Comments on: Kevin Carmony Responds, Linspire on Permanent Feature Freeze for GPLv3 Software

By: Roy Schestowitz

Roy Schestowitz — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 06:41:33 +0000

All very fine point. Just for the record, here is the quote from Gates:

,—-[ Quote ]
| …Bill Gates, citing China as an example, said:
|
| “Although about 3 million computers get sold every year in China, but
| people don’t pay for the software,” he said. “Someday they will, though.
| As long as they are going to steal it, we want them to steal ours.
| They’ll get sort of addicted, and then we’ll somehow figure out how to
| collect sometime in the next decade.”
`—-

http://www.cybersource.com.au/press/gates_set_to_addict_next_billion.html

By: Jose

Jose — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 05:58:57 +0000

I don’t interpret the comment as meaning they will avoid GPLv3 [it would be nice if they did]. I think it means that Microsoft and Linspire are dealing around the GPL3. Maybe Microsoft can’t get what they would like exactly, but they can probably still charge Linspire for Linux sales (or for something.. or ..keep reading). If MS doesn’t help sell Linspire distros, MS can still help Linspire in some other way, and Linspire would scratch MS’s back in yet some other way. Look at the Scalix situation. Maybe MS is simply opening doors for free allowing Novell and co to take whatever profits they can get (when the contract comes up for renegotiation, things would change of course). In fact, MS already benefits by appearing to work with Linux. MS benefits with people getting hooked on MS tech. MS benefits if they can close off potential bridges away from MS (the competition bought out and put to pasture) or by eventually charging a toll through the few remaining access points. As Gates said of Chinese piracy [paraphrased]: let them have for free today what they will then be willing to pay for tomorrow. I hope in the end MS ends up with a perfectly fortified and locked down kingdom but no inhabitants.

Anyway, the best thing is to motivate people to leave Windows altogether and with it all Window-ish things. For that we have to keep improving Linux and keep letting people know what Microsoft is about. I think we should also help build interesting media in open formats. Let’s get people to wonder what they have to download to be able to see/hear some cool ogg X material.

Imagine if you configured a Linux live CD specially for someone you know. They would probably want to reuse that CD frequently. It has a certain coolness factor. Also, as motivation, you can keep the base distro updated with new apps or with something the person likes. The idea being to offer them something they like that you can’t get on Windows. Get them to help you build it for them (by giving you preferences). Build a business. Automate the process and grow out. ??? Profit. [There are alternatives to a plain CD.. I used that for illustrative purposes.]

By: Rickie Stallman

Rickie Stallman — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 06:45:04 +0000

Shitsnowitz rocks!

By: Rickie Stallman

Rickie Stallman — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 06:37:49 +0000

Or maybe this one Shitsnowitz!

But to get back to my original question, are you going to stop spamming COLA and other USENET forums, as well as Digg? Or what?

By: Rickie Stallman

Rickie Stallman — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 06:33:16 +0000

Do you like this IP better Shitsnowitz?

By: Roy Schestowitz

Roy Schestowitz — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 05:27:07 +0000

Care to identify yourself, “gplistheft@microsoft.biz @ ip68-231-58-143.ph.ph.cox.net” ? Or would you rather make void and false accusations anonymously?

By: Rickie Stallman

Rickie Stallman — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 05:10:56 +0000

So Shitsnowitz, when are you going to stop spamming USENET, Digg and Netscape?