Our users don't seem to care, but the big-wigs writing the checks do.
That would be because they have more than one computer and are tired of M$'s lack of sharing tools. The lack of simple tools becomes apparent when you use a laptop or home system for work. Emailing stuff to yourself gets old fast. As little as grsync would make these people happy.
Well, there's Distributed File System, but DAMN that's hard to use. Volume Shadow Copy too, but again that pretty much needs a Masters in Computer Science to use. I can actually sort of agree with you on this point.
Anyway, it'll be interesting to see how they pull this off.
It's going to be clumsy because they won't just work with other people. They could just make some utilities to work with samba, but they are going to make something of their own or steal some other non free tool.
Unlikely. More likely is they'll set up a massive farm of Virtual Servers (they bought Connectix, so they do have a nice platform for virtualisation, possibly second only to VMWare's) and use RDP thin clients to use it. Obviously, there's no way in hell a home user could ever use it, because we can't get connections decent enough to make this tolerable but businesses will just love it (though I don't know why - I'm not a fan of outsourcing).
Hardly. They're getting a kickback from AOL, Symantec, NTI (or whatever burner software they use), Cyberlink, and so on that is paying for the upgrade. Currently, no "crapware" is available for Linux. So no free money for them.
Indeed, but even if the finance company in your example there sells you vouchers for software, they have no need of making copies of the software to give you therefore the First Sale doctrine allows them the right to sell it onward without any form of agreement with the original author. Only when copying do you need to agree to the GPL, not when distributing - because it is only when copying that the copyright law requires additional rights be extended by the original author. If I buy a copy of Ubuntu from our local electronics store (you'll actually be pleased to note that I can do this - $6 to cover manufacturing and some basic support!) and then sell it onwards to a cousin, I did not need to agree to the GPL to do this because I did not need additional rights from the author - therefore it is not necessary for me to read the GPL to perform this action.
Again, I feel that the FSF and Groklaw really are kidding themselves if they think this'll get anywhere. The only thing that GNU can do is revoke Novell's license to reproduce GNU/Linux, and the instant they do that, OSI consider GPL to be a "non-open-source" license which would lose them credibility. Ok, they could also revoke the right of end-users of SuSE to use GNU/Linux, but I can see that going badly.
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The GPLv3 only applies if you distribute the code directly. You fail to understand copyright law, apparently. By your logic, a finance company is held to the GPL if they pay for a Dell computer with Linux installed for you (hire purchase). In real life, are they? Hell no. Why is this? Because no agreement to ANY license is required unless you distribute the code itself (and even then, ONLY if you have to make copies to do so. First Sale doctrine says you can distribute without a license if you are the first recipient of a legal product).
I think the FSF and Groklaw are both horribly deluded in this matter. I'm not a lawyer, but by damn if they actually believe in what they're saying, THEIR lawyers need to be DISBARRED!
That's the MSDN Academic Alliance. That's offered to any (higher learning) academic institution. Applies whether you're a Mac, Linux, Windows, Unix, Solaris, or BSD shop.
If MS would price it correctly It actually is extremely cheap in China. I think they've got "priced correctly" down over there.
or start offering good service for the money that they charge (i.e. the linux model) Linux being free, the support is generally about what you'd expect for the price from some quarters.
Actually, it does apply. A voucher is not distributing the product. They're saying "you can get SuSE from Novell for free, because we've negotiated to pay for it for you". What you are saying is that essentially if you buy a Dell computer with Ubuntu on it through Hire Purchase, the Finance Company is bound to the terms of the GPL. As we well know, this is not the case as purchasing thrugh proxy does not make that proxy a party to any distributor or end-user agreements of the sale.
Being guilty and violating the law aren't quite the same thing, you're mistakenly equating justice with fairness. The one who said "You can have a handgun if you take this voucher to Tony's Rifle shop on Fifth Street" has not committed a crime, but they are guilty. Unfortunately, the law is not necessarily fair, and the rifle shop owner would be the one who has broken it, not the voucher distributor.
