We all know that Microsoft doesn't like people messing with their stuff. For example, Microsoft really hates the amount of piracy that surrounds Windows and Office. The company frequently releases updates that make piracy of those products harder and harder. This is completely legal considering that only Microsoft owns Windows and Office. You pay about 300.00USD to have MS Office and MS Windows, and those would be introductory versions of each. Now, apparently, the company wishes to control things even more.
When you buy hardware, you become the OWNER of the hardware. You may not have the right to reproduce that hardware using the manufacturers technologies but you do own that hardware. Typically, you are free to do as you wish with that hardware. This isn't the case for Microsoft. Microsoft is apparently very unhappy that the open source community is creating open source Kinect drivers. Microsoft hates this so much, in fact, that the company has vowed to take technical and legal action to stop the open source driver development effort.
I was attracted to the open source movement simply because I wanted to be the person calling the shots on my computers. I could care less about RMS and his views on FOSS. I simply hated the idea that I wasn't legally permitted to make changes to the software running on MY computer. Apparently, Microsoft thinks that you ought not be allowed to repurpose your hardware either, or modify your software, or repurpose software, or reverse engineer software, or anything else. Where does it stop? Where do people draw the line? If you go out and purchase a license to Microsoft Windows or Office, you have to agree to the EULA. Fine. People knowingly enter into the agreement, and they hopefully realize the limitations and restrictions placed on them by that agreement. With hardware, you have purchased a device. Is Mazda going to tell me that I cannot change the wheels on my car? Am I not allowed to change out the factory speakers? Am I not allowed to reprogram the timing computer if it fails to keep my pistons firing correctly? No. I bought the car. I own the car. Period. Unfortunately, Microsoft does not understand this. In the hardware business, people are going modify their equipment. All of those XBOXes, yeah, many were modded. You Kinect? Yeah, many will be modded.
Quit trying to control what consumers do with their electronic equipment.
/rant
10 comments:
When m$ started getting nasty about piracy I thought it was time for a change. I switched to Linux and now have nothing from m$ at all. In fact, I have even managed to help get friends off m$ too. We vote with our choices.
The same sort of thing is happening with Oracle now. They've made java toxic so that is the next thing on my radar.
you are right. there's a generation of americans aged over 65, like steve ballmer/jobs, who think they control the world. they grew up in the 1940s with cold war atomic bombs (scary) and went mad. these are the old people running microsoft/apple today.
I enjoyed the rant, especially since it included a Mazda reference. Rotary engine by chance?
Take care,
daemox
It's funny you say you couldn't are less about RMS and it's views on FOSS and then go on mentioning the same reasons that led RMS to create the GPL! In his case it was a printer driver he wanted to fix.
@Enio, RMS is about a lot more than software freedom... and he and I disagree on almost everything. In regards to software, I disagree with his restrictive licenses, and I agree more with licenses like the MIT License, BSD License, similar licenses, and public domain.
Agreed. M$ in all respects wants to be a fascist dictator and tell customers what to do and when to do it. That's downright evil and inhuman.
Princess Leia: "The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers"
I like that Microsoft locks their stuff up. The less their OS is pirated the better it is for Linux.
@Joe: minor corrections: Balmer and Jobs are still in their 50's, not over 65. Also, they grew up in the 50's and 60's, not the 40's.
While RMS can be pedantic and preachy, there's no doubt in my mind what he has done for society is for the better, and the guy is VERY smart not only as a coder but in striking back to the old social codas that served us well so many years ago.
At the end of the day vote with your wallet. Spend your money on other things. Avoid Microsoft at all costs. Don't buy their software if you can avoid it and don't buy their hardware.
When Microsoft's customer base diminishes they get weaker. The weaker they are the more they try to flex their muscles. The more they do that the more they annoy companies like Motorola and IBM.
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