Just took time to actually read the Windows7Sins website.

Beyond the creppy feeling of a satanic nerd wearing a tinfoil hat looking over your shoulder, the information they shove on the front page isn't even close to factually accurate.

My favorite 'crap' was this gem regarding Windows NT 4.0 Server: "Microsoft claimed, was suited and tailored for use as an Internet server while NT Workstation was grossly inadequate."

NT Server from 1996 was NOT made to be an Internet server, nor marketed as an 'Internet Server'.

It was made and marketed as a corporate server, which is what it did and did well from handing out security to client and roaming profiles to file and printer sharing services.

The IIS and 'Internet Server' features were not even installed by default and came on a secondary CD.

So much for an 'information' campaign, wow, sad...

They need to hire Apple's marketing company so they at least don't sound stupid while peddling snake oil, like Apple.

Make some flavor of Linux a *user friendly* and quality alternative and I'll switch.

BTW internetworld7 - "Get a Mac and be free" is about as laughable a comment anyone can make. Are you being serious?

LOL. This is classic! This post made my day. :-) http://www.windows7sins.org Awesome!

Get a Mac and be free.

If it weren't for games and work, I would have been off Windows (and to Linux) a long time ago. I don't use much Microsoft tech on a personal level, but I pretty much have to on a corporate level. I would *never* spend any of my own money on Microsoft technology, period, and that will always be the case.

I'm not much of a gamer. But, I understand from the 'work' point of view. I'm forced into Windows Mobile because of my employer. What really throws me off though is that a Java based Nextel would work just as well for my needs.

I refuse to give MS any of my money aswell. I'll admit to using the software. But, I use more than just their software.

The one point that I will concede to extremely well is that even though it isn't impossible to build a Mac...it is easier to build a computer to run Windows. But, at the same time...it's just as easy (for me anyway) to build a computer to run Linux.

The only computers I will ever own that I wont build for myself are laptops. Whatever OS gets put onto it. Personally, I feel like knowing Windows, Mac, and Linux (all 3) makes for a better more well rounded tech. Extremely well can have the Windows world. I want to know it all. I can't limit myself to just Microsoft.

It's enough for me to sit for an hour or two, once every 1-2 years with someone who really loves their Mac and show me what it is really that makes him love it so much. Then I can make a decision whether it's worth the price to switch or not. It's not like I shield myself from the Mac/Linux world -- I actually know more Unix scripting than most Linux users...

I support the Open Source movement fundamentally, but not enough to actually suffer using most junky open code in comparison to the much better commercial stuff (which is pirateable). And it really all boils down to personal financial state...the more money I have, the more likely I am to be willing to spend a lot more for only slightly more (lighter faster brighter laptop)...and possibly switch camps to Mac. The less disposable income I have the more likely I am to spend as little as possible to get the job done, be it on old Windows machines or new faster machines with cheaper/free software (open source).

Everyone does what they want to do. The trick that is often missed is that people (especially when it technology) simply don't realize there is a choice. Too many people actually saw AOL "AS" the internet. We all know that is false but people would see it as that. When all a user knows is Microsoft, it's easy to see the world as Microsoft. Computers are about alot more than who made the OS. I believe this gets to the heart of why so many people know so little about computers. Our society has become so very dependent on these things yet the vast majority knows nothing about them. Why? It is not healthy to absorb yourself in nothing but Microsoft. But, if that's the only thing that a child learns and grows up with...a slanted view of reality gets created. It becomes easy to get lied to. I want to know it all, but I know I never will. If any one company is allowed to take control, that will only serve to further the levels of ignorance. Many of you may not realize it, but most of the world (outside of the tech world anyway) will never even be able to use XP to it's potential....much less Windows Vista or Windows 7. Gamers get closer to it but, gaming is only a small sliver of what this is really all about. Most office workers wouldn't even max out the power that Win98se had. The true tests for these things are in the IT departments, server rooms, in the hands of the tech enthusiast, hackers, and anyone else with a real passion for it. Unfortunately, all these people pale in comparison to the ever growing numbers of everyone else (the sheeple).

Microsoft doesn't really have much power if the users have more and more basic needs. That's why I would probably find it TORTURE to use a Mac (I know the Windows world wayyy too well) while someone with more "average" needs would be impressed by some lame feature in the MacOS to the point he'll buy an expensive Mac. While I'll have a BETTER MORE ENHANCED feature on my Windows machines via some third party *ehrrm*pirated*rhhmm* app.

I've said it before -- if I had to pay for all software I use, I most definitely would look more deeply into the alternatives. However, even in 5-10 years from now, when the OS is near-impossible to steal and so is Photoshop and other serious software, well even then an OLD Photoshop and an OLD Windows and OLD MS Office are STILL gonna be much much better (in my eyes) than the alternatives for many many years to come from that point, and if only because I already KNOW THEM INSIDE OUT. I'd get over this dependency eventually when my old versions start to feel overly limiting and I'll be in the market for a new "computing world" package deal.

I'd still PROBABLY favor Microsoft unless it'll be Microsoft vs. the entire united world, or in other words Google merges/buys Adobe (creativity), Oracle (everything is done smarter in SQL), IBM/Apple (obvious -- OS experience), Cisco (every home needs networking/telephony), Dell/HP (marketing power), Intel/AMD (the power to dictate the rules to the OS makers), etc etc. Basically an "entitity" with enough strength to overpower MS and grab 30%+ marketshare in the OS market. It could realistically happen when the economy will get really bad again and the above companies will actually grow some balls to try their stab at world domination -- or shrivel up and die. ;)

Not having the possibility of editing the precedent post I would like to add the following lines:

Microsoft has the blindness and deafness characteristic of those who have too much money. Their eyes and ears are very small. They pay no attention to what users want, forgetting that they are the ones who paid the money they've got, and for this reason it is sure that they will keep having repeated losses.