Also, where the hell do you live, that a PS3 costs $1400? And surely any other console would be similarly priced (a 360 for $1200, for example)? No, actually, the PS3 weighs in at $1000-$1400 (depending on if you trade in an Xbox360 or PS2 or not), but an Xbox360 still only costs $800 (or $500 for the core system). The core system here is nearly as cheap as the Wii, at $450.
Bear in mind, any hostility in this debate is completely well founded considering the original response to an incredulous comment about how the PS3 price cut was still anything but brilliant was pretty much "finish high school, get an education, and get a real job" - I have a more than sufficient job thanks. Earning in the region of ~$50K is considered quite well off here - but still requires all of the surplus from two of my fortnightly paychecks to buy a PS3.
It took me this long to find something so stupid it had to be responded to, 3 days late be damned:
You ARE free to sell commercial support for Windows. You always have been. Just like you're free to sell commercial support for BMWs, Burger King(r) (I shudder to imagine the "support" that would need) or Monopoly(r).
I still fail to see how a voucher could ever count as distribution. Are you saying that if you buy a computer on Hire Purchase with Linux installed that the Finance Company is then bound by the GPL? No? The same applies here, neither is Microsoft.
They're right of course, it doesn't. They distribute a bit of paper saying you can get (at no charge) a copy of Linux made by Novell from Novell. This doesn't constitute distribution, and never has. Anyone who claims it does obviously has had their mind miss a few cogs.
The way RMS would have you believe it, you can arbitrarily bind someone else to a license simply by handing out paper with their name on it. Whatever. I don't find myself actually agreeing with statements from Microsoft much, but this time I do.
I have an intense dislike of Oracle. PL/SQL is a nasty language. And MSSQL and MySQL aren't even on the same level. MySQL is generally seen as one of the lower tier of "low-range database servers" while MSSQL is considered "mid-range". Oracle is considered "high-range", and it's ease of use is pretty much testament to that.
That being, the higher up the chain the harder to bloody configure and use.
Ok, apparently I'm somewhat wrong there. I wasn't aware it ran nowadays on your regular desktop PCs with Linux. Though, I must admit I can't see it running very fast compared to software DESIGNED for that type of platform.
How exactly did that get modded informative if it's wrong?
In fact, I'm quite pleased that I can use the same Live account with both my regular Xbox and my Xbox 360. And Windows, if you're that way inclined.
I've gotta agree with you though. A friend of mine had a launch XB360 where the DVD-ROM drive failed, but mine was purchased the week before his and works fine. Only time I see the "red ring of death" is when there's a power spike or short power cut (device stays on, but crashes)
Yeah, I never liked that myself, either. The ONLY saving grace there is that the download is pre-activated if you got it via SDC, which activates during the download. But even then, that's a pretty slight concession.
I dunno, I kinda like MSSQL. Hell, I use it alongside MySQL servers for my own projects (that, and having support for multiple platforms in your product is kinda a good idea). Sure, it's got horrific licensing (nowhere near as bad as Oracle's, though) but other than that, it's pretty good and reliable. I get the impression that the core of it wasn't written by MS way back when, though. And it sure wasn't built by the Windows team.
DB2? It's only useable on large mainframes (big iron, so to speak) from what I understand. Generally speaking only the REALLY large shops would use it, so I wouldn't be surprised you'd never seen it - neither have I. We're a pretty big organisation where I work, and we have a mix of Oracle, MSSQL, and Sybase servers.
I just rebooted a test system. Result: Old.tmp files in Catroot. Whereas none of my PCs have anything in them. Congratulations, you're an exception.
Microsoft.NET files are present in a default install of Windows XP. But Temporary ASP.NET Files are not, if you do not install IIS.
NT Backup is the backup program provided with the Windows OS. A backup program is a necessary OS component. Actually, Backup can be uninstalled.
Anyhow, the point is made that there are a LOT of places for malware to hide, far more than even Slashdot readers generally know. Think how difficult it is for the average user when "temporary" files fill the hard drive and make Windows slower. And my points are: 1) and half of them are the fault of third party developers. If they'd used the bloody API to get the temp folder in the first place, there'd be no problem and 2) isn't this all horrendously off-topic?
