And look who is using it. The point I noted about the Microsoft PDF document was that it spoke in terms purely of business. What about the home user? Presumably us home users shouldn't use Office, but use Works instead!
OK, with Works you get the full blown version of Word, but I wonder how the rest compares. I wouldn't know, I use OpenOffice.org at home, and used (pre-Sun) Star Office before that. I would imagine (although I don't know) that OpenOffice.org beats the pants of Works!
OK, I am not a small business, but if ever I formed one, I would use openOffice.org in preference to Office (or Works!), because that is what I am used to. In addition, licensing would not be an issue. Neither would training and migration. Microsoft would not have a lock-in. As a small business, I would not need the extra features Microsoft talk about (but I would need the money I would have spent on licenses!)
And this is why Microsoft are on to a loser here. OpenOffice.org might not have the bells and whistles, but it is good enough. Certainly compared to Office it is cheap enough! And it is getting better.
(Oh, and talking of PDFs, one feature I do want of a word processor is the ability to export to PDF. As yet, I believe Office can't do this!)
Yes, but up to now Linux hasn't been mainstream. This is changing. I feel that the migration from Windows to Linux is going to increase in pace, and that means an increase in Windows developers moving to Linux. The prior expertise thay will have will be (most probably) either in Java or.NET.
As Linux gains in popularity, the "Linux Culture" will change. Admittedly, some might not like it!
Hmmm. I do develop applications on MS platforms. Its my job. I would also like to delevop on Linux, as a hobby. OK, I could use a different language, but wouldn't it be nice if I could use the same language/framework both at home and at work?
Personally, I hope Mono succeeds. There are those of us who have to use MS, but would also like (prefer) to use Linux.
It's all about continuity. The sword that Merry uses to stab the Witch-King came into his possession through the meeting with Tom Bombadil (and the encounter with the Barrow Wights). It is clear that the sword was forged precisely to have the power to cleave the unclean flesh of the Witch-King!
OK, these nuances are more important for a book than a film, but I spotted this one (and I was not alone).
So yes, Bombardil is important as far as the story is concerned. If all you want is entertainment, then they can be ignored. However, the story (as written by Tolkein) was always meant to be more then mere entertainment!
The film, however good it is, is still diminished by these ommissions.
What's more, if he ever decided to become a British Citizen, then he could have it "converted" to a full knighthood.
The last notable (ex) US citizen to do this was the late Sir Paul Getty.
but I'm worried that Linux will just turn into another Microsoft (obviously with open source, but still)...
Not just Open Source, but Free Software!
This is the beauty of the GNU GPL, which is why Microsoft hates it so much! Various "forks" or "distributions" of Linux might attempt to become another Microsoft, but all you need to do is get your hands on a copy, get the source code, and voila, yours to do with as you wish!
Actually, this is why no-one* is even going to try and "do a Microsoft" with Linux. Doesn't mean they can't try and make a profit (support,etc).
Linux may not always be free as in gratis, but it will always be free as in libre.
(* Well, no-one apart from TSG, who are going to fail!)
The problem I feel is not what the international community will do, but what the various national courts will do. What we really need various national equivalents of Groklaw!
Whet TSG first started their campaign, I must admit I was worried. The main factor in easing my mind is the fantastic research and information collection done by PJ (and others) for Groklaw. However, Groklaw is (rightly) US-centric. What we really need to know are relevant court cases, precedents, etc, from other threatened countries.
As in the US, in the EU (and elsewhere) this will ultimately be decided by the courts. What we need to do is the help the courts come to the right decision.
True. And some of those businesses wil need to use windows. Even if IBM as a whole would want to switch from Windows to Linux on the desktop, their customers might not. Customers can easily take their custom elsewhere. IBM, if it is anything, is a business, and businesses don't thrive if they lose customers!
Remember, although IBM do sell hardware and products, they are now primarily a service company. This means that they will need to be able to use the hardware and software that their ciustomers use. For many costomers, this means Windows (desktop and server). IBM cannot afford to lose their Windows-skilled staff.
This does not mean that they can't have non-service staff using Linus desktops. However, if a client wants IBM to develop (say ) C#.NET applications using IIS and SQL Server, then IBM needs staff with these skills, and that means that these staff will need Windows development PCs.
