy two printers if the ink was cheaper!
>> They've only reexamined 141
I think was "invalidated" not "reexamined", and the count was 151. They probably reexamined many more and let them stand.
> They wouldn't hesitate to use it against individuals
Has MS ever used their patents against an individual? I know they have a few patents sitting there, but I don't even recall them using one of them for anything other then defense.
What pif file? Which one of these was a pif file? I thought they were zip files, some of them encrypted? The user had to enter a password on the things before they would run!
So we sue MS to make them decrypt and scan any zip files that we receive? Are you serious?
I am sure the goverment would support this.
They would love to be forced to have every email sent scanned for "evil" content.
You will have one big supporter with them.
WARNING!!!
It's a goverment plot to keep us from ever using password protected or encrypted emails!
We have to stop them from this by opening and running all encrypted attachments at once!
You can still buy a case and all the other pieces you want, and you can make them work together. No problem there. Or you can go to Dell and buy one already made, good deal here too.
But, Dell is NOT required to sell you just the pieces you want. They are allowed to sell their pieces as a complete system or not at all. Their choice. If you call Dell and say you want their case, motherboard, and memeory but will get your own power supply and video card, they are allowed to say "no deal".
So just because someone wants to buy pieces, does not mean Dell has to stop selling complete systems or have to sell the individual pieces they use.
So if you want to gather the pieces of your desktop enviroment together and make it work, that's great. Go for it. But you still have to let the companies that only sell complete packages the ability to sell their stuff too.
Short history lesson.
We did this already.
MS-DOS
NEC-DOS
IBM-DOS
Zeinth-DOS
Tandy-DOS
and the list goes on.
Why will doing it again be any different? How many people have owned more then 2 of those, and want to go back?
They can, but did they?
We can look and see can't we?
Are you saying that there are hidden API's in the new Office XML files? There are things there that we can't see?
>> I'd still love to see Windows stripped of all the bundled crap and truly customizable on set-up, like Linux.
What I don't understand is that if you want it to be just like Linux, then why not just run Linux?
Does this mean we can't blame Slammer for this?
That's good to know.
I would hate to loose any of my files. I have the OS on CD so those ones are easy to restore. But all my data and configuration is a real pain when I have to restore it.
No Fair!
You read the source and understood it.
At least the same way I did.
Why would you do a malloc in C++ code, and then not call free on it?
Thousands of eyes have reviewed this code.....
If you think about it you are not paying for switching phone numbers with that monthly service charge. You are paying for the ABILITY to change.
Now, if we could just charge the first person to switch the 1 to 50 million dollars (depending on who you ask) it costs to be able to port the numbers then the rest of us would only have to pay the 1 to couple hundred dollars it costs each time.
Anyway you look at it, companies HAVE to charge their customers to provide something extra. Someone has to pay for it and that is the customers.
Do I like it, no. But there isn't any other way.
And if there is no sign up, or other indication, just how do you know that it is a "Public" park? It has grass and you want to use it?
I only use parks that are marked as open to the public in some manner.
Yes I did.
And no you can NOT go into any business and use the toilet there, unless there is some indication that the toilet is available for public use, or any other restrictions on it they have. I have seen places that did NOT make their toilets available for use, and other that restricted it to use by customers.
>>has no indication that it isn't available for whoever wants to use it
But, it is NOT indicating that is available for public use either. Unless you are given explicit permission to use someone else's property it is wrong to use it.
Doesn't matter if someone left the keys in their running car, it is still illegal to steal it.
There is no sign on the front of your house saying I cannot come in an take what I want, so does that imply that I am allowed to? Don't worry, I have a key like thing that will open your front door.