The article really has it wrong. Falling HW prices make paying the "MS tax" more palatable. Someone who was set to pay $1200 for a system with Vista Home, is now looking at paying $800, or will pay $1100 with Ultimate and more kick ass hardware that works with the OS rather than buying a kick ass cheap machine that may not work with the free, cheap OS.
... and right here is where you reveal such complete ignorance that it makes the rest of your post hard to take seriously.
I stopped at the same point. To see his entourage, his open mindedness to science and politics, and his spirit, I am convinced that this unenlightened one has done nothing more than read bumperstickers. Had he read even the chapter of any of the Dalai Lama's writing, he would be beyond posting as he did.
...and, if I might add, smacks of the young Mormon missionaries that I met while in Japan. The swarmed the streets of Sendai, Koriyama, Morioka without the least idea of who the Japanese really are. Their expression of derision of the Buddhist and Shinto traditions was distasteful, in the least.
I spent 6 years in Japan. I lived in Tohoku, down in Tokyo and Yokohama and did business there. As a Buddhist, I will tell you this, your characterization of Soka Gakkai is uncharitable, wrong, and shallow.
If you look at American politics, once a person enters politics and gets power, they want to stay there. They don't want to lose the power. They fear losing the power. Then they start doing things to stay there. I think she got it right.
I thought only MS could be evil. Well, Google, too. Now, you are telling me that open sourcers are evil, too? Now, how many of you that use WordPress...wait, firefox...dug into the code to find that out? Hands? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Nah, didn't think so. But, I bet a number of you upgraded. Doesn't matter, closed or open, you're argument about security is bogus unless you crawl through the code, otherwise, it might as well be closed.
I thought only MS could be evil. Well, Google, too. Now, you are telling me that open sourcers are evil, too? Now, how many of you that use WordPress dug into the code to find that out? Hands? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Nah, didn't think so. But, I bet a number of you upgraded. Doesn't matter, closed or open, you're argument about security is bogus unless you crawl through the code, otherwise, it might as well be closed.
The reason that Robertson' business didn't succeed is that the record companies are getting tired of dealing with third-party vendors selling their music.
Yeah, I noticed that Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, Wherehouse, CDNow, my neighborhood drugstore, Amazon, Borders, hell, every place I can think of that used to cell CD's has gone out of...wait, no, they still sell CD's.
This is a vastly overblown issue. Normal people don't install OSes. Normal people don't even understand what an OS is. They buy computers, not OSes.
And here is one of the examples that typify a roadblock.
Joe Notageek buys a new computer every 5 to 10 years. That computer is mostly likely to have Windows (98 to Vista) installed. If you want to get Joe Notageek to use Linux, and feel comfortable with it, he is going to have to do what?
A. Buy a new computer with Linux pre-installed
B. Install the OS himself
C. Call his smelly geek brother to install Linux (then his brother doesn't have to pay him back that $200 he borrowed)
D. None of the above, Linux will magically appear on his system
We already know there is a dearth of OEM Linux installs. To consign those that we would recruit to options A or C is one of the roadblocks to greater acceptance.
I don't understand why this was tagged as FUD. For those that can't stand the light of truth, they may strike out with such a tag, but the truth remains.
The only way to take down Microsoft, or make them improve their ways is through serious competition. And, I means s e r i o u s.
In it's current form, the geeky-nerdy-rebel OS that can't decide if it wants to be a server or desktop or embedded or social change harbinger cannot be that serious competition.
Current legal action cannot change Microsoft. Nor should it. In a capitalist system, the market is going to have to do that. And that empowers people. Always has. But, first, you have to offer the alternative.
The efforts should be, and this could cause a certain amount of forking:
Mainstream a Linux desktop, and by mainstreaming, I mean make it commercial. Make it so Joe Notageek, and his grandmother, can install it with less clicks than it takes to install Windows. Provide apps for it.
Mainstream a Linux server. Yes, I know there a lots out there, but again, only a few companies are really commercial. This is probably where Linux is most strong.
Not a Linux problem, but a parallel issue: Mainstream Linux apps. The killers are office and games, then accounting, then graphics. Open Office is quaint, but users still want MS. If the new commercial Linux Desktop seriously competes with MS, MS will start an Office Linux version. AND, game developers will create games for it that don't suck. Creating an auto-WINE that will allow a user to load existing Windows apps in Linux would help. Getting the industry to create a logo for Windows apps that are compatable under a WINE or other emu system would be great.