I'm sure IBM is aware of this, and will want to re-assure current and prospective clients that they won't be left high-and-dry.
After all, I haven't heard EDS, Fujitsu, CSC or the other sevice companies saying they intend to drop Windows! That is IBM's competition, not Microsoft.
Interesting to note that the statement is a *conditional* statement. "... if they're using 10,000 Linux servers that include our intellectual property as part of Unix..." does not imply that there *is* any SCO intellectual property in Linux! Blake Stowell can't be said to be saying anything that is untrue. Actually, he's not saying much at all.
"If I was a lion, and all lions were vegetarian, then I would be a vegetarian". Perfectly valid, but says nothing of use about me, lions or vegetarians!
Unfortunatly, some people might get fooled (reporters? the general public?) Crafty language like this makes me regret that they don't teach formal logic in schools.
I'm reminded of those "eat as much as you like for [enter amount here]" eateries. Great for both customers (who know up front what its going to cost) and the restaurant (simplifies running the place). Admittedly, some will eat more, but this will be balanced by those who eat less. The problem occurs when the 40 stone gourmand comes in an decides to stuff him/herself a la Mr creosote! A act that may fit in with the letter of the "agreement", but not the spirit.
Same with broadband. We (the punters) want fast connections, and the ISPs want to make a profit. Some will use more bandwith than others, but as long as no-one abuses the system, all is fine.
Due to service deterioation, my ISP (virgin.net) has recently asked its users to limit themselves to 1 GB download per day, to a maximum of 5 per week. It seems that many (if not all) are heeding the request. And rightly so!
I would rather this informal cooperation between supplier and customer, rather than resorting to legat action and court cases. All this will lead to is greater restrictions, detailed EULAs, and more rigidity (at customer expense). Heavens, one of the reasons/.ers seem to like Free / Open Source Software and the like is because of the spirit of cooperation it engenders. Why can't we do the same with our ISPs?
Actually, not just home servers. Desktop PCs as well. Although I can't say I know the workings of chips and motherboards in any great depth, I have managed to build my last two PCs from parts, rather than as complete units. However, despite a Zalman *quiet* fan in the latest one, there is still too much noise from the things!
What I really want is a dead quiet and economical PC that can sit in my living room, and remain on unnoticed in the background. It doesn't have to play games, all it needs to do is run SuSE, Mozilla, and OpenOffice.org. Quietly!
Unfortunatley, can't seem to do that with AMD or Intel, and standard off-the-shelf motherboards. I've tried looking for a standard form Transmeta motherboard, and couldn't find one.
I can't believe I'm alone in wanting a quiet life!
Re:Best thing to come out of the SCO case
on
The Voice of Groklaw
·
· Score: 5, Insightful
I have to agree. To be frank, my view is that the impact of the Groklaw site will reverberate far beyond the bounds of the SCO case, Linux and the GNU GPL.
What PJ has done with Groklaw is what investigative journalists should be doing in the more *serious* papers. Unlike (say) Woodward or Bernstein (of Watergate fame), most modern journalists seem to be purely interested in controversy (which sells) rather than truth. Unfortunately, this focus on sensationalism can be exploited for ulterior motive, and can be more akin to news manipulation than news reporting.
I think with sites such as Groklaw there may be a shift back again to the reporting for detailed truth rather than for sensation. OK, PJ is not a reporter, but she is a researcher, and research is something reporters are meant to do (as well as paralegals!).
It also shows that it is possible for individuals to make the detailed truth of a matter available to all, even if the 5th Estate refuses to do its job! Hopefully others will be encouraged by PJ's example.
Please! Software will be held as firmware (as software already in cars is). Software updates (if any) would be flashed by the garage). I'm sure that software in the car of the future will be as immune from viruses as the software currently in cars. (Or, to give possibly a better example, mobile phones - how many mobile phone viruses are there? None that I am aware of, and this isn't because they are isolated from the internet!)
I gather (from the article) that some cars already have immobilisers that can be triggered if the car is stolen, and that some lorries have speed limiters. It seems some of the technology is there and already in use!
