Zonk and Slashdot in general were just pitched a slowball and they failed to swing.
What a perfect opportunity this would have been to emphasize that Linux needs to be marketed using its strengths, not its ability to run Windows applications. Instead, they took the easy way out and went with a headline emphasizing "Wine."
ACs are modded -6. I don't read you, I don't mod you, I don't see you. Don't like it? Don't be a coward.
Somewhat of a contorted example, but one that may (hopefully) serve as an example. Who is this person? Do I really care that he won't read my anonymous posts? Not in the least. So what's his point? Who's "Southpaw018" trying to impress? How many of us recognize the rudeness, and how many of us see it as just normal human communication at this point?
This is the sort of generic rudeness that we've become so accustomed to in our society, and that we (yes, myself included) even chuckle at. But how many of us ever stop to think about how we really come across? I didn't for far too long and simply contributed to the problem.
For so many years what amounted to emotional abuse was tolerated in the home...and I'm not talking just about that from divorce. And because law enforcement and "child welfare" agencies had their hands full dealing with physical abuse cases, it seems that so much of it was knowingly ignored. The truth of the matter is that these kids were being fed and weren't being beaten (on a regular basis), so they just weren't a high priority.
What you have now is a good number of people walking around trying to live their lives coping with the result of this abuse, often times unaware while the simple things in life are so difficult. And we're not talking about psychotics or schizoids here, we're talking about otherwise normal people who are missing some fundamental part of themselves. Factor in the current state of affairs (at least here in the U.S.) in regards to the economy, job market, the war in Iraq...
Worst of all, many of these people seem to be able to function fine until just the right stimuli (stressors) come around, then all hell breaks lose. Granted very few (relatively speaking) will pick up guns, but some of their effects of their actions can cause just as much damage to those they love and care for.
The old adage that people will try to blame their parents for their troubles might have once rung true. But now psychologists are seeing the results, and are working on ways to try to help people deal with these issues. And I've met some very normal, high functioning, highly motivated individuals who, from the outside you'd never guess have to cope with these issues, but listening to them describe their feelings just makes you shake your head.
On the bright side...there do seem to be some very effective treatments out there that don't involve labotomies or being drugged to a state of near-zombiehood, so I think things are getting better...
Still, as stated before, our thoughts and prayers go out to those effected.
But I would like to see what would happen if Microsoft just said "We're not changing our practices, so we won't sell our products in Europe." Would computer users revolt against the EU? Would they be angry at MS instead? Meh, it'll never happen but sometimes just to watch the debacle of it all, I wish it would.
I'd love to see that happen, simply because I am not a Microsoft supporter. And given the egos at MS (Ballmer in particular), I can...almost...imagine a world in which it would happen. And to answer your question, I believe the user base would turn on MS, not the EU. Regardless of whether or not Joe User would agree w/ the EU's position, it make it evident that MS's ONLY motivation was $...to the extent that they would abandon their paying customers.
"...Meanwhile, the Court of First Instance is expected to rule on Microsoft's appeal of the 2004 decision by the end of this year, Kroes told members of the European Parliament Thursday."
Why in the world should it take so long for the EU to make any decisions (let alone enforce them). The EU has to accept 50% responsibility for the situation w/ Microsoft becoming what it is; if they'd get their act together and start enforcing some of their existing mandates then this situation never would have devolved into the mess it is.
Bill Gates is no genius for increasing MS's market share in Europe. He knows damn well the EU is way too bogged down in its own political molass to stop him. My eight year-old daughter knows that if I never lay down the law she can get away with anything; that's normal human nature.
Did you ever stop and think that the person you're addressing may not reside in a part of the world where "better jobs" are not available? Or just maybe he/she has OTHER responsibilities like a mortgage, car payments, etc?
And why should anyone involved care a bit about your opinion? Obviously, those involved with the project find it useful, or they wouldn't be donating their time so others could benefit.
Or more directly...when did ESR's personal agenda become that of the entire OSS/Linux community?
For what it's worth, my 8-year-old daughter thinks Tux is cute, and believes that her desktop looks better with an image of him. Therefor, I predict that unless all distros switch to this new desktop standard than the entire movement will be DOOOOOOOOOMED!
ESR's good for generating conversation, but I just have to ask--Does he really speak for the majority of the Linux community any more? (Perhaps a better question might be "Did he ever....?").
Seriously, I read his rants on the Fedora lists a few months back, and the guy just seemed as though he was on the verge of a breakdown b/c he couldn't convince the Fedora Project to alter its project goals to suit his tastes. Of course he always asserts that if his visions aren't realized the entire world will implode, which so far it hasn't...
If the GNU/Linux Community continues to focus on releases high quality, secure code, the issues will eventually resolve themselves...
DP
So tell me why Fedora's lead developer wears blinders when it comes to Microsoft and Vista or Apple and OSX.
Because The Fedora Project isn't in competition with Microsoft in a traditional way. Rather than trying to remain "feature compatible" at every possible turn, they're more interested in building the best FOSS OS for everyone.
Also, there's the possibility that not all "features" of MS Operating Systems were/are wise ideas in the long-term.
How long would it really take to edit each post before submitting it for public consumption? Slashdot is now one arm of OSTG, and as such their content should be held to the same standards as any other "official" publication.
And please, folks, don't take the easy way out with a generic "slashdot omelet" response: It's the varying points of view that make this site not interesting, not the various manglings of the English language.
Slashdot Mirror
Zonk and Slashdot in general were just pitched a slowball and they failed to swing.
