Now the U.S. can push back efforts in being "green" for another 20 years! Aren't patents lovely? I bet anyone my life's savings that without patents, Toyota would not have produced the Prius. Not because they wouldn't have had any motivation to, because motivation will still very much be there due to the fact consumers need cars (unfortunately), but because full electric cars would have been a reality ~30 years ago.
That's a very nice summary of the situation. Couldn't have said it better myself, thank you. While there are several more points that could be made about all the different ramifications and nuances involving patents and other angles about Mono, you've touched the main and IMO most important point. Microsoft isn't a neutral standards body. Anyone who thinks that is outright dumb. It has a platform to promote. I call that a pretty big agenda.
rofl, sadly a fairly accurate portrayal of the minds of many IT directors these days, usually the ones getting the kickbacks from software corps like M$.
Saying "oh well it's OK because right now it doesn't hurt anyone too much...right now..." is just plain stupid. Get rid of it, the sooner the better, there's no need to go down that path and risk your programs. Build your programs on open and patent-free things, and help improve/design them if you can, but developing for Mono is developing on top of Microsoft again, you might as well be programming for Windows, and one of the reasons for going open source was to get away from Microsoft and their patent and closed software portfolios.
Why play in their TNT-filled sandbox when you have an open world of possibilities outside it?
I wouldn't at all flinch if you were correct, but are you absolutely sure there are no legitimate reasons for USB other than more money for companies? How about Firewire? I always was under the impression that the point was to make the interfaces smarter (by adding chips) so that the OS could be dumber, but if it would be easier to make a standardized interface/API for device communication using an alternate system, then you're essentially claiming that there is nothing holding back hardware companies from making a system that is much better. So then the question is, why doesn't it exist yet then? Parallel and serial connectors are very big and bulky, so a similar but smaller adapter would have to be created. Not saying that can't be done as it IS done, just look inside laptops sometime at all their connectors, but I'm just confused as to why the market hasn't provided that.
Or you could have a Linux shop, where you only sold stuff compatible with the OS you sell, like Mac shops and Windows shops do. There goes your headache. Oh, but you couldn't do that, because [insert negative emotional brand recognition here]. Fortunately, Linux runs on most Mac and Windows stuff too, so you could even sell some Mac and "Windows hardware" as well.
But, you decided to be a Windows-only shop. Some consumers see value in Linux, it being free, and actually want it and do find uses for it. So do many companies, and more and more OEMs as I'm finding out. You don't apparently see value in it, not enough to have at your store, but that's your choice, and it's a somewhat understandable one don't get me wrong, I guess, with the negative emotional stigmas, and the few issues here and there with Linux (I'm a critic of those issues, don't get me wrong, but I still prefer and use Linux). However, your thinking is a bit old-fashioned due to the changes that are taking place in the market IMO.
I'm happy to see that many challenges are being dealt with, and any nudges to push it in the right direction are appreciated. So, thank you for your posts criticizing driver support, it is an issue and one that great strides have helped resolve with a lot of hardware, but again I think your guesstimates at amount of Linux-compatible hardware are off, but ignoring that... Thanks to constructive criticism and feedback, Linux now has a much more functional wireless networking stack, for example. ^^
If it's an open standard, why haven't other package managers adopted it? Clearly there are more standards that are needed, or it needs to be a better (possibly more neutral? etc) standard, before this "standard" is actually a standard, since it's proprietary to one or a few package managers, instead of being easily adopted by them all. ODF? That's a standard. Support for it can be adopted by any office software. FTP? That's another standard. HTML? Standard. DEB? Not a standard.
Compiling from source takes knowing the command line, searching for dependencies, and in general stuff that 99% of computer users will refuse to do. Tough sell, sorry.
I too am confused. How does VMWare suddenly allow them to run VMs when he just said his machine isn't powerful enough? How is your suggestion helping them and how is it "informative"? Also how is it any different than suggesting VirtualBox or other VM software? Sure, VMWare being bigger I'm sure has more features, but I just don't see how either one is relevant...
Agreed, and as a Linux user I find the severe lack of Linux executables repulsive, and so would any other Linux user. If a program says it's for Linux, give me the goddamn executable, you know, so I can actually run your goddamn program that you apparently want Linux users to run because your project is on Sourceforge and says it's actually for Linux. Until Linux adopts packaging standards which are cross-distro, Linux users will be locked in walled gardens unless they're techie enough to compile, and if Linux is to ever reach mass audiences that option is out, leaving: fucking make more cross-distro packages please. Linux users: push for open packaging standards, and keep weary of any kind of lock-in whatsoever, whether it's lock-in from distros or hardware makers or anyone.