Also, according the the article, "experts" believe the technology could start to be used voluntarily by the end of the decade. That is quite some time away! Plenty of time to refine the technology.
It also seems that the politicians would want guarantees on safety, etc., before allowing the technology to be implemented.
As to holding a peblicite, I doubt the people would bother to vote! Our (the UK's) record on percentage turnout is nearly as bad as the US's!
If they did, they would probably be in favour of anything that the politicians promise would "reduce crime".
Now I, like most people here, have little regard for SCO (the board), but its employees (outside the board) deserve better consideration than this. If it was a simple matter of plain criminality (theft), then (assuming the US is like the UK), we could get the police involved!
The police aren't involved (at the moment, AFAIK!) If they should be (but aren't), that is hardly a matter to pin on SCO employees. Complain to the police (who other law enforcement agency) as it would be them not doing their job! If the actions of the SCO board aren't criminal (but should be), then again, that is hardly something to abuse ordinary SCO employees with. Look to your law makers, as it would be them not doing their job!
The concern of ordinary SCO employees should be recognised. We should not be expecting sacrifice and martyrdom from them for the actions of their borad. Actions that will, I'm sure, be adequately dealt with by the civil courts (and no, I'm not a SCO employee).
(Incidentally, I aklways thought that the Millgram experiments performed in the US in the 1950 showed that the "I was only obeying orders" defence used during the Nuremburg trials was less hollow than originally thought!)
Slashdot Mirror
It would seem from the FAQ that it doesn't run anything else!
/.er, you already know whether or not it can be used to create a Beowulf cluster!
Actually, they want to release the hardware specs under a GLP type license.
And apparently, as you are a
And look who is using it. The point I noted about the Microsoft PDF document was that it spoke in terms purely of business. What about the home user? Presumably us home users shouldn't use Office, but use Works instead!
OK, with Works you get the full blown version of Word, but I wonder how the rest compares. I wouldn't know, I use OpenOffice.org at home, and used (pre-Sun) Star Office before that. I would imagine (although I don't know) that OpenOffice.org beats the pants of Works!
OK, I am not a small business, but if ever I formed one, I would use openOffice.org in preference to Office (or Works!), because that is what I am used to. In addition, licensing would not be an issue. Neither would training and migration. Microsoft would not have a lock-in. As a small business, I would not need the extra features Microsoft talk about (but I would need the money I would have spent on licenses!)
And this is why Microsoft are on to a loser here. OpenOffice.org might not have the bells and whistles, but it is good enough. Certainly compared to Office it is cheap enough! And it is getting better.
(Oh, and talking of PDFs, one feature I do want of a word processor is the ability to export to PDF. As yet, I believe Office can't do this!)
Yes, but up to now Linux hasn't been mainstream. This is changing. I feel that the migration from Windows to Linux is going to increase in pace, and that means an increase in Windows developers moving to Linux. The prior expertise thay will have will be (most probably) either in Java or .NET.
As Linux gains in popularity, the "Linux Culture" will change. Admittedly, some might not like it!
Hmmm. I do develop applications on MS platforms. Its my job. I would also like to delevop on Linux, as a hobby. OK, I could use a different language, but wouldn't it be nice if I could use the same language/framework both at home and at work? Personally, I hope Mono succeeds. There are those of us who have to use MS, but would also like (prefer) to use Linux.
What is more, it isn't kernel/i386/trap.c! This is a transcription mistake. It should be kernel/i386/startup.c
Note, here is a transcription mistake in Table D. The last entry in the Dynix column should be "kernel/i386/startup.c", not "kernel/i386/trap.c".
Some links (which I posted on Groklaw).
First, Producers Guidelines can be found at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ info/policies/producer_guides/
I recommend looking at the first para of the "Values, Standards and Principles" guide.
An address for Breaches of editorial standards can be found at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/in fo/contactus/serious.shtml
Hope this helps!
J.
I have got exactly the same reply to my complaint - word for word!
Seems to be a stock response.
It's all about continuity. The sword that Merry uses to stab the Witch-King came into his possession through the meeting with Tom Bombadil (and the encounter with the Barrow Wights). It is clear that the sword was forged precisely to have the power to cleave the unclean flesh of the Witch-King!
