... it certainly makes their computers less prone to being hacked on the net...
I know you wrote it as a joke, but it gets me thinking on the proprietary software problem again (yeah yeah, I know, more anti-MS babbling). The risk of having your operating system suddenly lose internet access completely is inadmissible. Since Windows is a closed-source product, only the maker (Microsoft) knows how to fix vulnerabilities. And if they screw up, like in this case, we have to depend on them to fix the problem. Either you lose internet access, or still are vulnerable to the DNS exploit.
DirectX development in Wine froze. Years later, Cedega still hasn't returned the code, and Wine just barely came out from it. This is the kind of issues that the GPL addresses.
You mean, the issue that users get functionality years earlier than they would have if the project had been GPL?
While this doesn't concern the BSD license in itself, we can analyze WINE and the spinoff project Cedega.
In the beginnings, Wine was X11 licensed, and it meant the derived code could be closed. And that's what happened with WineX, now called Cedega. While the WineX guys promised they would return the code (specifically the DirectX code), DirectX development in Wine froze. Years later, Cedega still hasn't returned the code, and Wine just barely came out from it.
This is the kind of issues that the GPL addresses.
Now let's analyze the other side of the coin: MySQL. It was designed as LGPL, and it was used in a wide variety of projects. Later, the MySQL guys decided to move from LGPL to GPL, demanding huge amounts of money from anyone who used MySQL for commercial purposes. So people now are switching from MySQL to PostgreSQL - which is BSD licensed.
(now I wish there was some alternative version of the LGPL that forced derivative work to REMAIN in that license so that people could use it in proprietary products - but still giving back any changes to the library itself - so we could avoid bad moves like the MySQL one. Best of both worlds, eh?)
So, what does PostgreSQL do to remain free? It's the complexity. No one in his 5 senses would fork the Postgre code and make it private. The project is mature and complicated enough so that it remains free. (But then again, so is Freebsd, and look at what happened with Apple Mac OS X).
Both the GPL and BSD licenses have their weaknesses - but if I'm starting a new end-user project and want all the community to benefit from it, I'd chose the GPL license without thinking it twice.
We don't have to limit ourselves to the physical world (think Neuromancer). A few years ago, a friend of mine showed me a tale (forgot the url, sorry) about a scientist creating 3D pictures and doing advanced CAD using a neural interface and a holographic display. Imagine not even needing a mouse pointer to modify a curve, but instead just imagining what the curve will look like. And of course, having realtime feedback.
Add a little AI to it so you can tell the program what parameters to modify as you're molding the object being designed.
Now imagine if you could program software this way using the a VR (and user-friendly) equivalent of UML.
Quite right. I don't expect this to be a regularly enforced rule. I believe it's more like getting Al Capone for Tax Evasion.
The problem is that in the wrong hands, this law would make an Al Capone out of EVERYONE. If they need to address a specific case, then make the law for that specific case!
Microsoft doesn't actually have to _buy_ Yahoo!. They previously made an offer, Yahoo's stocks soared. They "negotiated," and retracted that offer and Yahoo's stocks plummeted further than they had been at to begin with.
Wrong. Just last week Yahoo's stock stabilized to their pre-MS-offer levels.
Windows keeps "calling home", prevents you to copy a legitimately purchased DVD or CD thanks to all that DRM stuff.
Really? Care to explain how I manage to have over 1200 MP3s on my PC that I've ripped from my CDs and can use to create my own compilation CDs even using WMP to burn said CDs?
That's because the music industry hasn't found a workable solution to prevent people from doing that. But I'm pretty sure you remember the SHIFT KEY scandal, which allowed you to rip the MP3's from certain music CD's protected with some autorunnable software. By the way, the guy who published that shift key secret was sued by them, on the basis of the DMCA: Circumvention of a copy protection device. Yes, all because of a Shift Key.