I hope it's not too long before Dirac and other better-than-Theora video codecs also are implemented by Firefox and other browsers, so that websites can also start using them as well.
I know there is still a lot of crapware out there, but I think it's been reduced now days in comparison to the earlier Internet years, probably mostly due to an increase of software competition, not to mention open source software tends to have less or zero since it's easier to circumvent it. Someone sticking stupid ads in an installer package? Fork!
I'm sure 99% of Slashdotters completely agree with you, and that's what TFA is about, the HTML 5 standard. It's stupid that they'd have a barrier like a browser check, and I think most everyone would agree with you there as well. I *hope* they simply wanted to inform users that Firefox 3.5 supports, as far as they know, most of or all of the features of their site, and perhaps other browsers may not be the best to use while viewing their demo, but they should provide an easy way to bypass it of course, or simply put some kind of notification someplace about the situation and about their demo to explain all that.
There needs to be more of this. Businesses who all want the same feature to be added to some open source software need to get together and share the expense. A million times cheaper than closed source software, it simply requires communication.
Push API standards to help with program communication and integration, but still allow differences of course. Some Linux users think of "standardization" as taking away freedoms and conforming, when it does just the opposite. It allows for more competition and differences, because it allows you do try very different paths without causing headaches for community in general.
aka it's when you "sell out", lol. That's the primary reason these sites exist, so that you will hopefully become big enough that you can one day sell out to corps with cash. Whatever intrinsic reasons for hosting a site like Slashdot are long gone, sorry. I'm sure many of them may feel they're giving their honest opinion about stuff still, but their overlords will slowly put an end to that, you'll see.
Slashdot Mirror
Cowabunga!
Now the U.S. can push back efforts in being "green" for another 20 years! Aren't patents lovely? I bet anyone my life's savings that without patents, Toyota would not have produced the Prius. Not because they wouldn't have had any motivation to, because motivation will still very much be there due to the fact consumers need cars (unfortunately), but because full electric cars would have been a reality ~30 years ago.
"Refresh = reboot!"
So it can run Windows then???????!!!!!!!!
Sorry. ^^
So when are the "down with software (and most other IMO) patents" parades going to start? That's the real change that is needed. :P
That's a very nice summary of the situation. Couldn't have said it better myself, thank you. While there are several more points that could be made about all the different ramifications and nuances involving patents and other angles about Mono, you've touched the main and IMO most important point. Microsoft isn't a neutral standards body. Anyone who thinks that is outright dumb. It has a platform to promote. I call that a pretty big agenda.
No, Slashdot is *completely unbiased* when it comes to computer operating systems. Hence their name. ;)
rofl, sadly a fairly accurate portrayal of the minds of many IT directors these days, usually the ones getting the kickbacks from software corps like M$.
"Why aren't more schools doing something like that?"
M$? Failure in general? The fact that corporations direct most all tax spending in most countries?
...and you won't have time to ask questions or debate, you'll be in jail.
Not that, you know, you should support software patents...it's just they create headaches for anyone living in stupid countries.
Saying "oh well it's OK because right now it doesn't hurt anyone too much...right now..." is just plain stupid. Get rid of it, the sooner the better, there's no need to go down that path and risk your programs. Build your programs on open and patent-free things, and help improve/design them if you can, but developing for Mono is developing on top of Microsoft again, you might as well be programming for Windows, and one of the reasons for going open source was to get away from Microsoft and their patent and closed software portfolios.
Why play in their TNT-filled sandbox when you have an open world of possibilities outside it?
Except the kind that hurts someone or is negative/mean, but fortunately the only problem with that for me is it made my stomach churn a bit. :D
I wouldn't at all flinch if you were correct, but are you absolutely sure there are no legitimate reasons for USB other than more money for companies? How about Firewire? I always was under the impression that the point was to make the interfaces smarter (by adding chips) so that the OS could be dumber, but if it would be easier to make a standardized interface/API for device communication using an alternate system, then you're essentially claiming that there is nothing holding back hardware companies from making a system that is much better. So then the question is, why doesn't it exist yet then? Parallel and serial connectors are very big and bulky, so a similar but smaller adapter would have to be created. Not saying that can't be done as it IS done, just look inside laptops sometime at all their connectors, but I'm just confused as to why the market hasn't provided that.