Microsoft does not manufacture anything. They create designs, just the same that Leonardo Da Vinci once did. No work is perfect, the same way as no human is perfect, and each of their designs has its advantages and disadvantages. And support is a very different thing: any product can be sold "as is", and the buyer must know that in all cases.

When you buy a pair of shoes you examine many different models and choose afterwards the one which best suits to your taste, to your budget and of course to your feet. Similarly, if you need a computer for repetitive control tasks the best for you can be any of the old Windows operating systems, or Linux instead, but never Vista or Windows 7 or any other even more sophisticated future one. Everyday you can find hundreds of thousands of such cases all over the world.

Machines are made by other people, in most cases far from America, and their interests are only centered in forcing users to throw away anything they have, doesn't matter if they need it or not. And Microsoft surrenders again and again to their interests. Unlike the Italian designer, and also unlike any animal, Microsoft kills all his previous children when their last one is born. They are killing the hen of the golden eggs.

"if you need a computer for repetitive control tasks the best for you can be any of the old Windows operating systems, or Linux instead, but never Vista or Windows 7 or any other even more sophisticated future one."

What the hell are repetitive control tasks? What the hell are you talking about Windows 7 being bad? Only a complete IDIOT is gonna DOWNGRADE from an OEM-installed Windows 7 laptop/desktop to XP/Linux... Windows 7's KERNEL is better/faster/more modular/more secure than XP. Future OSs' KERNELS are gonna be better still...

Microsoft doesn't surrender to hardware manuf's needs... It's a symbiotic relationship. MS doesn't wanna design CPUs, video cards, and motherboards -- their passion is software. The big heads at MS aren't top notch computer engineers...otherwise you'd see them already getting into hardware as well...which eventually of course they naturally will get into...(will be forced into rather).

It's very obvious you don't understand the computer industry if you think MS has any other choice than to canibalize on its own "children" (previous software releases). Any manuf, hardware and software, in this industry has competitors that will completely annihilate them if they don't sacrifice their "old children" for the "future generation" if you had to make that analogy to human beings (I've got no problem repeating stupidity for absurdizing it).

Microsoft knows that it's very unlikely you're gonna upgrade XP to Windows7...max 5% of ppl will do that. 95% of Windows 7 machines in 3-5 years are gonna be OEM (preinstalled) Windows 7 machines... Thus, MS has a clear interest in pushing customers to buy new hardware as soon as possible (instead of every 6 years, lets say every 4 years). That's also why they have an interest in producing CPU-intensive apps, or rather server software, that slowly they'll push to the home market (voicemail systems, media centers, backup/storage systems, simplified web server systems, etc etc).

Dear extremelywell:

In the late eighties I used IBM machines, and in the first nineties I personally experienced as a proffesional the incredible change which meant the introduction of the first OS of Microsoft. Since then I love Microsoft and I'm sure I'll never change to Linux or Mac. But I don't have any interests in defending them when I think that they are doing anything wrong.

My life and my interests today are very far from the computing world, but I enter in this appreciated forum very frequently simply because it is a very proffesional one. It is objective, documented and has a pool of excellent cultivated members. It is no doubt one of the bests of its kind in the world.

I say my sincere opinion here only when I think I have something to say. Maybe I'm right, or maybe I'm wrong. Nobody is infallible. But I enjoy doing it and that's all my interest.

After reading your appreciations, which I totally respect, I'd like to remark these points:

1.- Nobody is gonna downgrade from Vista or from Windows 7, unless he is mad. Simply won't upgrade, or will buy Linux units for simple workstations. This is a bad economic moment.

2.- I wonder what's the difference between a "symbiotic relationship" and a pool to force users to buy by not providing spare parts and withdrawing the drivers for working old products from the webpages.

3.- If the old Microsoft software were available, it could be preinstalled for simple needs which now are satisfied using Linux.

4.- Competitors can't annihilate Microsoft by using old Microsoft products. If the hardware providers pay for the preinstalled product licenses, according to law, Microsoft would keep earning money. The price of licenses is always in their hands. Piracy exists and will always exist, but the buyers of preinstalled machines are never pirates, and there is nothing bad if you want a computer with preinstalled XP or Windows 98, even knowing that you do not enjoy the support of Microsoft.

5.- IMHO the reference to civil rights made by the FSF is accurate only in one point: Microsoft has totally clear than almost 70 % of his customers will keep using Windows XP, and for that reason they fight against them using as instrument the life-cycle policy and their pool with hardware manufacturers. No doubt they expect a complete victory as it happended in their fight against Windows 98. But the use of these means could eventually kill their hen of the golden eggs.

Well, that's how I see it.

Of course, I respect your opinions, which I'm sure are a fruit of your own experience.

Please allow me to have my own opinion as a fruit of my own life.

Thanks.

"1.- Nobody is gonna downgrade from Vista or from Windows 7, unless he is mad. Simply won't upgrade, or will buy Linux units for simple workstations. This is a bad economic moment."

