Personally I think it's fairly idiotic for businesses to not be completely above-board when it comes to software licensing
And I think it's idiotic to use software, licensed or unlicensed, that could get them raided by the BSA if (and big if of course) there's free or open source alternatives.
Windows: $400 MS Office: $400 Linux: $0 Star Office: $0 Being BSA-free: priceless!
If the story is a dupe, it's a dupe of a dupe. But it's not; the so-called "dupe" you linked to was about the BSA, but about Ernie Ball, not some small business. Ball is most likely the biggest guitar string maker in the world (IMO the best). But as a comment to that story pointed oy, the Ball story is 5 years old.
I actually have to do things with my computer so Linux isn't an option.
IHBT? Ot have you actually tried Linux, any flavor? All the distros come with all the software most users will need. All you will miss is Windows only games, and Mac only high end graphics.
Try it some time, the Windows machine you don't like is a good place to put it; you don't have to erase the drive, most distros will partition without losing data.
I kid you not, this time last year I was mocking the Mac something fierce. Now I'm recommending it to anyone who asks
It's been years, maybe a decade, since I've mocked the Mac. Like I said, were I to buy a whole computer it would be a Mac.
Actually, PC archetecture hasn't changed much since the XT (which was the last whole computer I bought). You can read about tha latest upgrade (in 2004) here. At one time I had a 386 in a 1983 IBM XT case.
But I dual boot between XP and Mandriva with it defaulting to XP, and if the hard drive gets too fragmented it just keeps rebooting.
Stable, nmy ass. I dislike Microsoft products becsue I use them; and I wouldn't use Windows at home if Linux could read HDb (Windows' D: drive), which Windows has munged in a way that makes its subdirectories ("folders" for the kids out there) look like files to Linux.
Next time I get a new HD and get the files off the Windows drive (after I format the new one in Linux in the older Windows format) I'll be Windows-free at home.
How do you know you're virus-free? Because Nortson says so?
Of course, apparently it's illegal in some countries- at least it's not in mine.
Drugs, gambling, and prostitution are are illegal in mine, but that never stopped me from smoking pot, making bets, or getting laid. In fact, my favorite hooker lost a bet and now owes me a joint and a blowjob.
If my politicians weren't for sale to the highest bidder I'd have a bit of respect for the law. If the government wants my respect they're going to have to be a bit more respectable. If the USA ever stops being a plutocracy I'll obey the law.
I'd have modded this comment "funny" (as it was obviously intended) rather than "troll". OTOH I'd have modded the summmary "flamebait" for it suse of the phrase "Apple Fanboy". Actually the whole summary was rather trollish; if the summary was a comment and I was modding I'd mad it "Troll".
I'm not an Apple user; I run XP and Mandriva dual-boot and don't even have an iPod, but that summary was a troll. And the word "fanboy" is flamebait whether you're commenting on Apple, Microsoft, Linux, Be, Sun, or any other OS, company, or organization.
Is a bit of civility in the article summary too much to ask? I wish "drinking from the the firehose" was more like modding than a simple "yes/no".
Taco usually does a better job of editing than this (running jokes aside) but hay, it's Monday after a 4 day weekend. I'll cut him some slack.
I didn't RTFA (I must not be new here) but people don't choose Macs because of any of the Apple's features. People choose Macs for stability and freedom from viruses and other shitware (the reasons we wipe Windows and install Linux) and because some high end graphics programs either aren't ported to Windows or are ported badly.
The best way to make your Windows more "like a Mac" is to install Linux for its stability and freedom from shitware. That said, if I ever buy another whole computer (which I haven't done since 1987, I just upgrade parts as needed) It will be a Mac.
I'm amused by the car commercial where they're touting its bluetooth, "powered by Microsoft". No way in hell I'd buy one, just because it's "(under)powered by Microsoft." ! I've been using Microsoft's OSes and programs for a quarter of a century, and they used to be the best quality out there. The quality has been declining for all that time, IMO right now Microsoft's OSes and programs are by far the very worst either on or off the market.
If somebody swipes the code and locks it down under proprietary license, you can go after them for violating copyright terms. Otherwise, the whole stinkin' point of Open Source is to share the code. Can the author of TFA drool some more for us?