OK, these nuances are more important for a book than a film, but I spotted this one (and I was not alone).
So yes, Bombardil is important as far as the story is concerned. If all you want is entertainment, then they can be ignored. However, the story (as written by Tolkein) was always meant to be more then mere entertainment!
The film, however good it is, is still diminished by these ommissions.
What's more, if he ever decided to become a British Citizen, then he could have it "converted" to a full knighthood. The last notable (ex) US citizen to do this was the late Sir Paul Getty.
but I'm worried that Linux will just turn into another Microsoft (obviously with open source, but still)...
Not just Open Source, but Free Software!
This is the beauty of the GNU GPL, which is why Microsoft hates it so much! Various "forks" or "distributions" of Linux might attempt to become another Microsoft, but all you need to do is get your hands on a copy, get the source code, and voila, yours to do with as you wish!
Actually, this is why no-one* is even going to try and "do a Microsoft" with Linux. Doesn't mean they can't try and make a profit (support,etc).
Linux may not always be free as in gratis, but it will always be free as in libre.
(* Well, no-one apart from TSG, who are going to fail!)
I(too)ANAL.
The problem I feel is not what the international community will do, but what the various national courts will do. What we really need various national equivalents of Groklaw!
Whet TSG first started their campaign, I must admit I was worried. The main factor in easing my mind is the fantastic research and information collection done by PJ (and others) for Groklaw. However, Groklaw is (rightly) US-centric. What we really need to know are relevant court cases, precedents, etc, from other threatened countries.
As in the US, in the EU (and elsewhere) this will ultimately be decided by the courts. What we need to do is the help the courts come to the right decision.
Indeed, here in the UK, you are imprisoned "at Her Majesty's pleasure". Many's the joke about some new convict "pleasuring her majesty".
So, rather like the US really, except whereas we have Her Majesty, you (I believe) have someone called Bubba.
True. And some of those businesses wil need to use windows. Even if IBM as a whole would want to switch from Windows to Linux on the desktop, their customers might not. Customers can easily take their custom elsewhere. IBM, if it is anything, is a business, and businesses don't thrive if they lose customers!
They can't.
Remember, although IBM do sell hardware and products, they are now primarily a service company. This means that they will need to be able to use the hardware and software that their ciustomers use. For many costomers, this means Windows (desktop and server). IBM cannot afford to lose their Windows-skilled staff.
This does not mean that they can't have non-service staff using Linus desktops. However, if a client wants IBM to develop (say ) C#.NET applications using IIS and SQL Server, then IBM needs staff with these skills, and that means that these staff will need Windows development PCs.
I'm sure IBM is aware of this, and will want to re-assure current and prospective clients that they won't be left high-and-dry.
After all, I haven't heard EDS, Fujitsu, CSC or the other sevice companies saying they intend to drop Windows! That is IBM's competition, not Microsoft.
Interesting to note that the statement is a *conditional* statement. "... if they're using 10,000 Linux servers that include our intellectual property as part of Unix ..." does not imply that there *is* any SCO intellectual property in Linux! Blake Stowell can't be said to be saying anything that is untrue. Actually, he's not saying much at all.
"If I was a lion, and all lions were vegetarian, then I would be a vegetarian". Perfectly valid, but says nothing of use about me, lions or vegetarians!
Unfortunatly, some people might get fooled (reporters? the general public?) Crafty language like this makes me regret that they don't teach formal logic in schools.
Or cut some slack!
/.ers seem to like Free / Open Source Software and the like is because of the spirit of cooperation it engenders. Why can't we do the same with our ISPs?
I'm reminded of those "eat as much as you like for [enter amount here]" eateries. Great for both customers (who know up front what its going to cost) and the restaurant (simplifies running the place). Admittedly, some will eat more, but this will be balanced by those who eat less. The problem occurs when the 40 stone gourmand comes in an decides to stuff him/herself a la Mr creosote! A act that may fit in with the letter of the "agreement", but not the spirit.
Same with broadband. We (the punters) want fast connections, and the ISPs want to make a profit. Some will use more bandwith than others, but as long as no-one abuses the system, all is fine.