But don't feel so safe just because you can *RIGHT NOW* rip CD's and DVD's... maybe in the future you WON'T be able to rip them *at all*, if the US laws plug the analog hole. Or do you think HDMI cables are just to obtain high definition?
So as long as you depend on proprietary software for doing your stuff, you're at the mercy of the decisions made by the rich and powerful.
Free Software gets rid of that and offers you TRUE FREEDOM. But go ahead, don't believe me, laugh what you want - just don't come complaining if suddenly the only people being able to produce multimedia have to spend thousands of dollars and get a government permission to do it.
And as for Windows calling home, so do all the major Linux distros.
As a matter of fact, if all of my computers were to vanish right now, my life wouldn't change that much.
Speak for yourself. You don't NEED computers as much as graphical designeers, movie and music producers (and I mean the musicians, not the RIAA tycoons), etc. We live in an age where handling information is vital for the economy. But tell me, how will poor people compete with big businesses if the tools they need cost THOUSANDS of dollars?
30 years ago, only the big labels were able to distribute music for you. Because making records was one of the most expensive things on earth. So you needed to depend on the big labels, the radio stations (who depended on the big labels), and so on.
Now, you can produce music with ZERO MONEY (provided you got a PC). With GNU / Linux and a decent Audio editor and recorder (Ok, Audacity isn't the cream of the crop, but at least it gets the job done), and some music editor (forgot the names, but there are), you can produce your own album, and then burn the CD with k3b or another CD recording tool.
But let's get back a little in time, and that zero money became a couple thousand dollars: First you needed Microsoft Windows, and then an audio and music editor like Cakewalk Studio. The difference from zero to 2 thousand dollars is enough to keep amateurs out of the business. That's the power that Microsoft, Apple, Adobe and the rest keep over you. They keep for themselves, the tools that YOU NEED to succeed.
And the more money you give to them, the more powerful they become to keep improving their product AND CHARGING MORE FOR IT. Or have you see software prices decrease over time? Well, actually, they have. According to this page and Amazon, Photoshop has decreased in price. $1000 - $999.00 = One dollar:)
Now let's go to Microsoft Windows. In the 80's, MS-DOS costed around $40. The price for Windows Vista Ultimate is $319.95. Eight times more. Connect the dots, and guess how much Microsoft Windows 7 will cost when it's out.
Gates' legacy is that you don't have control of the PC (whether hardware or software) you paid for.
Say what?
I can turn my PC on and off at will, add and remove files, wipe Windows off the hard drive completely and install Linux if I choose... hell I can even toss the whole thing in the dumpster and buy a Mac if I really want to.
How am I not in control?
The control has been given to you with the option of installing Linux. But if you don't have Linux, you're definitely NOT in control. Windows keeps "calling home", prevents you to copy a legitimately purchased DVD or CD thanks to all that DRM stuff. If you can still power off your computer and install Linux, you should be grateful that Bill and Steve haven't found yet a way to prevent you from doing that.
I hadn't heard of that scandal. Imagine, The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation investing in a factory which poisons the lungs of the very people they claim to help. Mod parent informative.
...a few hopelessly ignorant responses from people who honestly believe... his giving away of billions in charity is all a ruse to justify his ill-gotten position of power.
There are whole medical labs dedicated to fighting TB and AIDS in southern Africa that wouldn't exist without the Bill&Melinda foundation. How is that hurting anything?
Gates said 30 years ago that all the work he invested in making some programs should be paid back by the people "stealing" his products. But then he imposes a very expensive tax for ALL computer users in the world. And then he plays dirty to make sure other people don't give the public better and cheaper products (I'm talking before the Free Software revolution happened).
Don't you think that's being a little hypocritical about it?
By forcing governments to use expensive Microsoft products you prevent said countries from using all that money for better causes, i.e. fighting AIDS and diseases, developing a solid independent industry, investing in education, etc. It's like taking money destined to the poor, and then donating a tiny bit of it to the poor and getting praised for that. My point is that the money the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation gives to the poor can't even be compared to the money they took from other countries and would end up in the hands of the poor sooner or later.