Only on complete-zero budget (meaning you have hardware but no OS) would I consider wasting precious time/knowledge resources on Linux incl training myself/others. I know MS products too well -- thousands of hours worth of data in my head... So on the smallest (non-zero) budget I'd save the headache and buy used WinXP or even Win98 machines... Unless I'm 100% convinced that the near-future (5yrs) needs of the biz will not require Windows apps or interoperability with Win-Office files arriving from outside or produced for the outside. You can always find crappy Linux alternatives...but if those alternatives waste you time (learning them & producing with them slower/inefficiently) or are missing some feature that generates you MONEY, then their cost is obviously not really $0... You lost time/money...

"2.- I wonder what's the difference between a "symbiotic relationship" and a pool to force users to buy by not providing spare parts and withdrawing the drivers for working old products from the webpages. "

This isn't cars we're talking about here. That's why there ARE laws that mandate keeping spare parts for cars (big investments in the $10K's) but not for fast-pace-moving products in the computing world, priced at $10's for most parts which normally have many many dif manuf making them... I don't really see a problem - sorry. And if a driver is removed from a webpage, you can always find it in google or on websites that specialized on drivers. Mankind did LIVE JUST FINE before the internet, after all, which gave every tiny manuf a web presence... Not everything MUST be spoon-fed...

"3.- If the old Microsoft software were available, it could be preinstalled for simple needs which now are satisfied using Linux. "

It is available. On eBay...on Craigslist... MS can't stop you from going the frugal way if you're willing TO SPEND AN EFFORT.

"4.- ...and there is nothing bad if you want a computer with preinstalled XP or Windows 98, even knowing that you do not enjoy the support of Microsoft."

But there's no REAL demand for those primitive OS's. If there was, people would stock up on Windows XP licenses and resell them 10 years later. THEY CAN DO THAT. Or are you now also saying MS must sell its old OS much cheaper than its newest OSs? Not really.. It's not fair like that... When someone wants a discontinued item (like me purchasing some rare perfume) then they gotta pay a premium for being outside the supply-demand curve. If you think the gov should step in and demand MS and the manufs to continue supporting XP for so many more years, then you gotta prove there are enough ppl like you to justify the resources spent on that wasteful path. Any sane manuf already does make drivers for XP (and Vista)... I really don't see how you can say with a straight face that MS is twisting people's arms through their manufacturers to move away from XP...

"When two people say they think the same way, they don't think what they say or they dont say what they think".

Well, there are always different ways of seeing the same things.

And remember it is not me who says that MS is "twisting people's arms" but FSF. I simply think they may be right, just in this point but not in the rest of their manifest.

Reading what FSF writes makes you laugh because they clearly exaggerate a lot. We all all over the world already have a Microsoft computing culture which is difficult to change, and on the other side there are many things that until today can not be done with free software.

It makes sense however their reference to the life cycle policy (they use the concept but not the words). There should be no pool between software and hardware providers, using the end of the life cycle as starting point for withdrawing spare parts from all stores and the existing drivers from the webpages.

They should not only mind their own interests, and be more respectful towards old customers who use their computers for simple tasks and therefore don't feel any need to update or upgrade at all.

The lifecycle policy, together with the software/hardware pool, are a constant threat and pressure to all users to force them to periodically buy new software and hardware for doing the same things, no matter if they need it or not, and the reference to civil rights may be accurate in this point. They should keep selling the old operating systems even without any support, doing the neccesary advertence of it, and let them die a natural death.

While there is some true to it, Richard Stallman and the FSF have gone overboard on many occasions. Funny how they don't mention any of the *BSDs as an alternative and Mac OS X is nowhere to be found.

I use Ubuntu (distribution of) Linux as much as I use Windows and for most people who need access to the internet, it's quite good. However, when it comes to games, Windows 7 will be the only good choice, as the Linux/BSD games portfolio is really limited.

Can't they see that Windows-kingdom is quite at risk of cloud-computing? If one day Windows were to disappear, it's quite sad that it's not because of FSF.

IMO, what they're doing is pretty pathetic.

In Essense, FSF is hopping on the anti-MS bandwagon to seem like they are doing a good thing. But in fact, since they believe that any software with a "price tag" is evil, then they are in fact, in favor of destroying the entire software industry. Just think...this means all video games must be "evil" since they come with a price tag as well....hmmm..

"But in fact, since they believe that any software with a "price tag" is evil, then they are in fact, in favor of destroying the entire software industry."

More like society in general. Ya know, work and productivity being incentive based, and that incentive being, well...money.

Why is everyone thinking about free software as bad?

There is a little psychological game around this that economics do:
You play the game and when it's your turn you can choose:
a) Get money and everybody gets money
b) Don't take money and nobody gets money

The right choice is a but our feelings say it's wrong because the others, your competitors then also get money. Our feelings go for b. The brain says a is the best.

It works very good for physical goods but not for duplicable virtual goods.
Also companies should consider this problem, there is a nice article here that discusses it:
http://dmartin.org/weblo...y-products-gpl-products

It's a horrible thing to see this happen over and over again.
People listen too much to their instincts, aren't realizing what the situation actually is.
Anyway, the competition from free software does make the market better and keeps the competition a little bit sharp.

Also in school. I was taught about computer with only Windows.
They didn't even mentioned free alternatives when I was in school,
heard that this has improved a tiny bit.
The lessons where are all about MS Windows, MS IE, MS Office.
They don't learn why the size the explorer says doesn't make sense, or a general explanation of a File menu. Haven't seen anything about Linux.
MS is giving government institutions a lot of discounts and has a lot of people who decide about lesson plans for the entire country(USA)!
If the government uses it, the rest will follow, and that works!