Due to service deterioation, my ISP (virgin.net) has recently asked its users to limit themselves to 1 GB download per day, to a maximum of 5 per week. It seems that many (if not all) are heeding the request. And rightly so!
I would rather this informal cooperation between supplier and customer, rather than resorting to legat action and court cases. All this will lead to is greater restrictions, detailed EULAs, and more rigidity (at customer expense). Heavens, one of the reasons
Actually, not just home servers. Desktop PCs as well. Although I can't say I know the workings of chips and motherboards in any great depth, I have managed to build my last two PCs from parts, rather than as complete units. However, despite a Zalman *quiet* fan in the latest one, there is still too much noise from the things!
What I really want is a dead quiet and economical PC that can sit in my living room, and remain on unnoticed in the background. It doesn't have to play games, all it needs to do is run SuSE, Mozilla, and OpenOffice.org. Quietly!
Unfortunatley, can't seem to do that with AMD or Intel, and standard off-the-shelf motherboards. I've tried looking for a standard form Transmeta motherboard, and couldn't find one.
I can't believe I'm alone in wanting a quiet life!
I have to agree. To be frank, my view is that the impact of the Groklaw site will reverberate far beyond the bounds of the SCO case, Linux and the GNU GPL.
What PJ has done with Groklaw is what investigative journalists should be doing in the more *serious* papers. Unlike (say) Woodward or Bernstein (of Watergate fame), most modern journalists seem to be purely interested in controversy (which sells) rather than truth. Unfortunately, this focus on sensationalism can be exploited for ulterior motive, and can be more akin to news manipulation than news reporting.
I think with sites such as Groklaw there may be a shift back again to the reporting for detailed truth rather than for sensation. OK, PJ is not a reporter, but she is a researcher, and research is something reporters are meant to do (as well as paralegals!).
It also shows that it is possible for individuals to make the detailed truth of a matter available to all, even if the 5th Estate refuses to do its job! Hopefully others will be encouraged by PJ's example.
Please! Software will be held as firmware (as software already in cars is). Software updates (if any) would be flashed by the garage). I'm sure that software in the car of the future will be as immune from viruses as the software currently in cars. (Or, to give possibly a better example, mobile phones - how many mobile phone viruses are there? None that I am aware of, and this isn't because they are isolated from the internet!)
I gather (from the article) that some cars already have immobilisers that can be triggered if the car is stolen, and that some lorries have speed limiters. It seems some of the technology is there and already in use!
Also, according the the article, "experts" believe the technology could start to be used voluntarily by the end of the decade. That is quite some time away! Plenty of time to refine the technology.
It also seems that the politicians would want guarantees on safety, etc., before allowing the technology to be implemented.
As to holding a peblicite, I doubt the people would bother to vote! Our (the UK's) record on percentage turnout is nearly as bad as the US's! If they did, they would probably be in favour of anything that the politicians promise would "reduce crime".
Cars already have a unique identifier attached to them. It's called a Number Plate. Have to have one both at the front and the back!
So, I'm afraid that in this case, our belongings are already tagged.
Same outside the UK. Indeed is there any country where cars don't have to have number plates?
Also, as a matter of curiosity, has anyone ever proposed scrapping them as they are an abuse of privacy (and liberty)?
Now I, like most people here, have little regard for SCO (the board), but its employees (outside the board) deserve better consideration than this. If it was a simple matter of plain criminality (theft), then (assuming the US is like the UK), we could get the police involved! The police aren't involved (at the moment, AFAIK!) If they should be (but aren't), that is hardly a matter to pin on SCO employees. Complain to the police (who other law enforcement agency) as it would be them not doing their job! If the actions of the SCO board aren't criminal (but should be), then again, that is hardly something to abuse ordinary SCO employees with. Look to your law makers, as it would be them not doing their job! The concern of ordinary SCO employees should be recognised. We should not be expecting sacrifice and martyrdom from them for the actions of their borad. Actions that will, I'm sure, be adequately dealt with by the civil courts (and no, I'm not a SCO employee). (Incidentally, I aklways thought that the Millgram experiments performed in the US in the 1950 showed that the "I was only obeying orders" defence used during the Nuremburg trials was less hollow than originally thought!)