There, fixed that for ya;)
-mcgrew
PS: Your sig- I'm so old I was a beta tester for dirt. They never did get all the bugs out.
And his karma is probably in the toilet with all of them. Some people ar incapable of insight, interest, or even humor while flaming and trolling are easy for them. One should keep their trolling in meatspace where it belongs! Trolls should grow a pair, as internet troilling is so lame and cowardly. Sheesh!
-mcgrew
(can't decide whether to check "no karma bonus. OK, I'll check it...)
Disclaimer for those with mod points: This post is NOT intended as a flame or flamebait.
If you want good karma, stop worrying about karma. And never use the word "troll" or "flamebait" because your post will be modded "troll" or "flamebait" (I think I just got modded... never mind). Try for insightful and you'll get "funny" (no mod points). Try for "funny" and likely as not you will be modded "interesting".
More on topic, yes, there a lot more Top Cat's than there are McDonalds Corporations, but there are enough Giant corporations that CAN afford this tech. Those that can't afford it don't matter; at least, in the context of this conversation.
Should they stop selling Ferrarris just because I can't afford one?
Slashdot Mirror
I was worried there that this was a story of pedophiles in the context of the Boy Scouts of America.
What would Boy Scouts on bicycles have to do with IT?
I don't believe anyone ever said Macs were perfect, but there are no viruses for the Mac. Trojans, yes; but you can trojan any system.
Personally I think it's fairly idiotic for businesses to not be completely above-board when it comes to software licensing
And I think it's idiotic to use software, licensed or unlicensed, that could get them raided by the BSA if (and big if of course) there's free or open source alternatives.
Windows: $400
MS Office: $400
Linux: $0
Star Office: $0
Being BSA-free: priceless!
-mcgrew
If the story is a dupe, it's a dupe of a dupe. But it's not; the so-called "dupe" you linked to was about the BSA, but about Ernie Ball, not some small business. Ball is most likely the biggest guitar string maker in the world (IMO the best). But as a comment to that story pointed oy, the Ball story is 5 years old.
Oh, no, another crackpot who thinks aliens from Pluto are running things
No, aliens from Asia, Europe, and every other continent. We have the best politicians money can buy.
I actually have to do things with my computer so Linux isn't an option.
IHBT? Ot have you actually tried Linux, any flavor? All the distros come with all the software most users will need. All you will miss is Windows only games, and Mac only high end graphics.
Try it some time, the Windows machine you don't like is a good place to put it; you don't have to erase the drive, most distros will partition without losing data.
I kid you not, this time last year I was mocking the Mac something fierce. Now I'm recommending it to anyone who asks
It's been years, maybe a decade, since I've mocked the Mac. Like I said, were I to buy a whole computer it would be a Mac.
Illusion? Funny, I have yetr to hear of a single viruus (not talking trojans here) in the wild for any other platform except Windows.
I've had no problem
No, but the people who are getting the spam your computer sends sure are.
Thanks. Figured the net was probably network but couldn't figure out the res.
And every Windows "upgrade" makes at leats one of my favorite programs unrunnable.
Actually, PC archetecture hasn't changed much since the XT (which was the last whole computer I bought). You can read about tha latest upgrade (in 2004) here. At one time I had a 386 in a 1983 IBM XT case.
One word: Sony Rootkit. OK, three words.
But I dual boot between XP and Mandriva with it defaulting to XP, and if the hard drive gets too fragmented it just keeps rebooting.
Stable, nmy ass. I dislike Microsoft products becsue I use them; and I wouldn't use Windows at home if Linux could read HDb (Windows' D: drive), which Windows has munged in a way that makes its subdirectories ("folders" for the kids out there) look like files to Linux.
Next time I get a new HD and get the files off the Windows drive (after I format the new one in Linux in the older Windows format) I'll be Windows-free at home.
How do you know you're virus-free? Because Nortson says so?
-mcgrew
The Rolls Royce radiator on Chong's Volkswagon at the beginning of Up In Smoke (before it goes up in smoke)
-mcgrew
WTF is a RESNET and what does that funny looking acronym stand for? Not everybody at /. is a college kid. It't been almost 30 years since I graduated.