YOU CAN'T ERASE ALL YOUR BAD DEEDS BY DOING A SMALL GOOD DEED!
Really - do you think that someone who became millionaire by forcibly collecting money from nearly anyone, including taxpayers, who end up paying taxes for Microsoft Software (including Vista) installed in government offices (and that's AROUND THE WORLD - so that's a double Microsoft tax, not only for you, sir, but for all citizens of all countries) is really a charitative person?
Give me a fucking break.
This is EXACTLY THE SAME THING that the US has done. First they force their expensive products down the throats of foreign countries, raising their debts and increasing poverty. But instead of helping those countries develop their industries and invest in education, they give them "money for the poor" with the condition of investing in birth control (because we can't have poor people have many kids, think of the poor single mothers with 10 children!).
It's people like Bill Gates and company who help maintain the international Status Quo.
Jeez: perchlorate causes thyroid problems.... Well don't eat the firework and don't inhale the gases.
How about **watching** the fireworks instead
Fine - I'll watch them, not without remembering that there are many places in the world where people manufacture fireworks with their bare hands, and are in direct contact with the aforementioned toxic materials. Thank you for your kind interest.
Slashdot Mirror
I know you wrote it as a joke, but it gets me thinking on the proprietary software problem again (yeah yeah, I know, more anti-MS babbling). The risk of having your operating system suddenly lose internet access completely is inadmissible. Since Windows is a closed-source product, only the maker (Microsoft) knows how to fix vulnerabilities. And if they screw up, like in this case, we have to depend on them to fix the problem. Either you lose internet access, or still are vulnerable to the DNS exploit.
DirectX development in Wine froze. Years later, Cedega still hasn't returned the code, and Wine just barely came out from it.
This is the kind of issues that the GPL addresses.
You mean, the issue that users get functionality years earlier than they would have if the project had been GPL?
Only users who PAY. And that ain't true freedom.
According to wikipedia, Wine was MIT licensed, not X11 licensed. Sorry.
While this doesn't concern the BSD license in itself, we can analyze WINE and the spinoff project Cedega.
In the beginnings, Wine was X11 licensed, and it meant the derived code could be closed. And that's what happened with WineX, now called Cedega. While the WineX guys promised they would return the code (specifically the DirectX code), DirectX development in Wine froze. Years later, Cedega still hasn't returned the code, and Wine just barely came out from it.
This is the kind of issues that the GPL addresses.
Now let's analyze the other side of the coin: MySQL. It was designed as LGPL, and it was used in a wide variety of projects. Later, the MySQL guys decided to move from LGPL to GPL, demanding huge amounts of money from anyone who used MySQL for commercial purposes. So people now are switching from MySQL to PostgreSQL - which is BSD licensed.
(now I wish there was some alternative version of the LGPL that forced derivative work to REMAIN in that license so that people could use it in proprietary products - but still giving back any changes to the library itself - so we could avoid bad moves like the MySQL one. Best of both worlds, eh?)
So, what does PostgreSQL do to remain free? It's the complexity. No one in his 5 senses would fork the Postgre code and make it private. The project is mature and complicated enough so that it remains free. (But then again, so is Freebsd, and look at what happened with Apple Mac OS X).
Both the GPL and BSD licenses have their weaknesses - but if I'm starting a new end-user project and want all the community to benefit from it, I'd chose the GPL license without thinking it twice.
When I was a kid, I had a lot of fun time reading Journey to the Center of the Earth, from the Earth to the Moon, etc.
Dev C++ FTW.
What? You haven't heard of CodeBlocks?
We don't have to limit ourselves to the physical world (think Neuromancer). A few years ago, a friend of mine showed me a tale (forgot the url, sorry) about a scientist creating 3D pictures and doing advanced CAD using a neural interface and a holographic display. Imagine not even needing a mouse pointer to modify a curve, but instead just imagining what the curve will look like. And of course, having realtime feedback.