Education and educational departments ARE corrupted by Microsoft,
also the ISO: International Standards Organization.
(Putting 6000 pages on a fast track, shame on you MS.)

Google for ISO + OOXML scandal if you don't believe me.
Take a look at the warnings and discussions on the Wikipedia pages about OOXML and ODF.

The only positive thing about Windows 7 is that it's a capable, reasonable decent OS.

Here a little link on a more general and bad behaviour of companies:
http://boycottnovell.com.../bottling-up-free-water/

(BoycottNovell.com has a lot of conspiracy theories for people who are interested in some good old conspiracy stories. Actually most of it consists of accurate information that can be checked. )

The nice things about these kind of ultra-liberal, tiny yet ultra-vocal organizations, is that they do make a small impact! And I don't particularly care how much they are in need of taking lithium or whatever that drug is called that chronic paranoids take... hehehehe

As an avid MS products user (mainly through pirated means) I'd support the competition to some limited degree only (donation, letter/petition) so it will always be there... No competition = higher prices and less innovation. MS has sat on its lardy arse for so many years with IE until Firefox came in and demonstrated MORE features are needed. Likewise for the MacOS influence. VERY VERY GOOD INFLUENCE. You gotta be blind not to also see the wonderful impact OpenOffice has on MS Office prices, which are, if I recall, cheaper than ever, like MS OS's are, IF YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE INSANE INFLATION OUR ECONOMY HAS BEEN HAVING.

And no, I still ain't gonna use some junky open source OS/office unless I'm really on COMPLETE ZERO budget, and I ain't gonna throw away money on "supposedly" a more "friendly" and "better engineered" OS, i.e. MacOS. For me, even when cost is an issue (budget is very low but not zero), an old MS Office and some older MS OS will be the choice for at least the next 10 years..

Putting my money where my mouth is..I've just made a donation..in the name of... I'll give you 3 guesses. (Hint: who's the biggest IT philanthropist? ;) )

Just don't be shy to try!

(Most Linux distributions can have applications not available for Windows.)

"As an avid MS products user (mainly through pirated means)..."

Thanks for letting the world know about your criminal activities.

No doubt one of the MSVP's who undoubtedly read this site will be even more grateful when they get your name and contact info from the administrators.

Hahahahahahahahahaha *cling* *cling* I just heard my ballz shivering of phear hahahahahahahahahahaha

I kinda feel sad for these guys, the subject of so much ridicule

i really wonder what Peter Brown is smoking, cause i want it! This way i can just ignore the world, say and do whatever I want. And pray i never run out so I can stay on Cloud9 forever!!!! Because reality just sucks

Well that convinces me. I was going upgrade thousands of corporate computers. But no more. Now I'll have to either stay with XP or switch to Linux. Ubuntu or Red Hat? Decisions decisions....

lol, that was an awesome joke!
(that was a joke, right?) =P

I love W7 much more than I loved Vista. Contrary to popular belief, Vista was a much needed change from the rampant unbridled access to system resources that you got with XP unless you had a clue on how to run programs as a limited user, like you should have been doing in any NT-kernel-based in the first place, but the problems lay in the fact that it was rushed out the door with many enhancements removed and it suffered badly at the hands of folks who thought they were going to be able to take their 4 year old P4-based machines and install Vista and expect it to be as fast as XP. Furthermore, the whole works with Vista fiasco made things even worse - but in my opinion, the constant nagging of UAC was not only needed but sorely missing from XP.

In the article, the quotation from FSF reads as follows: "Microsoft spends large sums on lobbyists and marketing to corrupt educational departments. An education using the power of computers should be a means to freedom and empowerment, not an avenue for one corporation to instill its monopoly." Has the FSF ever actually gone to and talked to the technology officials in actual school districts to find out *why* this is happening? In case the FSF folks haven't been paying attention, it is not M$ decision to implement what is used in a school - it is the school district's decision. Until the FSF can show cold hard facts that these school districts are *pressured* (as opposed to *enticed*, a completely different approach) this sort of argument has ABSOLUTELY NO BASIS.

Then there is this little gem: "...FSF Executive Director Peter Brown argued that free software, unlike Microsoft software or anything with a price tag, respects individuals freedoms and does not extend the tentacles of the global spy syndicate." WTF??? OK, let's say I write this wonderful software for doing something as mundane a task as I can think of - let's say it regularly checks for updates for software that I have installed, and not only informs me about the update, but also categorizes the updates into types - critical, important, optional (critical for vulnerability fixes, important for minor bug fixes, and optional for just a new version with no real fixes, perhaps just new features involved). I then need a place to host it - after all, instead of writing the app in assembly, I used an IDE and my language of choice to make it easily accessible to the masses. Let's say the size is a mere 5 MB, and it gets downloaded, say, 2000 times a month.

Who is going to pay for my bandwidth? Who is going to pay for my time and efforts in developing the software? Who is going to compensate me for the technical support I have to provide?

I could just as easily include something like the Ask toolbar to offset my costs - oh, yeah, that most definitely "...does not extend the tentacles of the global spy syndicate." Right. Same as with bundled LOP (dot) com bundles of yesteryear, too, right? Same with adware of all sorts today. Which, of course, is why we even have advertising on websites to begin with, b/c we all know that maintaining websites and downloads is absolutely, unequivocally, free.