Awesome. I'd never be able to use a credit card then - after all, I can't sign my OWN signature twice identically.
Alternatively, require that any credit card configured with a PIN require that PIN and forbid signatures - then if it does get used by someone else it probably is my fault.
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Our users don't seem to care, but the big-wigs writing the checks do.
That would be because they have more than one computer and are tired of M$'s lack of sharing tools. The lack of simple tools becomes apparent when you use a laptop or home system for work. Emailing stuff to yourself gets old fast. As little as grsync would make these people happy.
Well, there's Distributed File System, but DAMN that's hard to use. Volume Shadow Copy too, but again that pretty much needs a Masters in Computer Science to use. I can actually sort of agree with you on this point.Anyway, it'll be interesting to see how they pull this off.
It's going to be clumsy because they won't just work with other people. They could just make some utilities to work with samba, but they are going to make something of their own or steal some other non free tool.
Unlikely. More likely is they'll set up a massive farm of Virtual Servers (they bought Connectix, so they do have a nice platform for virtualisation, possibly second only to VMWare's) and use RDP thin clients to use it. Obviously, there's no way in hell a home user could ever use it, because we can't get connections decent enough to make this tolerable but businesses will just love it (though I don't know why - I'm not a fan of outsourcing).Hardly. They're getting a kickback from AOL, Symantec, NTI (or whatever burner software they use), Cyberlink, and so on that is paying for the upgrade. Currently, no "crapware" is available for Linux. So no free money for them.
Indeed, but even if the finance company in your example there sells you vouchers for software, they have no need of making copies of the software to give you therefore the First Sale doctrine allows them the right to sell it onward without any form of agreement with the original author. Only when copying do you need to agree to the GPL, not when distributing - because it is only when copying that the copyright law requires additional rights be extended by the original author. If I buy a copy of Ubuntu from our local electronics store (you'll actually be pleased to note that I can do this - $6 to cover manufacturing and some basic support!) and then sell it onwards to a cousin, I did not need to agree to the GPL to do this because I did not need additional rights from the author - therefore it is not necessary for me to read the GPL to perform this action.
Again, I feel that the FSF and Groklaw really are kidding themselves if they think this'll get anywhere. The only thing that GNU can do is revoke Novell's license to reproduce GNU/Linux, and the instant they do that, OSI consider GPL to be a "non-open-source" license which would lose them credibility. Ok, they could also revoke the right of end-users of SuSE to use GNU/Linux, but I can see that going badly.
No.
Actually, given current foreign exchange situations, that EUR 0 would probably be about USD $1,645,310
The GPLv3 only applies if you distribute the code directly. You fail to understand copyright law, apparently. By your logic, a finance company is held to the GPL if they pay for a Dell computer with Linux installed for you (hire purchase). In real life, are they? Hell no. Why is this? Because no agreement to ANY license is required unless you distribute the code itself (and even then, ONLY if you have to make copies to do so. First Sale doctrine says you can distribute without a license if you are the first recipient of a legal product).
I think the FSF and Groklaw are both horribly deluded in this matter. I'm not a lawyer, but by damn if they actually believe in what they're saying, THEIR lawyers need to be DISBARRED!
That's the MSDN Academic Alliance. That's offered to any (higher learning) academic institution. Applies whether you're a Mac, Linux, Windows, Unix, Solaris, or BSD shop.
Actually, it does apply. A voucher is not distributing the product. They're saying "you can get SuSE from Novell for free, because we've negotiated to pay for it for you". What you are saying is that essentially if you buy a Dell computer with Ubuntu on it through Hire Purchase, the Finance Company is bound to the terms of the GPL. As we well know, this is not the case as purchasing thrugh proxy does not make that proxy a party to any distributor or end-user agreements of the sale.
Being guilty and violating the law aren't quite the same thing, you're mistakenly equating justice with fairness. The one who said "You can have a handgun if you take this voucher to Tony's Rifle shop on Fifth Street" has not committed a crime, but they are guilty. Unfortunately, the law is not necessarily fair, and the rifle shop owner would be the one who has broken it, not the voucher distributor.
