____/ [H]omer on Monday 06 August 2007 15:15 : \____
> Verily I say unto thee, that Roy Schestowitz spake thusly:
>> ____/ [H]omer on Monday 06 August 2007 03:34 : \____
>>>> ____/ Stephen Fairchild on Saturday 04 August 2007 22:28 : \____
>>>>> Roy Schestowitz wrote:
>
>>>>>> They can't stay with XP forever. It's from 2001. It's very
>>>>>> outdated. Have you seen the depths of KDE 4 yet?
>>>>>>
>>>>> Is this the same KDE 4 that's being ported to windows? Bit of
>>>>> an own goal don't you think?
>>>
>>> As much as I vehemently despise Windows, KDE is Free software, and
>>> as such it is not for me, you, or anyone else to dictate how it is
>>> used (within the terms of the GPL). If that means someone ports it
>>> to Windows, colours it bright pink, then uses it to destroy planet
>>> earth ... then so be it.
>>
>> The reason why many people move to Linux is escape from
>> lock-in/evil/viruses/whatever. If you give all killer Linux apps
>> (even Compiz-fusuion) to Windows, that won't be bad for Linux
>> adoption. Au contraire --- think about the main Linux adoption peril.
>
> Yes, I recall a similar debate quite recently, where I surmised that one
> of two outcomes would be likely, either:
>
> a) ... Free Software on Windows familiarises Windows users with those
> apps, and hence makes the transition to Linux easier and more
> likely, or ...
> b) ... Apathy dissuades people from switching, since they now have most
> of what they need.
>
> However, scenario b) is less likely IMHO, since they would still have
> the bloated, insecure, buggy, and virus prone Windows framework to
> contend with. But then scenario a) may suffer the same fate (apathy)
> since PCs invariably come pre-installed with Windows.
>
> Overall, yes I agree that keeping Free software off the Windows platform
> would be a better strategy, but then I can't help feeling it would be
> hypocrisy to pro-actively advocate that people cannot use Free software
> any way they wish (within the word and the *spirit* of the GPL).
>
> That does give me pause for thought over the Tivo effect, however. Here
> is a clear case of an abuse of trust, an exploitation, and the very real
> effect of inhibiting those who use and contribute to Free software from
> actually *using* that Free software within the full remit of that
> license and philosophy (i.e. allow modifications that work on the
> hardware those modifications were designed for). Could Microsoft do
> something similar with Free software running under Windows? I did hear
> something along the lines of Windows limits the amount of memory which
> can be allocated to (IIRC) Cygwin apps. Perhaps you can find the
> citation (I'm all Googled out today). :)
There were 2-3 threads about this. I first posted this when it was initially
published. A few months later this turned out not to be true, so I posted a
correction.
> Who knows what Microsoft have planned for the future of the so-called
> (and manically named) TC / TCG / LaGrande / NGSCB / Palladium / TCPA /
> Acronym of the month? Could there be a Tivo-esque implementation of a
> Fritz chip conspiring with the above technologies to lock out certain
> Free Software?
Like DRM, HD, XAML, OOXML, XPS and other standards /du jour/, they are all
patented moving targets that give Microsoft more control. The EU was told by
many companies including giants like IBM that this was anticompetitive and
that Vista should be made illegal in Europe. But who would confront The Beast?
> WGA has probably already pushed many people over the edge, and into the
> welcoming arms of GNU/Linux, would the above maneuver be the final nail
> in Microsoft's coffin? Would they dare actually implement such a
> strategy? It's surprising how vicious (and foolish) a cornered rat can be.
I think our best weapon now is public awareness. If more people looked beyond
Forbes and other Microsoft shill outlets, nobody would stay with Microsoft,
_as a matter of principle_ even. Hey, check this one out...
http://boycottnovell.com/2007/08/06/novell-puppet/ (posted minutes ago)
--
~~ Best of wishes
Roy S. Schestowitz | Open syntax, Open API's, Open Source
http://Schestowitz.com | GNU/Linux | PGP-Key: 0x74572E8E
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