They need their heads examined. Collectively speaking, of course.

You could use torrents to not overload your website.
And the more users download it, the more resources there will be.
Ain't that great?

That's great, bopb99....but what about:

"Who is going to pay for my time and efforts in developing the software? Who is going to compensate me for the technical support I have to provide?"

I got free licencing for one of Microsofts tools for my GPLv2 project then one of Microsoft's devs even spent two weeks helping me with the implementation... The amount of crap coming from FSF about Windows and Microsoft is astounding, I want facts before I believe their hypocritical bull****

What project is it?
If it serves them, they will help you!

i think i'll title my paper for school "windows7:dont upgrade", since it seems to work great here :)

"You deserve to be able to hire your favorite programmer..."

*gasp*

You heard it here folks:

The Free Software Foundation suggests Paying For Software!!!

Isn't the art of programming, in essence, making software?

I really wish these guys had a bit more brains...they really make it too easy to make fun of them. It's not even a real challenge.

OTOH, If the claims being made by the FSF were *truly* so then you wouldn't have vendors like Red Hat and Novell around, now would you?

Quoth the fathead:
"You know the FSF is not about eliminating the currency from software."

From TFA:
"FSF Executive Director Peter Brown argued that free software, unlike Microsoft software or anything with a price tag"

Yeah...OK, fatty. Whatever you say...

"You really can not be that dumb, can you?"

I've tried, but I just can't ever seem to quite reach the depths of "stupid" that you seem to call home.

So, wait a second fatty... As one of the most outspoken apple fanbois, you are honestly agreeing with FSF?! *laughing* Why? Just because they are attacking Microsoft? Would you be supporting them if they were attacking your beloved Apple? No, I think not... quit trolling already... your stupidity astounds us...

Tool... you literally hit the nail on the head.

Yeah about that...

But, he said, the stakes are high--and it's about more than just which operating system gains market share. Brown points to Amazon.com's recent deletion of e-books from the Kindle as an example of the kinds of action that could become commonplace if the world becomes more filled with digital rights management technologies.

"That's the kind of power that proprietary software gives to these corporations," he said. "When we give that power, sooner or later somebody comes knocking, whether it is the government or the corporations themselves. Free software is kind of the answer to that."

Although the letter focuses on Microsoft, he said the group is also concerned with other products, including the new Snow Leopard operating system from Apple, which goes on sale on Friday.

"It's not just Microsoft," Brown said. "It's a problem generally for society that we should accept proprietary software when there is an alternative."

@term:

...anything with a pricetag. :)

Free software, paid support.
Free software + open source --> no vendor lock-in --> support by anyone of customer choosing
Support company is free to strike an agreement with vendor (it's usually done like this for major corporate applications, anyway) to get training and ability to escalate issues to developer level.

Regards,
Ruemere

Disingenuous. Most support is done in-house for large companies. Most OEM buyers either take it to a local store or have a friend fix it (support of their choosing)...regardless of OS or brand.

What a load of crap from the FSF. Is there something missing from this article that would make it less crap ? Did I miss read anything ? what ?
I have no problems with any company writing software and selling it. Now whether that software is worth buying, that's a whole other story.
So does that mean all FSF members will have to stop doing business ? No more please donate buttons etc. Does that mean various Linux distros can't make custom versions for clients and sell it, will they have to stop selling tech support etc.

Maybe I'm missing something but seems to be FSF has their heads up their :)

That's just my 2 cents.

I'm removing betanews from my tech reading list. I have no problem with factual news, or even opinion pieces. But I want at least some balance and objectivity, something BN has pretty much lost.
Odd that at least one other site I read daily posts "negative" news articles about companies and OS's other than MS and Windows. And yet...very rarely does anything of that sort make it here. If you too want to jump on the MS HATERZ bandwagon, this is the place.

Out of curiosity: What other site are you talking about?

BluesNews. If you just glance at it, it's a good bit of gaming news, but it has industry news, rumors, and lots of hardware/software reviews and previews. Blue just posts what he collects all over, and doesn't seem to discrminate or show bias.

Funny.
Microsoft Produces Softwares and Hardwares for money like other produsers all over the world.
This is world of competiton, If you can not bear, you lose.
Windows 7 will be great.

Why not Apple ? Why not Amazon ? Has FSF forgot how Amazon accessed all the kindles and deleted the copies of "1984" ?

I wonder where FSF is getting the funding for this ad campaign ? Go from Windows7 to Linux ?

That's like going from 2009 to 1980. Let FSF stop using cellphones...all the telcos monitor your calls....they should not use Internet because ISP colluding with RIAA / MPAA is doing packet inspection.....

crazy people...who singly can do nothing and together decide to bring down somebody doing something...

They are also against Apple and Amazon!

what OS are we supposed to use instead then? There's only free Linux

And given the size and extent of illegal filesharing, the claim about our paying for software seems kinda weak...

I also find it funny how the writer seems so objective here lol

There is all sorts of Unix, Linux is only one of them.
e.g. BSD, OpenSolaris

God, just what we need another conspiracy theory. This is rediculous and silly. Now lets move on rather than worry about all this nonsense that most likely is a lie or a stretch of truth at best... I have no time for such Torrien Excretia.

You can spell Torrien Excretia (and apprently even know what it means), but you can't spell ridiculous, correctly?

