More Lindows news...

[CSFM]

Hey there all... I am once again posting the newest Email I have been sent by Mr. Michael Roberts from Lindows. This one contains a few interesting points. Have a read and make a comment.

-CSFM-

Link To Lindows News.

 

[SaigonK]

I can only imagine where this will lead!
i hope it works out, but I am fearful that Microsoft will sqaush them once they try to release it to the public.

 

[CSFM]

Just cross your fingers they don't.

 

[n0cmonkey]

I wish I had an extra machine, Id do my best to get a copy of the sneak preview.

 

[freebsddude]

Interesting name, think how this would sound:

Lindows Loffice LXP
Lindows 2002
Lindows Lexel
Lindows Lowerpoint
Lindows Me!

..... I am just having too much fun at someone else's expense.

 

[CSFM]

Smart naming! Only hope the OS lives up to my expectations... which are very high!!

 

[her209]

Can Microsoft legally prevent Microsoft programs from being installed on a Lindows machine?

 

[CSFM]

No they can't... and you can actuly dual boot Lindows and Windows without having to partition your drive.... CLEVER!

 

[Nate420]

Sweet! I had no knowledge of this at all. Competition in the OS world is long overdue.

 

[nortexoid]

what would be better is if they made linux (or some other OS) compatible with WDM drivers...

i would laugh...supports all hardware out of the box first day of release.

new OS anyone?

 

[Hector13]

<< Sweet! I had no knowledge of this at all. Competition in the OS world is long overdue. >>



I don't know, it seems more of a scam to me at this point.
Hopefully I am wrong.

 

[CSFM]

It si health to be a synic... but try to keep an open mind about this venture... it atkes some balls to go head to head with microsoft.

 

[kritikal]

what's stopping ms from editing their eula to state that
is illegal to run ms apps on non ms operating systems?

this would make wine and similar projects illegal effectively
(at least for running ms apps).

 

[CSFM]

What's stopping ms from editing their eula to state that is illegal to run ms apps on non ms operating systems?

Wouldn't that be a scary thought.... I suppose because there are programs like Star Office and alike that could be used instead of MS office apps. And the fact that they are under severe scrutiny from the US government (who I think are still not doing enough) over the anti-trust case. That would most probably be the straw that broke the camels back... lets hope they try something like that...

 

[Kilrsat]

<< what's stopping ms from editing their eula to state that
is illegal to run ms apps on non ms operating systems?

this would make wine and similar projects illegal effectively
(at least for running ms apps). >>



One of the few user rights that remained after the DMCA was the right to reverse engineer a product for reasons of compatibility. Wine and others would then have a legal leg to stand on, stating that they are just exercising their reverse engineering rights granted by United States law. Right now I don't think anyone would want to go to trial to see which one stands up (some of the EULAs are already pretty questionable,) the EULA or the US law, so don't go looking for any drastic changes to the license agreements anytime soon.

 

[CSFM]

Yeah that's kinda what I was trying to say... I am not all too familiar with US law... All I know is that your laws don't accurately reflect what is right and what is wrong... just what is good for the people who are currently in control.... I am not having a shot at you guys... but it seems that every time I hear about a really stupid law suit or stupid legal case it is coming from the U.S.A.

Got some problems... maybe too many lawyers!

 

[Lord Evermore]

I thought it was legal to simply state that you do not have a right to reverse engineer a product. In fact I see that statement all the time.

Actually I just checked. The MS EULA says no reverse engineering beyond the extent allowed by law.

Why the hell hasn't Windows been entirely reverse engineered by now?!

Also funny, they hide the copy of the EULA down in the systemroot\system32 directory in a text file called eula.txt. Real easy to find there, and it makes SO much sense in system32.

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< I thought it was legal to simply state that you do not have a right to reverse engineer a product. In fact I see that statement all the time. >>



We do not have the right to reverse engineer any product (we being US citizens). There may be exceptions to this, Im not sure. I think its a way to keep America from being able to compete in the tech industry as well as other countries. But thats just my opinion Im sure

 

[Kilrsat]

??(f) REVERSE ENGINEERING.?(1) Notwithstanding the provisions
of subsection (a)(1)(A), a person who has lawfully obtained the
right to use a copy of a computer program may circumvent a technological
measure that effectively controls access to a particular portion
of that program for the sole purpose of identifying and analyzing
those elements of the program that are necessary to achieve
interoperability of an independently created computer program with
other programs, and that have not previously been readily available
to the person engaging in the circumvention, to the extent any such
acts of identification and analysis do not constitute infringement
under this title."

That's from section 1201 of the DMCA. You still need to legally own a copy of the software, but if for reasons of compatibility it doesn't work with other software (can make the argument that your copy of MS Office doesn't work well with your copy of Linux) you should have the right to go in and tinker to make them play nice together.

 

[CSFM]

I can't see any reason why you can't change anything you like that is on YOUR computer... Although... if the licence agreement says you cannot do this. Then by rughts you shouldn't. Yoour better option would be to just use software that does allow you do alter it in some way. Obviously that wouldn't include Microsoft software. So hey... don't use their stuff... I try not to, and it's not that hard to do.