The point is, make the consumer, a.k.a. Joe Notageek feel comfortable that it is easy to use, that he can buy applications for it at Best Buy, Walmart, Target, or Amazon.
The current Linux culture responds with a few old gems:
Linux is a server and isn't meant to be mainstream (if this is so, then you are already resigned to MS dominance).
We don't want Joe Notageek to use it.
We don't want it to be commercial, capitalism is evil.
But, if we beat MS, who will be rant and rave about?
If Joe Notageek is to use it, we'll have to write better documentation that a consumer can read, and I may have to start using standards.
A laser pointed at someone with the intent to cause harm - Weapon.
A laser pointed out the backend of the space craft for propulsion - Engine.
A rocket launched into a schoolyard from a neighboring territory - Weapon.
A rocket strapped to a frame with wheels on a Utah salt flat - A really stupid but exhilorating way to die, and an Engine.
So, Einstein, show me the goddamned weapon! Too many of you freaks out there saying, "We shouldn't...", "But there's a treaty...", and some such nonsense. But you are all for saying things like, "Well its a bad law or treaty," when its something that you want.
The solar system is a big enough place for exploitation, and when we're done with the planets and their moons we can look at the Kuiper belt. That should keep us busy for the next couple of centuries...
And the President said, "Lewis, Clark, I want you to walk around the block of the White House, its plenty big, and there's probably a lot for you to see. When you're done with that, check out Virginia. Once that is done, I want a complete survey of everything east of the Mississippi. That should keep us busy for a century."
Lewis replied, "What about the vast unexplored reaches of the west?"
To which the President slammed his fist into the desk, "Slow down, Sparky, that would take lots of money that would be better spent on the vast wasteland of New Jersey. And, it would take a long time and nothing good would come of it, I'm sure. And, it would take you forever to get the results back to us. And, you'd smell when you got back. Hell, Clark smells already. Now, you guys do as I told you, none of that 'Vast Vision' stuff."
Knowing they were beat, Lewis and Clark resigned themselves to taking a walk around the block.
"Besides," the President said, "When you finish up, you can both do commercials for Lost Horizon Airlines."
As we approach the stated end date, a new end date will be assumed to be stated as another 10 to 15 years in the future.
(This is also known as the "Televangelist End of the World the Rapture is Around the Corner Law" (TEWRAC).)
The Afghans beat Russia, as the Iraqis are beating America.
If you read the GP:
The assumption is that a popular revolt can stand against the government without outside help.
As for the "Iraqis" (most are foreigners), Iran and Syria are supplying them with sophisticated equipment. As for the Afghanis during the Soviet occupation, the U.S. was supplying them.
Do try to pay attention to the course of the conversation. The GP had posted that he thought the masses should "grow some balls" and do it themselves without help from a "world policeman".
At your assertion that modern farmers might be able to knock a plane out of the sky. That must be some shotgun!
It's happened. But, I was illustrating that it was a possiblity, but futile. There have been cases where well placed shots have done damage to helicopters and jets. There were a couple of incidents in Vietnam. But, you basically make my point when I say that the modern citizen just cannot stand up to modern governments, the way they were able to during the British Civil War, American Revolution, French Revolution, and even the Russian revolution.
They should grow some balls and try standing up for themselves.
Yeah, that works. So, we'll see some guy with his grocery bags standing in front of a Russian or Chinese supplied tank, stopping the entire Iranian Army from running down protesters that "grew some balls".
Have we seen this before?
In an age where the government has much more firepower than the armed citizenry, its difficult for citizens to rise up like they did in 1776.
Back then, with the exception of a Navy, the people in the American Colonies were a lot more closely matched with the British. What they lacked, they were able to get through guerilla action. Hell, back then, even privately owned vessels were armed.
Modern tyrannies are better armed than the citizenry, even where the citizens are permitted to own firearms. Back then, a handfull of armed farmers could take over an artillary battary, and use it. Now, farmers might be able to knock a plane out of the sky. Or disable a tank, but, the average farmer, tribesman, stockbroker, pimp, is going to be hard pressed to come out on top when a division of tanks comes at him while jets providing support for the ground troops create a no-mans land where neighborhoods stood.
