Re: Microsoft: Still a Thing
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2015 7:04 pm
This true openness requires that Microsoft not follow Google’s clever but conniving lead with the Android platform, which is technically open, but practically closed. In particular, Android makes it possible to install third-party applications outside of the Google Play store, which is required for Google to comply with the Linux kernel’s GNU General Public License.
Mongrel wrote:Everything I hear or read or see about it strikes me as hostile to the fundamental principle of user having full and final control of their own PC - and their own data.
Fuck everything else about an OS, it doesn't get more important than that.
Bigger-picture, this is a feature Microsoft can revoke at any time using Windows 10’s forced-update process.
Oh shut the fuck up
You're an idiot.
do you have windows updates turned on? If so, shut the fuck up. If not, shut the fuck up.
I wouldn't ever make the argument that Windows isn't an open platform, just look at all this open platform shit I have on it.
Joxam wrote:Mothra, what? I've never even seen Cortana and I actually had to go look to find the app store... I don't know if I selected different options than you during install but... ymmv?
Mongrel wrote:Thad, I'm uh, not trying to be a dick, but the single greatest argument against Linux is watching you post about your basic day to day computer maintenance. And you're a person who knows Linux relatively well! You know what you're doing! Or at least close enough that you appear to know what you're doing to a casual user.
Mongrel wrote:On top of that, I'm not sure we'll ever hit a world where devs treat Linux equally, making sure games and other software are released for Linux at par, or at the same time, and while it doesn't matter so much to you or me, there are plenty of people who will want to play shiny AAA titles on release.
At this point, I think Win7 will wind up soldiering on for a very long time, as XP did. I'm already seeing people who are talking about buying Win10 but then exercising their downgrade rights to install it as Win7. So I suspect there will be a window (har har) of time to work things out. Over the next few years we'll see what happens - maybe MS backs down or is sued into submission, or Android makes a big move to PC, or Steam OS takes off, or something else or a mix of things, who knows?
Mongrel wrote:You understand that I'm not proposing sticking with Win7 as a SOLUTION, merely that that will be the response from a large number of users, right?
Mongrel wrote:I don't think the ability downgrade is going to go away because it's written into the licence. Rewriting the license midstream would be a bit of a mess.
Microsoft's downgrade page wrote:Note downgrade rights are only available as long as Microsoft provides support for that earlier version, as outlined in the Windows lifecycle fact sheet.
Mongrel wrote:Basically, the option exists so devs can buy Windows and then exercise the right to install an earlier version (for testing purposes, etc.). There may also be some legal provision that obligates MS to offer this, but I'm not sure so I wouldn't count on that. There are legitimate reasons a dev or corporation might need to create a clean install of Win7, so the option is there.
Thad wrote:Yes, but that's not the same thing as a license that allows an OEM to put a clean install of Windows 7 on a computer and then resell it to an end user.
One admin reports that some domain-attached VLC-licensed PCs installed KB 3035583 -- the widely reviled Get Windows 10 app -- months ago, but that the Get Windows 10 icon didn't appear until now. Another says that the crapware-hiding c:\windows\system32\GWX folder has appeared.
The admins I know are livid. Microsoft's apparently trying to do an end run, telling users that their admins are somehow culpable for blocking upgrades to their PC.