Sorry, couldn't resist. I'm a jerk. ;)

LOL quite right, I missed that little typo I did. I shall try harder next time... :) Oh I have to ask, is spelling a prerequisite here? Well to some perhaps it is. After all, I am edikated.. :) Oh and yes, I most certainly do know what it means! I was being polite or is that not allowed here? :)

It's allowed, just frowned upon. Not nearly as entertaining as bring well....a jerk. :)

You should try it. :p

This is too funny. I bet this is funded by Apple or at least some Apple fanatic. Or maybe Linux. Thanks for the good laugh. I needed it.

"I bet this is funded by Apple or at least some Apple fanatic. Or maybe Linux."

Name of foundation sponsoring this: Free Software Foundation.

Apple: Not free

Linux: Free.

Clear that up for ya? ;)

PC, just because someone makes a comment or statement such as this, even if it is RIDICULOUS it does not mean they are from Apple or Linux or Unix or Mars. So what is your point?

"it does not mean they are from Apple or Linux or Unix or Mars. So what is your point?"

???

Care to explain where I claimed "they" were from *anywhere*???

Lay off the drugs, man. You're seeing things.

"The goal of this empire of evil, FSF claims, is no less than the indoctrination of the world's many citizens into believing that only Microsoft's software should be installed on computers."

Last time I checked, the goal of Crest toothpaste was the indoctrination of the world's many citizens into believing that only Crest toothpaste should be installed on toothbrushes. And the goal of the PLO was the indoctrination of the world's many citizens into believing that only Palestinians should be installed in Israel. None of these organizations have ever achieved 100% of their goals, and none of them ever will, whether they hand out flyers or not.

Maybe the Detroit Lions are willing to set low goals, but real competitors always aim high. Pepsi management isn't sitting around saying, "Guys, if we could just reach 35% market share, we can give it a rest and stop trying."

Why don't you take your decay propaganda and your pro "holes in teeth" agenda elsewhere, you cavity creep sympathizer! :)

A quote from the movie Hackers as your main defense against Microsoft's business practices?

Good luck with that, FSF.

I imagine that this is your project plan:

1) Protest the evilness of Microsoft and the sainthood of GNU/Linux.
2) ???
3) PROFIT!

Why don't you take a stroll out of your 'batcave' (read: your parent's basement) and direct your rage at some other deserving people. My suggestions are:

1) Apple. They are the number one seller of high-end laptops now, and the iPhone is one of the most popular mobile platforms in the world. The days of them getting a niche-market pass on carrier exclusivity deals and closed-door, draconian app approval decisions are over. Also, it could be argued that Apple stole OSX from BSD. Why are you not mad about that? Why are you not protesting that the snow leopard matrix has me?

and / or

2) Yourself, FSF, and the rest of the whiney linux communtity that HAS A GOOD OPERATING SYSTEM and has HAD THREE YEARS of industry disenchantment over Vista to mount a campaign to gain ground in the workstation OS market, but instead has done nothing but whined about it. Not to mention in that time the EPIC FAIL of being unable to release a netbook distro that can compete with WINDOWS XP!?!?!?!

TRASHING, TRASHING.... HACK THE PLANET
HACK THE PLANET :)

I like the part in the flyer where is says : "You deserve to be able to hire your favorite programmer to fix it when it breaks. You deserve free software."

It's just the opposite. With Windows, you pay the software and get support/updates for free (well... for the time the OS gets support.) and with FSF's thinking, you get free software but you need to hire a programmer for updates & support, and I don't know many programmers that works for free...

They are right in some ways, we deserve freedom and privacy but do they have a solution for the casual Joe in that flyer, a way we can buy a computer that "just works" with all that freedom and privacy, one I can play some games when I want, and the ones I want, one that include my primary language, don't see that in the flyer... I'm also not a programmer, so how do I know that this free software is secure, not spying on me? Who do I believe? The same people who are saying that uTorrent is cursed by the RIAA after version 1.6 build 488 or something...? Steve? Linus? I just don't know.

Noboby strong-armed me to adopt 7, I just needed a change from XP, like a new hair cut, or a new pair of boxers that were comfy, but just plain old and full of holes!

Cheers!

Say what? Computers should never have anything but Microsoft software. That's just wrong. Windows Genuine Advantage is a feature that prevents pirated copies of Windows which contain viruses from being used. Windows is one of the most secure operating systems you can buy. Microsoft releases more security updates for their operating system than anyone else. This means Microsoft has a stronger commitment to protecting customers from hackers and viruses than any other company in existence. Most people's "favorite programmers" are probably on Microsoft's payroll anyways.

The bottom line is this: If you don't pay someone money you won't get a fast, secure and reliable operating system. The more money you pay the more secure your operating system will be.

The FSF needs to go away and die a horrible death. x-(

Whoa...hold up big guy. Let's not make claims that can't really be backed up. I'm with you 100% about the FSF, but;
1) "Windows Genuine Advantage is a feature that prevents pirated copies of Windows which contain viruses from being used" - it *might* contain viruses...but yeah, it's common-place. WGA is still LARGELY for anti-piracy purposes. It's been estimated that less than 25% of Windows OS and MS Office installations are legitimate.
2) "Windows is one of the most secure operating systems you can buy" - Not hardly. Out of the box, RedHat and OS X are more secure. However, with proper configuration and 3rd-party tools/AV/etc, Windows *can become* one of the most secure operating systems you can buy.