As has happened many times before, What starts as a simple censorship of a website ALWAYS turns into more nastier things while the 'people in charge' are trying to control the masses.
But, not to worry, Google will provide the Iranian government a complete list of users and their searches.
So, President Ahmacompletewhackjob can sleep at night knowing his has fulfilled his duty to the mullahs.
Slashdot Mirror
It is this kind of confusion that could lead to many great ideas to be stillborn. But, maybe that is the point.
The article really has it wrong. Falling HW prices make paying the "MS tax" more palatable. Someone who was set to pay $1200 for a system with Vista Home, is now looking at paying $800, or will pay $1100 with Ultimate and more kick ass hardware that works with the OS rather than buying a kick ass cheap machine that may not work with the free, cheap OS.
I stopped at the same point. To see his entourage, his open mindedness to science and politics, and his spirit, I am convinced that this unenlightened one has done nothing more than read bumperstickers. Had he read even the chapter of any of the Dalai Lama's writing, he would be beyond posting as he did.
...and, if I might add, smacks of the young Mormon missionaries that I met while in Japan. The swarmed the streets of Sendai, Koriyama, Morioka without the least idea of who the Japanese really are. Their expression of derision of the Buddhist and Shinto traditions was distasteful, in the least.
I spent 6 years in Japan. I lived in Tohoku, down in Tokyo and Yokohama and did business there. As a Buddhist, I will tell you this, your characterization of Soka Gakkai is uncharitable, wrong, and shallow.
If you look at American politics, once a person enters politics and gets power, they want to stay there. They don't want to lose the power. They fear losing the power. Then they start doing things to stay there. I think she got it right.
Aung San Suu Kyi has said, "Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts. The fear of losing power corrupts."
The radical Christian blows up others and buildings.
The radical Muslim blows himself up with others.
The radical Budhist sets himself on fire, after he makes sure that no living things are around him to get hurt.
Hello? Hello? Wherehouse? CDNow? Anyone there? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Hello, McFly! (Yes, I'm mixing my movie metaphors.)
I thought only MS could be evil. Well, Google, too. Now, you are telling me that open sourcers are evil, too? Now, how many of you that use WordPress...wait, firefox...dug into the code to find that out? Hands? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Nah, didn't think so. But, I bet a number of you upgraded. Doesn't matter, closed or open, you're argument about security is bogus unless you crawl through the code, otherwise, it might as well be closed.
I thought only MS could be evil. Well, Google, too. Now, you are telling me that open sourcers are evil, too? Now, how many of you that use WordPress dug into the code to find that out? Hands? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Nah, didn't think so. But, I bet a number of you upgraded. Doesn't matter, closed or open, you're argument about security is bogus unless you crawl through the code, otherwise, it might as well be closed.
Yeah, I noticed that Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, Wherehouse, CDNow, my neighborhood drugstore, Amazon, Borders, hell, every place I can think of that used to cell CD's has gone out of...wait, no, they still sell CD's.
Web NT follows 3.0
Web ME will be a more family and consumer friendly web.
Web XP will be the new Experienced Web.
I felt a disturbance in the web, as if a thousand geeks cried, "Don't give them any ideas, you f*&$king moron!
And here is one of the examples that typify a roadblock.
Joe Notageek buys a new computer every 5 to 10 years. That computer is mostly likely to have Windows (98 to Vista) installed. If you want to get Joe Notageek to use Linux, and feel comfortable with it, he is going to have to do what?
A. Buy a new computer with Linux pre-installed
B. Install the OS himself
C. Call his smelly geek brother to install Linux (then his brother doesn't have to pay him back that $200 he borrowed)
D. None of the above, Linux will magically appear on his system
We already know there is a dearth of OEM Linux installs. To consign those that we would recruit to options A or C is one of the roadblocks to greater acceptance.
I don't understand why this was tagged as FUD. For those that can't stand the light of truth, they may strike out with such a tag, but the truth remains.
The only way to take down Microsoft, or make them improve their ways is through serious competition. And, I means s e r i o u s.
In it's current form, the geeky-nerdy-rebel OS that can't decide if it wants to be a server or desktop or embedded or social change harbinger cannot be that serious competition.
