Linux  and Free Software :: Microsoft patents



In my opinion, it's a great blessing that many companies cater primarily to windows; it's like a guarantee that the masses of users will not be able to switch over.  That means the rest of us get to use a great OS without viruses and all the worms, glut, etc., etc., that make using a computer a nightmare.  As long as reading 3 or 4 sentences is a requirement for configuring a new app, or some piece of junk doesn't work with linux, the party we're all enjoying will continue a while longer.
Pity the poor suckers who are out buying Vista computers.
Quote (MakodFilu @ May 22 2007,08:04)
If it contributes to ease your mind, pay a visit to  www.OpenCores.org


Intersting site there; it sounds like good news to me.

Quote (lucky13 @ May 22 2007,09:12)
Sun?! They're in the process of open-sourcing most of their products, including (maybe) Solaris.
http://lucky13.blogsavy.com/category/sun/


I clicked on that URL, but could only get a blank page.  I'll try it again later, but if Sun is going opensource, then that is good news too, because it means a continued supply of usable hardware.

Quote (jpeters @ May 22 2007,12:51)
In my opinion, it's a great blessing that many companies cater primarily to windows; it's like a guarantee that the masses of users will not be able to switch over.  That means the rest of us get to use a great OS without viruses and all the worms, glut, etc., etc., that make using a computer a nightmare.


Either extreme seems bad;  In one direction, we have nothing we can program.  In the other, linux becomes another WinDoze.  Here in the middle is where its at.
:cool:
Quote
That means the rest of us get to use a great OS without viruses and all the worms, glut, etc., etc., that make using a computer a nightmare.

It looks as though you're making the common assumption that a given operating system is prone to malware due to its popularity.  While I think it's possible that an increase in Linux popularity may eventually see an increase in attacks, there seems to be no evidence to back this up. The increase in popularity seen so far in Linux has not resulted in any increase in this sort of nastiness.
Possibly an increase in "user friendliness" may contribute to attacks, but this would likely be if user friendly meant doing things like running as root by default, which is not likely to be the case for most distros.  DSL itself has a questionable approach (in my opinion) to allowing root access, but at least it has the abilty to quickly recover from harm by booting a clean system when desired.

Personally I have neither an elitist nor a promotional view of mainstream linux. Don't really give a damn whether other people like it, and don't care if it becomes the most popular system ever. Given it's open source, it's pretty much guaranteed that Linux or some derivative will continue to be available as long as there are people who want to continue developing a great OS. Enforcing patents against Linux will just mean certain aspects of the operating system may need to be altered.

original here.