Windows may not be THE most secure operating system available, but it is much more secure than Linux. If Redhat is anything like Ubuntu then there are probably mountains and mountains of updates to download too. All Linux distributions have more updates released solely for the purpose of fixing bugs from previous updates than Windows. The only reason that Mac OS X is more secure is because according to nearly all of the hackers out there it's some obscure OS that hardly anyone uses. Apple seems to agree and as a result doesn't release very many security updates.

As for WGA, unless someone is taking a legitimate Windows installation DVD and installing it on multiple computers then all pirated versions of Windows contain viruses and other malware. People don't take the time and effort to post malware free copies of Windows on the internet. That would be a complete waste of time.

"You deserve free software"...what a bunch of bull$hit. C'mon...to think that you deserve everything in life to be free is an ignorant statement - unless we are going to a complete Communist state. If so, then yeah, it should not cost you any money because then you assume it's the Government's responsibility to provide you with all of your needs. Go talk to the now-defunct USSR about that one...see how much you like that way of life.

People, get real. I love Linux and Open Source, but that doesn't mean I should expect MS or any other company to give me something for free. It's like 'free' healthcare...it ALWAYS comes at a cost, and it's rarely worth that price.

The flyer wasn't worded well, because while it's clear from the previous paragraph, they are talking about "free" as in "freedom", not "free" as in "beer", but you didn't recognize that.

Everyone should have "free" as in "freedom" software.

"There is free software available right now for any activity you or your business needs, and it is better in the most important aspect -- it respects your freedom."

Funny. I thought having something that actually worked was the most important aspect of running specialized software. Clearly, I'm psychologically flawed and immature for thinking this way.

The FSF really needs to grow up and save itself whatever shreds of dignity that it can.

What a bunch of nonsense!!!! Linux community is so small, and they need to SOMEHOW get attention so they see this as the easiest solution: to hammer away at the market leader.

I guess Mac OS is a much better choice then, right, Apple not even allowing their own OS to be installed on hardware other than being produced by Apple.

STOP FREAKING WHINING!!! Firefox, Opera is doing the same thing. It gets to a point where it just make them look like the cry baby in the classroom.

Much agreed. Let's not forget...OS X is proprietary (it's a copyrighted OS running a *nix kernel), and it costs you as well. Granted, you don't pay much for the OS, but you DO for the hardware (in order to run OS X *legally*, you MUST run it on Apple-dictated hardware ONLY).

I have an iPhone, an XP laptop, and a Vista desktop. I may eventually convert to Linux..but OS X won't meet my gaming needs (yet). Once it does, I'll switch.

OS X is proprietary software and hardware

i bought a ps3/360 for gaming... I never thought I would fall to the darkside, but..PC gaming is dead.
OSX is pretty sweet! I built a vista box back in 07, but rarely use it now.

It's all true! Run for your lives! To China, the last bastion of liberty! Go! Now!

ROFLMAO!!

...and the FSF loads two rounds, aims at feet and...

BLAMMO!

Another organization that apparently has no interest in being taken at all seriously.

Thanks, Scott. That was great.

This is your brain on crack, folks. Don't do it!

Wow, seems the FSF hates Windows 7 almost as much as Carmi Levy does -- and I didn't think that was possible. If the FSF needs a new stormtrooper, Carmi will certainly fit the bill.

Frankly, that isn't fair -- I'm surprised so many folks do not appear to have bothered to have read Carmi's piece after all this long time. He did not say he hated Windows 7; he said he believed it did not merit upgrading older systems, especially running XP; and while I disagreed with that particular assessment, it does compel us to do the requisite evaluation for ourselves to determine whether it's worth the step up. Carmi never said he hated Win7.

-SF "Cleaning Up the Hyperbole" 3

OK, maybe "hate" was too strong a word. He certainly doesn't give the impression of "like" toward Windows 7. It still seems like both him and FSF have their reasons to not "like" Windows 7.

What are these guys smoking?

Lame.

Do these guys see black helicopters and wear tin foil hats too? Cnet did a similar article and they state that they are going after Apple too. Last time I checked MS lets me do whatever I want, put what I want in windows - I don't see what I need to be free from? There is also no DRM in Windows except for support for and the calling home feature, god forbid a company tries to protect their software!

NTFS is DRM, man! If my mom has a song in her profile I should be able to listen to it, too.

Okay, just kidding, sorry, you can thumb me down.

If you are going to 'pitch' your software and ideas to Enterprise and business, maybe you shouldn't start out sounding like a sad mess of tinfoil hat advocates.

It amazes me that people think a promotional push is to talk for 10 hours about how evil or bad someone else is and 1 hour about your own products and offerings.

Maybe if your own software DID THE JOB that people need you could actually just talk about your software.

This reminds me of Oracle of about 5-10 years ago, insted of selling their products, they would get on stage and talk about how evil Microsoft was for over an hour and then spend 10 minutes on their database software. Why? Because Oracle knew the software they were pushing was pure slop and couldn't compete without branding competitors evil.

Maybe if your own software DID THE JOB that people need you could actually just talk about your software.

QFT. +1

"Peter Brown argued that free software, unlike Microsoft software or anything with a price tag, respects individuals freedoms and does not extend the tentacles of the global spy syndicate. However, he did effectively blame users, not Microsoft, for an apparent psychological defect that results in them paying money for software..."

I heard a piece on the radio this week concerning an academic study regarding the very idea; to whit...that people value items which are expensive and/or cost more.

