What Would Be Disastrous For Linux, Open-Source

[EarthMind]

More terrifying: The FSF are considered as terrorists and the CIA is planning to assassinate Richard M. Stallman because he's a threat to democracy.

[Carina]

It will happen ...

Look at how the "Computer" as we know it today is going to die. The next computer generation won't allow to install custom OS at all. So it is actually the hardware vendors that will kill the Free Software experience.

Apple's iPad is only the first, others will certainly follow.

[cliff]

What would be disastrouse for Linux

Gnome developers arrogantly removing the option to shut down your computer resulting in wasted natural resources.
Gnome Developers pulling a Microsoft and rearranging all the icons and removing com-inly used buttons and menu's.
Resulting in many older users returning to Windows.

[roland]

[QUOTE=cliff;190490]
Gnome developers arrogantly removing the option to shut down your computer resulting in wasted natural resources.
Gnome Developers pulling a Microsoft and rearranging all the icons and removing com-inly used buttons and menu's.
[QUOTE]

This thread was supposed to be hypothetical.

[allquixotic]

Look at how the "Computer" as we know it today is going to die. The next computer generation won't allow to install custom OS at all. So it is actually the hardware vendors that will kill the Free Software experience.

Apple's iPad is only the first, others will certainly follow.

You're very right about that! It's just a matter of time before the relatively open PC platform, where you can install your own OS, will become completely illegal and/or outmoded by "appliance" devices -- you're already starting to see this with tablets and netbooks. Then the big companies will all "adopt" Linux, but release OSes that are based on Linux but with huge amounts of proprietary software on top.

[devius]

It's just a matter of time before the relatively open PC platform, where you can install your own OS, will become completely illegal and/or outmoded by "appliance" devices -- you're already starting to see this with tablets and netbooks.

Linus had to invent the linux kernel in order for the IBM-PC to become free of proprietary operating systems. Another "Linus" will probably develop what it takes for those appliances as well.

[cician]

GPL becomes invalid under US and EU copyright laws, all existent software becames not redistributable except for original copyright owners.

[droidhacker]

Linus had to invent the linux kernel in order for the IBM-PC to become free of proprietary operating systems. Another "Linus" will probably develop what it takes for those appliances as well.

It would be nice if it was as simple as that, but unfortunately the difference isn't the availability of something to put in its place, but the MEANS. The same Linux kernel can be adapted to all of those proprietary pieces of crap, but it takes hacking to access the flash storage.

[mark5]

I agree with you detructor...if this happens we go back to old position....its like to go in stone age from 21st century...

[deanjo]

Apple's iPad is only the first, others will certainly follow.

The iPad's, iPods, iPhones, etc are hardly the first. Proprietary closed systems have been around a hell of a lot longer. One type that immediately springs to mind is gaming systems. (Atari's, Intellivision, Colecos, etc) and even those are not the first.