Or you could have a Linux shop, where you only sold stuff compatible with the OS you sell, like Mac shops and Windows shops do. There goes your headache. Oh, but you couldn't do that, because [insert negative emotional brand recognition here]. Fortunately, Linux runs on most Mac and Windows stuff too, so you could even sell some Mac and "Windows hardware" as well.
But, you decided to be a Windows-only shop. Some consumers see value in Linux, it being free, and actually want it and do find uses for it. So do many companies, and more and more OEMs as I'm finding out. You don't apparently see value in it, not enough to have at your store, but that's your choice, and it's a somewhat understandable one don't get me wrong, I guess, with the negative emotional stigmas, and the few issues here and there with Linux (I'm a critic of those issues, don't get me wrong, but I still prefer and use Linux). However, your thinking is a bit old-fashioned due to the changes that are taking place in the market IMO.
I'm happy to see that many challenges are being dealt with, and any nudges to push it in the right direction are appreciated. So, thank you for your posts criticizing driver support, it is an issue and one that great strides have helped resolve with a lot of hardware, but again I think your guesstimates at amount of Linux-compatible hardware are off, but ignoring that... Thanks to constructive criticism and feedback, Linux now has a much more functional wireless networking stack, for example. ^^
If it's an open standard, why haven't other package managers adopted it? Clearly there are more standards that are needed, or it needs to be a better (possibly more neutral? etc) standard, before this "standard" is actually a standard, since it's proprietary to one or a few package managers, instead of being easily adopted by them all. ODF? That's a standard. Support for it can be adopted by any office software. FTP? That's another standard. HTML? Standard. DEB? Not a standard.
Compiling from source takes knowing the command line, searching for dependencies, and in general stuff that 99% of computer users will refuse to do. Tough sell, sorry.
I too am confused. How does VMWare suddenly allow them to run VMs when he just said his machine isn't powerful enough? How is your suggestion helping them and how is it "informative"? Also how is it any different than suggesting VirtualBox or other VM software? Sure, VMWare being bigger I'm sure has more features, but I just don't see how either one is relevant...
Agreed, and as a Linux user I find the severe lack of Linux executables repulsive, and so would any other Linux user. If a program says it's for Linux, give me the goddamn executable, you know, so I can actually run your goddamn program that you apparently want Linux users to run because your project is on Sourceforge and says it's actually for Linux. Until Linux adopts packaging standards which are cross-distro, Linux users will be locked in walled gardens unless they're techie enough to compile, and if Linux is to ever reach mass audiences that option is out, leaving: fucking make more cross-distro packages please. Linux users: push for open packaging standards, and keep weary of any kind of lock-in whatsoever, whether it's lock-in from distros or hardware makers or anyone.
I was going to mark your statement as troll just for fun, but that'd be just wrong of me. ^^
I hope it's not too long before Dirac and other better-than-Theora video codecs also are implemented by Firefox and other browsers, so that websites can also start using them as well.
I know there is still a lot of crapware out there, but I think it's been reduced now days in comparison to the earlier Internet years, probably mostly due to an increase of software competition, not to mention open source software tends to have less or zero since it's easier to circumvent it. Someone sticking stupid ads in an installer package? Fork!
I'm sure 99% of Slashdotters completely agree with you, and that's what TFA is about, the HTML 5 standard. It's stupid that they'd have a barrier like a browser check, and I think most everyone would agree with you there as well. I *hope* they simply wanted to inform users that Firefox 3.5 supports, as far as they know, most of or all of the features of their site, and perhaps other browsers may not be the best to use while viewing their demo, but they should provide an easy way to bypass it of course, or simply put some kind of notification someplace about the situation and about their demo to explain all that.
There needs to be more of this. Businesses who all want the same feature to be added to some open source software need to get together and share the expense. A million times cheaper than closed source software, it simply requires communication.
Push API standards to help with program communication and integration, but still allow differences of course. Some Linux users think of "standardization" as taking away freedoms and conforming, when it does just the opposite. It allows for more competition and differences, because it allows you do try very different paths without causing headaches for community in general.
aka it's when you "sell out", lol. That's the primary reason these sites exist, so that you will hopefully become big enough that you can one day sell out to corps with cash. Whatever intrinsic reasons for hosting a site like Slashdot are long gone, sorry. I'm sure many of them may feel they're giving their honest opinion about stuff still, but their overlords will slowly put an end to that, you'll see.