In the study, a group of people, each of whom consider themselves to be educated consumers and enjoy drinking wines, were asked to taste two "different" wines and give their opinions. Among the information they were given about the two "different" wines was that one was an expensive, elegant brand, while the other was a simple, less-expensive one.

In fact, the wine was exactly the same in both instances and, as you can guess, a large majority of the tasters preferred the "expensive" one when in fact it was exactly the same as the cheap wine. The researchers were somehow able to connect certain reactions in the brain which fool people into thinking that an expensive item is somehow better quality and more appealing than an equal, but less-expensive version.

I really have no clue about whether or not Windows 7 will be any threat to a user's privacy, (I think simply by going online one puts their privacy at risk), however I bet you that people would be asking a lot of questions if Microsoft announced it would be selling the boxed retail release of Windows 7 for $39.95

Looks like they're looking for a FUD manager, er campaign manager:

http://www.fsf.org/news/campaigns-manager

In addition to spreading zealotry, use common Linux Desktop excuses from the following:

YouDontNeedThatFeature(TM)
ItsNotAnIssueAnymore(TM)
JustRunItInWine(TM)
MyRealityBeatsYourReality(TM)
Tick-leMyKernel (TM)
WhoNeedsRibbons?(TM)
UseDistroX IfYouWantThat(TM)
We'reOnly18MonthsBehind(TM)
UseLatexInsteadOfWord(TM)
WhyCreateBoldButtonInGimp?(TM)
UseEsotericWorkarounds(TM)
DualBootIfYouNeedApps(TM)
NobodyUsesDualMonitors(TM)
YouOnlyNeed1SoundChannel(TM)
NeckBeardsAreCool(TM)
Make100DEBfilesToDistributeIt(TM)
WhyFixIssuesMakeNewDistrosInstead(TM)
OnlyProgrammersKnowUseability(TM)
BreakYourPulseaudio(TM)
TuxRacerBeatsDoom4(TM)
3DGamesAreUselessUtilities(TM)

and many more!

yey for flamebait articles, FOAD

least if Microsoft software f*cks up some companies work, they can be held liable, if every company were to choose a linux variation, who will they hold accountable? food for thought

also Support is nice too, Linux isn't going to support your companies or personal needs, well they may you'll just have to wait for it and it may very well never happen ;P

btw i've used and compiled my own kernels since back in 97-8 onward, til i realised, why the f*ck am i putting myself though hell and back just to get a device to barely function properly, seeking support on many irc networks and channels where nobody and i mean nobody would share insight (the odd time you might find one decent guy out of hundreds), still rings true today, thankfully not as bad... but still happens more often than not

its easy to hate on Microsoft but they have done a world of good too

trashing my freedom? these guys watched 'hackers' one to many times

BSD back then, now what Mr. Assumption

i'm out :P

This is sad, and true!

LOL.. very similar to my experiences. I've still been toying with Ubuntu lately. Windows 7 is a better OS in my opinion (just my opinion!! LOL).

We tried to put a couple ubuntu machines up for workers here. That was a short lived trial after messing with drivers for audio and such. And then problems with Voip phones, etc...

Oh, and Fatty, I would try a Mac trial if we had money coming out of our butts.. ;)

Never mind FSF's rhetoric. The fact remains that Microsoft's indoctrination (or brainwashing) of adult and not-so-adult computer users is a sad reality. Just visit any Linux forum where new Linux users who have recently switched to Linux ask for help. For most of them a floppy disk _is_ "A:" ; shells, terminals, consoles are simply unknown; Windows is _the_ computer. Or, if you run Linux, ask the help desk of most major software and hardware vendors for help: "what is Linux?" is not an infrequent reply. If this is not a proof of of Microsoft's indoctrination...

So, by your wording because people consider Windows the PC they are brainwashing? So does that mean Apple is brainwashing when everyone thinks mp3 player means Ipod? Just trying to get some perspective here.

Anyways, there has not been an alternative to MS, is that MS fault? Apple decided to go at their own and lock out standard pcs. Linux when MS was first being was far from user friendly and still is not there unless you like the default install

"shells, terminals, consoles are simply unknown; Windows is _the_ computer"

Some would consider that a good thing... Most folks don't *want* to know that much about it...and why should they?

Sorry. Not a bad thing, and *exactly* the reason people prefer Windows/Mac OS X over linux.

Is MS pulling in people off the streets and indoctrinating them?

Wow! You certainly are touched.

and why linux nubs love noobuntu, it hides the cli/terminal from you(hell u have to install a pack to get root access ROFL)

This makes me lol, honestly, fatty's comments where just funny as hell, delusional!!!

Now to a point I agree with FSF but they have a long way to go to get a good linux distro out there for school kids to use and learn on that is administrator friendly and can do what windows does for schools now.

I use linux for some stuff and for some systems, but no way would i tell a total noob to grab linux over windows, just to much stuff I would have to walk them thru doing that they could do themselves on windows.

examples are things as simple as downloading programs and installing them, linux needs a unified installer that ALL distros support(or at least the decent ones) till linux can do that for apps and drivers it wont ever have a real chance of replacing windows of osx for the general population.

Hell, I am an old dos head, I still do alot of stuff using the cmd and I wouldnt ever think to tell most people to try and do anything using a cmd prompt........

oh as to apple, you pay a higher premium for the hardware and software because its apple, and it looks pretty, form over function is how i have always seen apple, and still do, osx is nice in its way, but i will take my server 2008 over osx any day.