Current legal action cannot change Microsoft. Nor should it. In a capitalist system, the market is going to have to do that. And that empowers people. Always has. But, first, you have to offer the alternative.
The efforts should be, and this could cause a certain amount of forking:
The point is, make the consumer, a.k.a. Joe Notageek feel comfortable that it is easy to use, that he can buy applications for it at Best Buy, Walmart, Target, or Amazon.
The current Linux culture responds with a few old gems:
Have you considered looking up the pinout guide and sussing it out yourself?
Show me the weapon.
A laser pointed at someone with the intent to cause harm - Weapon.
A laser pointed out the backend of the space craft for propulsion - Engine.
A rocket launched into a schoolyard from a neighboring territory - Weapon.
A rocket strapped to a frame with wheels on a Utah salt flat - A really stupid but exhilorating way to die, and an Engine.
So, Einstein, show me the goddamned weapon ! Too many of you freaks out there saying, "We shouldn't...", "But there's a treaty...", and some such nonsense. But you are all for saying things like, "Well its a bad law or treaty," when its something that you want.
Show me the goddamned weapon!
And the President said, "Lewis, Clark, I want you to walk around the block of the White House, its plenty big, and there's probably a lot for you to see. When you're done with that, check out Virginia. Once that is done, I want a complete survey of everything east of the Mississippi. That should keep us busy for a century."
Lewis replied, "What about the vast unexplored reaches of the west?"
To which the President slammed his fist into the desk, "Slow down, Sparky, that would take lots of money that would be better spent on the vast wasteland of New Jersey. And, it would take a long time and nothing good would come of it, I'm sure. And, it would take you forever to get the results back to us. And, you'd smell when you got back. Hell, Clark smells already. Now, you guys do as I told you, none of that 'Vast Vision' stuff."
Knowing they were beat, Lewis and Clark resigned themselves to taking a walk around the block.
"Besides," the President said, "When you finish up, you can both do commercials for Lost Horizon Airlines."
Hey, why does exploration have to be serial?
As we approach the stated end date, a new end date will be assumed to be stated as another 10 to 15 years in the future. (This is also known as the "Televangelist End of the World the Rapture is Around the Corner Law" (TEWRAC).)
If you read the GP:
The assumption is that a popular revolt can stand against the government without outside help.
As for the "Iraqis" (most are foreigners), Iran and Syria are supplying them with sophisticated equipment. As for the Afghanis during the Soviet occupation, the U.S. was supplying them.
Do try to pay attention to the course of the conversation. The GP had posted that he thought the masses should "grow some balls" and do it themselves without help from a "world policeman".
So, Microsoft is being punished because the consumer is lazy and the "other" OS doesn't have killer applications?
It's happened. But, I was illustrating that it was a possiblity, but futile. There have been cases where well placed shots have done damage to helicopters and jets. There were a couple of incidents in Vietnam. But, you basically make my point when I say that the modern citizen just cannot stand up to modern governments, the way they were able to during the British Civil War, American Revolution, French Revolution, and even the Russian revolution.
Yeah, that works. So, we'll see some guy with his grocery bags standing in front of a Russian or Chinese supplied tank, stopping the entire Iranian Army from running down protesters that "grew some balls".
Have we seen this before?
In an age where the government has much more firepower than the armed citizenry, its difficult for citizens to rise up like they did in 1776.
Back then, with the exception of a Navy, the people in the American Colonies were a lot more closely matched with the British. What they lacked, they were able to get through guerilla action. Hell, back then, even privately owned vessels were armed.
Modern tyrannies are better armed than the citizenry, even where the citizens are permitted to own firearms. Back then, a handfull of armed farmers could take over an artillary battary, and use it. Now, farmers might be able to knock a plane out of the sky. Or disable a tank, but, the average farmer, tribesman, stockbroker, pimp, is going to be hard pressed to come out on top when a division of tanks comes at him while jets providing support for the ground troops create a no-mans land where neighborhoods stood.
Yeah, your idea worked for the students in China.
But, not to worry, Google will provide the Iranian government a complete list of users and their searches.
So, President Ahmacompletewhackjob can sleep at night knowing his has fulfilled his duty to the mullahs.
Wait, I thought there were alternative OS's capable of kicking MS butt. I thought it was just blazing on replacing Windows? Or, is it?