Ah, but you forget DRM, security and

Post #38,988 by imric 5/17/02 8:22:43 AM 5/17/02 8:27:02 AM Reply	Ah, but you forget DRM, security and the BSA. In order to have a non-MS solution, you will have to be able: to survive while MS shuts down your business as they 'research' whether every machine that you own is correctly licensed. That means that even if you have all Linux machines, you can't be running MS software (on Wine, for example) even if you bought it fair and square, because MS software is only licensed to run on approved MS OSes. But don't worry, they'll be quicker about it if you convert to an all-MS shop... If you are running software without DRM, you are a pirate, after all. Expect GPLed OSes that can't contain closed, proprietary software to be outlawed in the US. After all, L.A.M.E security is the only security that lay people understand - and our representatives are all lay-people when it comes to technology. Mid-range and higher companies might be able to afford 'bigger', non-MS controlled hardware and software (with proprietary DRM) - but that's out of reach of the 'little guy' Interoperability will be ZERO with other business unless MS software is at least used as a gateway (another expense that smaller businesses will be affected by, should they try to buck the current). After all, MS must be allowed to keep APIs secret so that the bad hackers can't get in. Again, most people, ESPECIALLY our elected representatives, don't understand that security by obscurity is no security at all - they don't see why secret APIs are unreasonable in that context, especially in a monopoly holder. Expect document formats to be included in this category. It will be done with huge fanfare about how MS will 'solve the problem of macro-viruses'. I might belive that things could still turn out OK, but the antics in the court still seem to indicate (to me, at least) that the fix is in, and that as our leader needs to keep EVERYONE under surveillance (anyone might be a terrorist, after all - why, we even have US terrorists, so the US people are surely not exempt), boosting MS and using thier products as a 'bug' in every digital device is the most convenient way to get the job done. Echelon was a 'cup and string' telephone effort compared to what I suspect the current administration to be up to. I guess I must be an extremist, though. When I discussed this with my Father (a quite intelligent person) all I got were "Relax, that can't happen here" type comments. Imric's Tips for Living Paranoia Is a Survival Trait Pessimists are never disappointed - but sometimes, if they are very lucky, they can be pleasantly surprised... Even though everyone is out to get you, it doesn't matter unless you let them win. Edited by imric May 17, 2002, 08:27:02 AM EDT Expand All History
Post #39,032 by Andrew Grygus 5/17/02 1:05:14 PM Reply	It most certainly can happen here. An encouraging note is the semi-organized storm of protest that has stalled UCITA. In Ed Foster's recent InfoWorld Gripe Line column, he expressed amazement that UCITA didn't die when the ABA denounced it, and that the committee keeps claiming to have fixed it but makes no substantial changes. This is easily explained by Microsoft's support. They very much want it passed, and passed "as is", because it dovetails neatly with their other licensing and control issues. Eventually they'll rename it to lose the UCITA label, but it won't be substantially changed. Even so, UCITA has passed only in AOL's territory (AOL is also a supporter), not in Microsoft's territory. The same resistance has to be brought against anything else from the Hollings / Feinstein / RIAA / MPIA / Microsoft Axis of Evil. Once again, "working on" Microsoft's public image and generating public suspicion of anything they are involved in will pay dividends. Eventually legislators will learn to recognize items that are going to generate a lot of flack. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #39,076 by Ashton 5/17/02 4:48:14 PM Reply	"It Can't Happen Here" - book by Sinclair Lewis. (again) Surely we are even riper for this progression of Authoritarianism than when SL blew the whistle. "Everybody's doing it" suffices for a mantra for the biz-droid who doesn't want the responsibilty of choosing Differently. And his congresscritter. Non vrai? A. (Sure hope we're both pleasantly er 'surprised' - per your sig.)

Welcome to IWETHEY!