On Monday 25 December 2006 04:39, Kenneth Schneider wrote: > > > > We (Linux users) are at what 4-5 % of computer users? > > Actually closer to 10%
Good. I haven't seen estimates that high, but I suspect it's because it's much harder to aggregate all those downloads and magazine DVDs. > > Much of our current use > > of hardware is based on adapting hardware made for Windows equipment to > > Linux. > > The hardware is not made for Windows, drivers are written to sork with > the OS. The only hurdle is getting drivers for the hardware written for > linux. > The current generation of hardware IS being made for Windows, by and large, and a other operating systems can use it as well. But the current generation of Windows hardware does not have to cater to the demands of VISTA compatible hardware and it doesn't matter that most of it is going into Windows boxes. It may begin to matter when the hardware made for Windows boxes won't work for anyone else. > > What if we come to the point that we can't buy graphics cards without > > Windows DRM that relegates linux users to low resolution graphics? > > What if the world blows up tomorrow? Then I doubt we'll be worried about any of this stuff. > > I'm not suggesting that the sky is falling today, > > But that is precisely what you are doing. With respect, Ken, what I said was "I'm not suggesting that the sky is falling today, but I do think there are a lot of black clouds on the horizon that we should be concerned about." I'm not suggesting we should throw up our hands and acquiesce. I suggest we take the possibilities seriously and do whatever each of us can to combat it. > Linux is used far and wide by the federal government for it to go away. > Government (in any country) is too fickle to be counted as a saviour of OSS software. Governments can change hands, lobbyists curry favour, and we get shafted. Linux will really only be secure when a large enough portion of the market uses it everyday that no government would dare piss off all those voters. -- Bob Smits -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