Add a little AI to it so you can tell the program what parameters to modify as you're molding the object being designed.
Now imagine if you could program software this way using the a VR (and user-friendly) equivalent of UML.
With the assistance of my arms and hands, I find my mind can control all sorts of physical objects very easily.
Just be careful of not shortcircuiting the neural interface, or we could get in serious trouble :)
Quite right. I don't expect this to be a regularly enforced rule. I believe it's more like getting Al Capone for Tax Evasion.
The problem is that in the wrong hands, this law would make an Al Capone out of EVERYONE. If they need to address a specific case, then make the law for that specific case!
Microsoft doesn't actually have to _buy_ Yahoo!. They previously made an offer, Yahoo's stocks soared. They "negotiated," and retracted that offer and Yahoo's stocks plummeted further than they had been at to begin with.
Wrong. Just last week Yahoo's stock stabilized to their pre-MS-offer levels.
Not only is this not a car analogy, but...ex-girlfriend?
Think Christine :)
Having big boobs and a catsuit helps too ;)
The mental image of Ballmer wearing that suit just gives me the creeps.
"Everyone" agrees that Vista is "a failure", even though it's really not.
Maybe because it comes installed by default and you can't choose an alternative product from now on (such as XP)?
Except in Nebraska!
I can't figure out what this CAP acronym is... anyone have any ideas?
CAP is a recursive acronym for "CAP Acronym? Please!". Hope that has enlightened you :)
In soviet America, corporations tube you!
Windows keeps "calling home", prevents you to copy a legitimately purchased DVD or CD thanks to all that DRM stuff.
Really? Care to explain how I manage to have over 1200 MP3s on my PC that I've ripped from my CDs and can use to create my own compilation CDs even using WMP to burn said CDs?
That's because the music industry hasn't found a workable solution to prevent people from doing that. But I'm pretty sure you remember the SHIFT KEY scandal, which allowed you to rip the MP3's from certain music CD's protected with some autorunnable software. By the way, the guy who published that shift key secret was sued by them, on the basis of the DMCA: Circumvention of a copy protection device. Yes, all because of a Shift Key.
But don't feel so safe just because you can *RIGHT NOW* rip CD's and DVD's... maybe in the future you WON'T be able to rip them *at all*, if the US laws plug the analog hole. Or do you think HDMI cables are just to obtain high definition?
So as long as you depend on proprietary software for doing your stuff, you're at the mercy of the decisions made by the rich and powerful.
Free Software gets rid of that and offers you TRUE FREEDOM. But go ahead, don't believe me, laugh what you want - just don't come complaining if suddenly the only people being able to produce multimedia have to spend thousands of dollars and get a government permission to do it.
And as for Windows calling home, so do all the major Linux distros.
Without telling you about it?
As a matter of fact, if all of my computers were to vanish right now, my life wouldn't change that much.
Speak for yourself. You don't NEED computers as much as graphical designeers, movie and music producers (and I mean the musicians, not the RIAA tycoons), etc. We live in an age where handling information is vital for the economy. But tell me, how will poor people compete with big businesses if the tools they need cost THOUSANDS of dollars?
30 years ago, only the big labels were able to distribute music for you. Because making records was one of the most expensive things on earth. So you needed to depend on the big labels, the radio stations (who depended on the big labels), and so on.
Now, you can produce music with ZERO MONEY (provided you got a PC). With GNU / Linux and a decent Audio editor and recorder (Ok, Audacity isn't the cream of the crop, but at least it gets the job done), and some music editor (forgot the names, but there are), you can produce your own album, and then burn the CD with k3b or another CD recording tool.
