Once again the media publishers are usurping the rights of the individual. Back in the day (like about yesterday) if you bought a book in hard copy you could read it, lend it, burn it, use it for handling the final paperwork after taking a bio-break, whatever you wanted.

BUT, now that it's in a DIGITAL format, you have NO RIGHTS WHATSOEVER! Which brings to mind a question. HEre I will display my ignorance since I still buy books made of dead trees. Is there a EULA attached to these literary marvels? Does that EULA state that you have been granted a non-exclusive license to the book with all restrictions regarding what you can do with the title after you purchase it spelled out? If not, understand that IANAL, but it would seem to me the publishers are not only interfering with your rights as the "owner" of the title but are in outright violation of the law.

Is there anyone with a legal background that could elaborate on this point. Or am I just going off in some fantasy world where the rights of the individual still mean something?

Let the flame wars begin!

I have been developing software for, and administering, computers for the last 30+ plus years on systems ranging from the old proprietary SuperMini's of the 1980's to the high powered HP and Sun systems of today.

I've been using Linux since kernel version 0.9x. I've have used Slackware, Mandrake, Red Hat, Debian, Gentoo, Suse and Ubuntu as well as OpenBSD (BTW, the build system in Gentoo smells suspiciously like the system that has been in place in the various *BSD distros for years). I have spent many a night building packages and custom kernels just because I like to play with 'em.

My point is, there is room for everybody in the Linux universe. To loudly complain that people who use a binary based distro "are to lazy to use a real Linux system" is to display a pure lack of consideration for everyone who is not "A True Geek (tm)". To display such an intolerance toward the many people who make up the current and future user base for Linux reveals the very attitude that has prevented Linux from making significant inroads into the casual user segment of the market until very recently.

To imply that "I'm better than you" because you like to build your own distro only serves to continue to fan the flame wars and insult the intelligence of the casual user. However, these casual users are the very reason that FOSS exists.

If you desire to be an ubergeek, please feel free to do so. That's what Linux, and Open Source Software is all about. However, Linux is ALSO all about giving the casual computer user a choice ... preferably a choice that is more secure that M$ could ever hope to be. But make room for the Joe Public too.

As noted in the article, Debian has never been a distribution that was built for the masses. Yes, some detailed knowledge of the hosting hardware is required. But this is nothing new. It's always been a distro for the more savvy user I.E. your down and dirty geeks and serious developers/administrators.

While some complain loudly about the release schedule (?) that Debian is famous for, it is this very attention to detail that makes each new release of Debian one the most stable in the Linux world.

While Debian does not ooze with the WOW! factor like Ubuntu and many others, it is Debian that enables these other distros to prosper. Without the solid platform furnished by Debian the many derivative distros would would find it very difficult at best and nearly impossible at worst to maintain their aggressive release schedules.

I use Ubuntu. It seems to have problems getting along with the sound hardware on my machine (something I never saw while using pure Debian) but, overall it's a good distro. However, if you have experienced the "pure Debian" distro there is no doubt regarding Ubuntu's ancestry.

While I agree that both govt and business entities need to invest in PROPER network infrastructure safeguards to protect "their" data, unfortunately I see this as just another indicator of where man is now and where he is going.

Gone is the day where Integrity and Honor were worth more than gold or any other medium of wealth. Now it's all "what's in it for me". If you can't win the debate with facts and logic then smear, cheat, outright lie and "spy" on the other guy to try and dig up some dirt ... and then say "So there. I'm right".

It makes one wonder if civilization in general, not any specific country, republic or union, has reached it's zenith and is now on a steady decline back into barbarism and will eventually decay into a mass if "city states" as during the time of the ancient pre Greco-Roman era.

I notice that for all your ranting about Google requesting anonymity when it (they?) submitted the posting, I find it interesting that your email is not publicly available when I drill down on your Nickname. While My email is ALSO not publicly available, I am not attempting to pass judgment upon Google (or even you, as far as that is concerned).

I'm just noting that if you are going make such a LOUD NOISE about the Evil Google requesting anonymity regarding a posting about eBays request before the ACCC, which from a business standpoint is a valid request, perhaps you should expose your Real Identity as well instead of hiding behind a nondescript Nickname while you post your series of rants against the Evil Empire known as Corporate America.

Just a thought.