Can Open Source Save Hardware?

Culexus writes "Tom's Hardware has a interesting story about Open Source saving the hardware industry. Pretty good read all in all. Hopefully chip makers and vendors won't have to bend to the iron might of Microsoft any longer." Some good comments on how early-adopters and enthusiasts are being marginalized by the industry, too.

Re:Only one way to save open source...

[SharpFang]

You just can't take Linux seriously when its fronted by losers like these. [hope-2000.org] ?????

Loser.

The real question

[Anonymous Coward]

All serious IT analysts should be asking a different question: Can open source save itself? Yes, contrary to the denials of "open-source" pundits, it is already in decline. With Linux's much heralded "stability" and "security" being debunked as myths, and the amazing improvements made to Windows recently, any technical reasons for using open-source software disappeared. More and more businesses are rejecting the anti-capitalist attitude of open-source developers and licenses as a possible threat to their own businesses.

But the coup de grace for the "open source" world is the recent revalation that open-source developers have been copying SCO's patented source code directly into open-source products including Linux, without signing a proper widespread agreement. According to SCO's chief executive officer, Darl McBride, and every industry analyst who has actually viewed the code, the copying is so widespread and integral to Linux's operation that removing it may be impossible. Instead of trying to negotiate fair licensing agreements with SCO, Linux developers have gone into denial, and there is every reason to believe that companies such as IBM continue to copy protected code without restraint. No one has even suggested that Linux, or other possibly compromised projects such as the "Apache" web server or the "Perl" web scripting laguage, adopt tougher guidelines for the acceptance of code, that could lead to sniffing out copying. And this means that all open-source software could be illegal to use within a few short months, barring the liberal interventionist judiciary's refusal to enforce the relevant laws.

What can open-source do? Well, a good first step would be to enter into license agreements with intellectual property owners so that the software becomes less legally dubious. A second step would be to move away from such obviously anti-American licenses such as the 'BSD" and "GPL", to something which is more protective of the rights of property holders, and does not impede proprietary redistribution. I think Sun's Community Source License and Microsoft's Shared Source program are good examples of this. Finally, they need to stop accepting code from known IP pirates like IBM. With these steps, Linux can continue to be a popular low-cost platform for hobbyists, and the rights of intellectual property holders such as Microsoft and SCO won't be compromised.

Buying collectibles

[Anonymous Coward]

Anh know I have an idea of what Microsoft can use their $46 billion on. 1.Buy a large chipset maker (VIA) or motherboard maker (Gigabyte or Asus). Or the complete /. acquisition nightmare; AMD.

Heck they could buy the Senate and entire House of Representatives for a whole lot less than that. Add them to their Administration and Justice figures and they would have nearly a complete set. Someday it could be worth a lot of money especially if they keep the original packaging.

oh yes, I remember that too

[DrSkwid]

I'd forgotten about flight sim

Lotus 1-2-3 was released in 1983

Whereas the first Flight Sim for PC was in November 1982

I do remember us selling an Apricot PC Compatible that had a "Runs Lotus 1-2-3" sticker on it.

Might have done a bit better if it had said "Runs Leisure Suit Larry".

EXCELLENT use of irony!

[Anonymous Coward]

That was an absolutely excellent use of irony. I applaud your attempt. Granted, it's not up there with "A Modest Proposal", or even your typical SCO press release, but it's still impressive.