But let's get back a little in time, and that zero money became a couple thousand dollars: First you needed Microsoft Windows, and then an audio and music editor like Cakewalk Studio. The difference from zero to 2 thousand dollars is enough to keep amateurs out of the business. That's the power that Microsoft, Apple, Adobe and the rest keep over you. They keep for themselves, the tools that YOU NEED to succeed.
And the more money you give to them, the more powerful they become to keep improving their product AND CHARGING MORE FOR IT. Or have you see software prices decrease over time? Well, actually, they have. According to this page and Amazon, Photoshop has decreased in price. $1000 - $999.00 = One dollar :)
Now let's go to Microsoft Windows. In the 80's, MS-DOS costed around $40. The price for Windows Vista Ultimate is $319.95. Eight times more. Connect the dots, and guess how much Microsoft Windows 7 will cost when it's out.
Say what?
I can turn my PC on and off at will, add and remove files, wipe Windows off the hard drive completely and install Linux if I choose... hell I can even toss the whole thing in the dumpster and buy a Mac if I really want to.
How am I not in control?
The control has been given to you with the option of installing Linux. But if you don't have Linux, you're definitely NOT in control. Windows keeps "calling home", prevents you to copy a legitimately purchased DVD or CD thanks to all that DRM stuff. If you can still power off your computer and install Linux, you should be grateful that Bill and Steve haven't found yet a way to prevent you from doing that.
I hadn't heard of that scandal. Imagine, The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation investing in a factory which poisons the lungs of the very people they claim to help. Mod parent informative.
...a few hopelessly ignorant responses from people who honestly believe ... his giving away of billions in charity is all a ruse to justify his ill-gotten position of power.
There. Fixed it for you.
There are whole medical labs dedicated to fighting TB and AIDS in southern Africa that wouldn't exist without the Bill&Melinda foundation. How is that hurting anything?
Gates said 30 years ago that all the work he invested in making some programs should be paid back by the people "stealing" his products. But then he imposes a very expensive tax for ALL computer users in the world. And then he plays dirty to make sure other people don't give the public better and cheaper products (I'm talking before the Free Software revolution happened).
Don't you think that's being a little hypocritical about it?
By forcing governments to use expensive Microsoft products you prevent said countries from using all that money for better causes, i.e. fighting AIDS and diseases, developing a solid independent industry, investing in education, etc. It's like taking money destined to the poor, and then donating a tiny bit of it to the poor and getting praised for that. My point is that the money the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation gives to the poor can't even be compared to the money they took from other countries and would end up in the hands of the poor sooner or later.
YOU CAN'T ERASE ALL YOUR BAD DEEDS BY DOING A SMALL GOOD DEED!
Really - do you think that someone who became millionaire by forcibly collecting money from nearly anyone, including taxpayers, who end up paying taxes for Microsoft Software (including Vista) installed in government offices (and that's AROUND THE WORLD - so that's a double Microsoft tax, not only for you, sir, but for all citizens of all countries) is really a charitative person?
Give me a fucking break.
This is EXACTLY THE SAME THING that the US has done. First they force their expensive products down the throats of foreign countries, raising their debts and increasing poverty. But instead of helping those countries develop their industries and invest in education, they give them "money for the poor" with the condition of investing in birth control (because we can't have poor people have many kids, think of the poor single mothers with 10 children!).
It's people like Bill Gates and company who help maintain the international Status Quo.
Jeez: perchlorate causes thyroid problems.... Well don't eat the firework and don't inhale the gases.
How about **watching** the fireworks instead
Fine - I'll watch them, not without remembering that there are many places in the world where people manufacture fireworks with their bare hands, and are in direct contact with the aforementioned toxic materials. Thank you for your kind interest.
Hello, there are 195 countries in the world. The United States is ONE of them.
The experiment was the following:
"Did you plagiarize? This is confidential." Result: 25%.
"Did you plagiarize?" Result: 50%.
Perhaps it should have been:
"Did you plagiarize? (You'll remain anonymous)" Result: ???