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Operating Systems

A GNU/Linux Distro Needing Windows To Install? 174

dgun writes "I recently put together a new PC. When I purchased the motherboard, I noticed that it came with an instant-on OS, a small GNU/Linux distro called Splashtop. I assumed that the OS was on a ROM chip on the motherboard. To my great annoyance, when I tried to boot to this OS, a message said that it was not installed. It turns out that motherboard comes with an install disk for this GNU/Linux OS — that you can only run from Windows, to install Splashtop on the hard drive. First of all, doesn't installing it on the hard drive defeat the point of having an instant-on OS? If I wanted to dual-boot a small GNU/Linux OS, there are plenty that I could choose from. Second, if distributing GPL'ed software by means that completely preclude it from being used without Windows is not a violation of the GPL, should it not be?"

Comment Re:Oh, wonderful internet, horrible internet (Score 1) 267

Oh, but they'll try. They will cast their books down on our heads, scream a million epitaths of criminal, deviant, terrorists, and invent new terms to express their disgust. They'll arrest us, punish us, and wage massive campaigns of fear. But they'll never get the idea out of our heads that maybe, just maybe, we don't have to pay their tax to touch the life of another person.

You know what I'm afraid of? That in the end, they will.

Microsoft

Microsoft vs. Google — Mutually Assured Destruction 416

jmcbain writes "Robert X. Cringely asserts that nothing good will come out of the ongoing war between Microsoft and Google: 'The battle between Microsoft and Google entered a new phase last week with the announcement of Google's Chrome Operating System — a direct attack on Microsoft Windows. This is all heady stuff and good for lots of press, but in the end none of this is likely to make a real difference for either company or, indeed, for consumers. It's just noise — a form of mutually assured destruction intended to keep each company in check.'"

Comment Re:Good idea (Score 1) 160

Nobody claimed it was perfect. If you are on a site that supports this feature you are safer. If you are on a site that does not support it you are as safe as you are now. That doesn't mean it's worthless. It makes browsing more secure for everyone. Instead of having a few computer-literate browsers (people not software) use noscript on the page, the page owner just has to write the list once and all visitors get protection, including those not tech-savvy.

Comment Re:For the last time... (Score 1) 200

Please do write to these politicians but I have to say I'm not holding by breath. Do any of the politicians that request things like that really care what the voters think? The filter was arranged in Germany although there was a large opposition to the idea. The politicians didn't care one bit. I seriously doubt that the suits in Australia are any different. How many people are there left in the parliaments of the world that still try to do what their voters want. It's not like they have anything to lose by not caring because there is no one else to replace the guy with in the next election who would care any more.

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