Linux desktop domination "just a matter of time" (DesktopLinux) [LWN.net]

Linux desktop domination "just a matter of time" (DesktopLinux)

Posted Nov 21, 2006 14:04 UTC (Tue) by cpm (subscriber, #3554)
Parent article: Linux desktop domination "just a matter of time" (DesktopLinux)

ESR has pretty much lost me as an audience years ago, however, in this essay
http://www.catb.org/~esr/writings/world-domination/world-...

He points out a few salient points;

quote:
"It's also hard to forget that when the call went out for a big company to
stand up and fight for DeCSS and open-source 3D drivers, the leading
commercial Linux distributor (Red Hat) yanked MP3 playback support from its
distro and slunk off into the server market."

And

"You can't win the desktop if you don't even try. "

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Linux desktop domination "just a matter of time" (DesktopLinux)

Posted Nov 21, 2006 15:55 UTC (Tue) by jstAusr (guest, #27224) [Link]

And then his solution was to become a servant for Microsoft ???
How do you then get back out? How do you keep from falling further into the belly, to the acid bath? The Red Hat solution seems much better to me.

ESR wants to give up instead of trying.

Linux desktop domination "just a matter of time" (DesktopLinux)

Posted Nov 22, 2006 0:38 UTC (Wed) by tetromino (subscriber, #33846) [Link]

If I'm reading it right, ESR's solution is to negotiate with the software patent holders to create a non-redistributable, DRM-protecting, EULA-encrufted, commercially-prices CD full of codecs, which end users could buy and system builders could preinstall. And if we want to sell our souls to boost Linux desktop marketshare, then yes, ESR's proposal is the way to do it.

The problem is, if we go along with ESR's plan and acquiesce to binaries, DRM and non-distributable licenses for Linux desktops, then what would be the point of Linux? It would be yet another commercial mixed-source Unix-like system; we might as well switch to OSX...

Linux desktop domination "just a matter of time" (DesktopLinux)

Posted Nov 22, 2006 2:06 UTC (Wed) by zotz (guest, #26117) [Link]

"The problem is, if we go along with ESR's plan and acquiesce to binaries, DRM and non-distributable licenses for Linux desktops, then what would be the point of Linux? It would be yet another commercial mixed-source Unix-like system; we might as well switch to OSX..."

Well, I am not sure I like the proposal, but... (putting it mildly...)

He says 2008 is the key year. So, if those patent liccenses were nogotiated to last only until 2009, just to give a buffer, those who don't care could use them.

I could leave them alone. Much better than OSX... Much better than windows... Still not sure it is smart to compromise like this even for a few years...

all the best,

drew
http://www.ourmedia.org/node/262954
Sayings - Deterred Bahamian Novel