Bear in mind, any hostility in this debate is completely well founded considering the original response to an incredulous comment about how the PS3 price cut was still anything but brilliant was pretty much "finish high school, get an education, and get a real job" - I have a more than sufficient job thanks. Earning in the region of ~$50K is considered quite well off here - but still requires all of the surplus from two of my fortnightly paychecks to buy a PS3.
It took me this long to find something so stupid it had to be responded to, 3 days late be damned:
You ARE free to sell commercial support for Windows. You always have been. Just like you're free to sell commercial support for BMWs, Burger King(r) (I shudder to imagine the "support" that would need) or Monopoly(r).
I still fail to see how a voucher could ever count as distribution. Are you saying that if you buy a computer on Hire Purchase with Linux installed that the Finance Company is then bound by the GPL? No? The same applies here, neither is Microsoft.
They're right of course, it doesn't. They distribute a bit of paper saying you can get (at no charge) a copy of Linux made by Novell from Novell. This doesn't constitute distribution, and never has. Anyone who claims it does obviously has had their mind miss a few cogs.
The way RMS would have you believe it, you can arbitrarily bind someone else to a license simply by handing out paper with their name on it. Whatever. I don't find myself actually agreeing with statements from Microsoft much, but this time I do.
Or maybe I'm in a country where a goddamn paycheck generally is $700 and a ridiculously overpriced PS3 is $1400.
Do all Americans assume the rest of the world is just like them?
I have an intense dislike of Oracle. PL/SQL is a nasty language. And MSSQL and MySQL aren't even on the same level. MySQL is generally seen as one of the lower tier of "low-range database servers" while MSSQL is considered "mid-range". Oracle is considered "high-range", and it's ease of use is pretty much testament to that.
That being, the higher up the chain the harder to bloody configure and use.
Maybe I'm not in fucking America.
Ok, apparently I'm somewhat wrong there. I wasn't aware it ran nowadays on your regular desktop PCs with Linux. Though, I must admit I can't see it running very fast compared to software DESIGNED for that type of platform.
How exactly did that get modded informative if it's wrong?
Brilliant? BRILLIANT? IT'S STILL TWO GODDAMN PAYCHECKS!
That said, I certainly am not howling in any form of pain whatsoever. My Xbox360 is much cheaper than the ridiculously overpriced PS3.
I've gotta agree with you though. A friend of mine had a launch XB360 where the DVD-ROM drive failed, but mine was purchased the week before his and works fine. Only time I see the "red ring of death" is when there's a power spike or short power cut (device stays on, but crashes)
Yeah, I never liked that myself, either. The ONLY saving grace there is that the download is pre-activated if you got it via SDC, which activates during the download. But even then, that's a pretty slight concession.
I dunno, I kinda like MSSQL. Hell, I use it alongside MySQL servers for my own projects (that, and having support for multiple platforms in your product is kinda a good idea). Sure, it's got horrific licensing (nowhere near as bad as Oracle's, though) but other than that, it's pretty good and reliable. I get the impression that the core of it wasn't written by MS way back when, though. And it sure wasn't built by the Windows team.
DB2? It's only useable on large mainframes (big iron, so to speak) from what I understand. Generally speaking only the REALLY large shops would use it, so I wouldn't be surprised you'd never seen it - neither have I. We're a pretty big organisation where I work, and we have a mix of Oracle, MSSQL, and Sybase servers.
program is a necessary OS component. Actually, Backup can be uninstalled. Anyhow, the point is made that there are a LOT of places for malware
to hide, far more than even Slashdot readers generally know. Think how
difficult it is for the average user when "temporary" files fill the hard
drive and make Windows slower. And my points are: 1) and half of them are the fault of third party developers. If they'd used the bloody API to get the temp folder in the first place, there'd be no problem and 2) isn't this all horrendously off-topic?
You don't need to agree to the GPL to use the OpenDocument Format specification. That would be counterproductive to the point of standards.
Awesome. I'd never be able to use a credit card then - after all, I can't sign my OWN signature twice identically.
Alternatively, require that any credit card configured with a PIN require that PIN and forbid signatures - then if it does get used by someone else it probably is my fault.