What a perfect opportunity this would have been to emphasize that Linux needs to be marketed using its strengths, not its ability to run Windows applications. Instead, they took the easy way out and went with a headline emphasizing "Wine."
Just plain bad journalism.
ACs are modded -6. I don't read you, I don't mod you, I don't see you. Don't like it? Don't be a coward.
Somewhat of a contorted example, but one that may (hopefully) serve as an example. Who is this person? Do I really care that he won't read my anonymous posts? Not in the least. So what's his point? Who's "Southpaw018" trying to impress? How many of us recognize the rudeness, and how many of us see it as just normal human communication at this point?
This is the sort of generic rudeness that we've become so accustomed to in our society, and that we (yes, myself included) even chuckle at. But how many of us ever stop to think about how we really come across? I didn't for far too long and simply contributed to the problem.
Just an opinion here...
For so many years what amounted to emotional abuse was tolerated in the home...and I'm not talking just about that from divorce. And because law enforcement and "child welfare" agencies had their hands full dealing with physical abuse cases, it seems that so much of it was knowingly ignored. The truth of the matter is that these kids were being fed and weren't being beaten (on a regular basis), so they just weren't a high priority.
What you have now is a good number of people walking around trying to live their lives coping with the result of this abuse, often times unaware while the simple things in life are so difficult. And we're not talking about psychotics or schizoids here, we're talking about otherwise normal people who are missing some fundamental part of themselves. Factor in the current state of affairs (at least here in the U.S.) in regards to the economy, job market, the war in Iraq...
Worst of all, many of these people seem to be able to function fine until just the right stimuli (stressors) come around, then all hell breaks lose. Granted very few (relatively speaking) will pick up guns, but some of their effects of their actions can cause just as much damage to those they love and care for.
The old adage that people will try to blame their parents for their troubles might have once rung true. But now psychologists are seeing the results, and are working on ways to try to help people deal with these issues. And I've met some very normal, high functioning, highly motivated individuals who, from the outside you'd never guess have to cope with these issues, but listening to them describe their feelings just makes you shake your head.
On the bright side...there do seem to be some very effective treatments out there that don't involve labotomies or being drugged to a state of near-zombiehood, so I think things are getting better...
Still, as stated before, our thoughts and prayers go out to those effected.
But I would like to see what would happen if Microsoft just said "We're not changing our practices, so we won't sell our products in Europe." Would computer users revolt against the EU? Would they be angry at MS instead? Meh, it'll never happen but sometimes just to watch the debacle of it all, I wish it would.
I'd love to see that happen, simply because I am not a Microsoft supporter. And given the egos at MS (Ballmer in particular), I can...almost...imagine a world in which it would happen. And to answer your question, I believe the user base would turn on MS, not the EU. Regardless of whether or not Joe User would agree w/ the EU's position, it make it evident that MS's ONLY motivation was $...to the extent that they would abandon their paying customers.
DP
"...Meanwhile, the Court of First Instance is expected to rule on Microsoft's appeal of the 2004 decision by the end of this year, Kroes told members of the European Parliament Thursday."
Why in the world should it take so long for the EU to make any decisions (let alone enforce them). The EU has to accept 50% responsibility for the situation w/ Microsoft becoming what it is; if they'd get their act together and start enforcing some of their existing mandates then this situation never would have devolved into the mess it is.
Bill Gates is no genius for increasing MS's market share in Europe. He knows damn well the EU is way too bogged down in its own political molass to stop him. My eight year-old daughter knows that if I never lay down the law she can get away with anything; that's normal human nature.
DP
Did you ever stop and think that the person you're addressing may not reside in a part of the world where "better jobs" are not available? Or just maybe he/she has OTHER responsibilities like a mortgage, car payments, etc?
God, Slashdot has gone to the dogs...
That just sounds painful and unnecessary.
And why should anyone involved care a bit about your opinion? Obviously, those involved with the project find it useful, or they wouldn't be donating their time so others could benefit.
Welcome to the spirit of Open Source, asshole.
DP
Or more directly...when did ESR's personal agenda become that of the entire OSS/Linux community?
For what it's worth, my 8-year-old daughter thinks Tux is cute, and believes that her desktop looks better with an image of him. Therefor, I predict that unless all distros switch to this new desktop standard than the entire movement will be DOOOOOOOOOMED!
DP
It was probably Ringo...didn't he open a hair salon after the break up?
ESR's good for generating conversation, but I just have to ask--Does he really speak for the majority of the Linux community any more? (Perhaps a better question might be "Did he ever....?").
Seriously, I read his rants on the Fedora lists a few months back, and the guy just seemed as though he was on the verge of a breakdown b/c he couldn't convince the Fedora Project to alter its project goals to suit his tastes. Of course he always asserts that if his visions aren't realized the entire world will implode, which so far it hasn't...
If the GNU/Linux Community continues to focus on releases high quality, secure code, the issues will eventually resolve themselves... DP
So tell me why Fedora's lead developer wears blinders when it comes to Microsoft and Vista or Apple and OSX.
Because The Fedora Project isn't in competition with Microsoft in a traditional way. Rather than trying to remain "feature compatible" at every possible turn, they're more interested in building the best FOSS OS for everyone.
Also, there's the possibility that not all "features" of MS Operating Systems were/are wise ideas in the long-term.
I have to jump on the wagon here as well.
How long would it really take to edit each post before submitting it for public consumption? Slashdot is now one arm of OSTG, and as such their content should be held to the same standards as any other "official" publication.
And please, folks, don't take the easy way out with a generic "slashdot omelet" response: It's the varying points of view that make this site not interesting, not the various manglings of the English language.
Truthfully.