I believe you are right. But... instead of removing links to Microsoft copyright material based on a DMCA request, why not replace the search request with a Bing derived search? Even label it as such.

Should be automatable. (If DMCA copyright holder is Microsoft, search for the specific item on Bing, from the DMCA request; if found, annotate the result w/ Bing! instead of DMCA removal).

unixisc

Stooping to ad-hominem attacks. Shame, shame.

Yes, I used the word "fascism". Even used it correctly, Lordy, imagine that! In my (not so humble) opinion, the government of the USA is becoming fascist.

Now, I am not a citizen, or resident of the USA, but let's examine this idea:

- radical authoritarian political ideology - Check (TSA would be an example)
- single ultra-nationalist identity - Check (national anthem at baseball games?)
- racist, coupled with eugenics - Check (number of black people incarcerated http://www.peace.ca/truthaboutblackcrime.htm)
- totalitarian, single-party state (damn close, money seems to rule) - Check
- tip of the hat to "democracy" - Check
- government and corporatist collusion - Check

Ok, political views aside, I did stand down and call it what it is.

But... some choice quotes from the post I was responding to:

"freeloader society"

"maybe the service provider doesn't want the customer to unlock the STB and set it up so that it can start receiving free (as in gratis) channels from Australia, Russia, South Africa and Mexico, or domestic unsubscribed channels not in the paid plan"

"business-hostile aspect of the FSF"

Cogitate on that for a while.

There ain't no such thing.

Everything on the Internet is Copyrighted (or public domain)...

There may be illegal sharing. Or making available. Just not downloading.

Of course the "Industry" wants to plant a meme -- "illegal downloading".

Since there is no such thing (as illegal downloading(*)), usenet groups have been cut first (because usenet clients do NOT upload as they download). Peer-to-peer systems upload from clients, which is why they got hit.

MegaUpload? A shot across the bow -- and the service ended up being legal.

Advice: Turn off sharing in your bittorrent client, unless you are sure that you can distribute the material.

Or fetch the material from usenet, ftp, or other "one-way" means. Do not post the material on Web Sites, ftp servers or usenet -- do not make it available for download.

Unless you live somewhere more enlightened, of course (Personal Copy Exemption in Canada, for example).

(*) Except for specific material, child porn, hate literature, other material, depending on venue.

Shaitand

First, what does Exchange have to do with audio?

Secondly, what are you looking for? A replacement for the Exchange Server? Sorry, probably not happening. If you HAVE a need for Exchange, you buy Exchange, right?

But, you mentioned "business desktop". Why not go with Evolution, then? Talks with Exchange, does mail, calendar, notes and contacts. What more would you need? The only thing "missing" is the ability to change your Windows Domain Password. So, just use an RDP client (Remmina would be one choice) to log in to a Windows Server in that Domain. For instance, try to log in to the Exchange Server. Of course you (probably) because you would have to be an administrator, but the ATTEMPT will allow you to update your password.

Mail - check
Notes - check
Calendar - check
Contacts - check
Password Change - check
RDP - check

Now, Evolution is (in my opinion), far better than the Windows Exchange client. Talks to more server types, allows a choice of spam control, better signatures, threads both Microsoft and Unix emails, and more.

So try it -- if it works for you, problem solved, right?

(I was forced to use Windows Exchange client a few years ago. I was shocked that emails weren't threaded! But, I think this has been sorted recently -- just not compatibly).

Product placement for the terminally stupid?

"...WOA builds on the foundation of Windows, has a very high degree of commonality and very significant shared code with Windows 8, and will be developed for, sold, and supported as part of the largest computing ecosystem in the world."
Steven Sinofsky, Microsoft

And THAT'S why -- Microsoft wants to have a single ecosystem.

Further

"Metro style apps in the Windows Store can support both WOA and Windows 8 on x86/64." Steven Sinofsky

(note that WOA is "Windows On ARM")

Is not long enough. We use our laptops for 3 (or more) years. Every 3 (2 if I beg) I can have a new one.

I expect that I can have one of these in 2 years (having just gone through a replacement). Been pushing for an Apple laptop, anyway...

Your company (which includes you) won't touch GPL. The tradeoff is, as you mentioned, a much increased development effort.

Not the fault of the GPL -- that is simply a license specifying tit for tat (in a nutshell).

And it's RIGHT -- I see many interesting parts in closed source programs, and I can't leverage them, or touch them. Completely out of reach. So, you can't take GPL baubles.

Tit for tat. It WORKS, bitches!

I just never thought about it THAT way! You are so right!

My car isn't a car, it's a TDUPR (transportation device using public roads). Lock it Down! No modifications!

My house isn't a house, it's a PDIN (person domicile in neighbourhood). Lock it Down! No modifications!

My job isn't a job, it a GEAS (gainful employment aiding society). Lock it Down! No changes!

Can't be rendering anything unusable; the companies have said so.

Wait a minute -- you nearly had me. We have a word to describe this. Facism. No, wait, its TIVOIZATION!

Can be efficient, though.

If the point of tivoizing was to prevent negative publicity -- didn't work that well, did it?

Tivoization! Everyone knows what it is, and WHO invented it. (well, maybe they didn't, but I'll give them the credit)!

Take THAT publicity.

Much closer to the "Old Microsoft". Produced languages (BASIC, FORTRAN, COBOL, ASSEMBLER, LISP) and tools.

Then, Microsoft got into environments. Which, when combined with tools and lock-in, made platforms.

Google? Not so much. Just tools. With easy exit strategies. I don't feel the need to stop using DropBox even if I use Google Docs. I am not forced to use Android or Chrome to participate in Google Docs.

The litmus test I am presently using is when Microsoft will support Microsoft Office on Wine. Just a mention, even.

Now the work has been done for Microsoft. Wine 1.4 supports MS Office 2010. There are potentially a million users out there. And each of these could pay as much as $500 (or as little as $50 after discounts). That is 50 to 500 million dollars on the table. Not taken simply because that would put a dent into the MS Windows as platform idea.

Google? I am still pretty sure they would take the money.