-mcgrew
Of course, apparently it's illegal in some countries- at least it's not in mine.
Drugs, gambling, and prostitution are are illegal in mine, but that never stopped me from smoking pot, making bets, or getting laid. In fact, my favorite hooker lost a bet and now owes me a joint and a blowjob.
If my politicians weren't for sale to the highest bidder I'd have a bit of respect for the law. If the government wants my respect they're going to have to be a bit more respectable. If the USA ever stops being a plutocracy I'll obey the law.
-mcgrew
I'd have modded this comment "funny" (as it was obviously intended) rather than "troll". OTOH I'd have modded the summmary "flamebait" for it suse of the phrase "Apple Fanboy". Actually the whole summary was rather trollish; if the summary was a comment and I was modding I'd mad it "Troll".
I'm not an Apple user; I run XP and Mandriva dual-boot and don't even have an iPod, but that summary was a troll. And the word "fanboy" is flamebait whether you're commenting on Apple, Microsoft, Linux, Be, Sun, or any other OS, company, or organization.
Is a bit of civility in the article summary too much to ask? I wish "drinking from the the firehose" was more like modding than a simple "yes/no".
Taco usually does a better job of editing than this (running jokes aside) but hay, it's Monday after a 4 day weekend. I'll cut him some slack.
-mcgrew
I didn't RTFA (I must not be new here) but people don't choose Macs because of any of the Apple's features. People choose Macs for stability and freedom from viruses and other shitware (the reasons we wipe Windows and install Linux) and because some high end graphics programs either aren't ported to Windows or are ported badly.
The best way to make your Windows more "like a Mac" is to install Linux for its stability and freedom from shitware. That said, if I ever buy another whole computer (which I haven't done since 1987, I just upgrade parts as needed) It will be a Mac.
I'm amused by the car commercial where they're touting its bluetooth, "powered by Microsoft". No way in hell I'd buy one, just because it's "(under)powered by Microsoft." ! I've been using Microsoft's OSes and programs for a quarter of a century, and they used to be the best quality out there. The quality has been declining for all that time, IMO right now Microsoft's OSes and programs are by far the very worst either on or off the market.
-mcgrew
If somebody swipes the code and locks it down under proprietary license, you can go after them for violating copyright terms. Otherwise, the whole stinkin' point of Open Source is to share the code. Can the author of TFA drool some more for us?
;)
There, fixed that for ya
-mcgrew
PS: Your sig- I'm so old I was a beta tester for dirt. They never did get all the bugs out.
If I'm elected there will be a chicken in every pot, and some pot in every chicken.
You'll be watching your girlfriends every move from the comfort of your computer chair 10 years from now. mark my words.
Girlfriends? What's that?
-mcgrew
At least they didn't use the "lightbulbs" unit of measurement.
And call me in the morning
When did exercise balls become the univerally known cultural unit of measurement?
More importantly, what's this "excersize" thing? How can I excersize my balls when I almost never get laid? Please help this poor old nerd!
-mcgrew
And his karma is probably in the toilet with all of them. Some people ar incapable of insight, interest, or even humor while flaming and trolling are easy for them. One should keep their trolling in meatspace where it belongs! Trolls should grow a pair, as internet troilling is so lame and cowardly. Sheesh!
-mcgrew
(can't decide whether to check "no karma bonus. OK, I'll check it...)
Disclaimer for those with mod points: This post is NOT intended as a flame or flamebait.
If you want good karma, stop worrying about karma. And never use the word "troll" or "flamebait" because your post will be modded "troll" or "flamebait" (I think I just got modded... never mind). Try for insightful and you'll get "funny" (no mod points). Try for "funny" and likely as not you will be modded "interesting".
More on topic, yes, there a lot more Top Cat's than there are McDonalds Corporations, but there are enough Giant corporations that CAN afford this tech. Those that can't afford it don't matter; at least, in the context of this conversation.
Should they stop selling Ferrarris just because I can't afford one?
-mcgrew
And don't confuse inches with centimeters, or install the chute thrusters backwards.