proprietary drivers and secretive hardware [was: Supporting Ubuntu growth]

[Gareth Evans]

I think Steve Ballmer would have a heart attack if anyone ever proposed
that.  Judging by all the interviews he's had regarding Linux v Microsoft,
he's very opposed to it.  And he tends to have a fair say about what goes on
at Microsoft.

On 8/2/06, Andrey Vul <andrey.vul at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> microsoft should officially support xbox/360 linux a la Novell (pay for
> support)
> they'll get filthy rich off of "boxed editions" - install hd/dvd with
> a huge instruction manual and fancy packaging and tech support
>
> btw xbox is easier to mod(-chip: 6 soldering points on xbox 1.6, 0 for
> 1.0-1.5, ps2 has 20-something pins)
>
> On 8/2/06, Hubert Figuiere <hub at figuiere.net> wrote:
> > On Wednesday 02 August 2006 14:00, Gareth Evans wrote:
> > > I'd imagine the reason that vendors do not make software for
> ubuntu/linux
> > > in general is because it does not make money (which vendors have been
> known
> > > to like).  While of course it is cheaper to make the software, there
> can't
> > > really be any meaningful return on it if it's going to be free (as in
> > > beer).  Of course, there are some vendors such as Novell, etc that
> have
> > > caught on that you can make a lot of money on supporting the free
> product -
> > > which I hope will be the case for many more vendors.
> >
> > Not. It is more about conservatism. They want to keep the same business
> model,
> > and the problem is that Linux by itself does not allow technically that
> > business model: proprietary software with a pay per use[1].
> >
> > Think about that whole music industry that now require DRM because they
> still
> > want to control who play what now that duplicating CD with hifi quality
> is
> > easy and cheap, and that exchanging music is easy too with the advent of
> > broadband. So instead of trying to find new ways to make business, they
> try
> > to find new way to protect their business.
> >
> > Imagine, what would have happened if in the early 20th century, the
> candle
> > sticks manufacturers would have outlawed lightbulbs because it was
> killing
> > their business?
> >
> > Markets evolve, and business has to evolve. The only fact that Microsoft
> > spread FUD about free software and linux is because they pose a threat
> to
> > Microsoft. The day Microsoft won't be able to make excessive revenue on
> > Microsoft Office (90% profit) or on Windows licenses (55%), they will
> have to
> > shutdown unprofitable businesses: MSN, XBox, etc. that are actually
> losing
> > money.
> >
> >
> > Hub
> >
> > [1] yes, software you buy us pay per use, as you don't own it. It is a
> > service, not a good, beside the eventual documentation and physical
> media,
> > but even these are less and less provided.
> >
> > --
> > ubuntu-ca mailing list
> > ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
> > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-ca
> >
>
>
> --
> -AV-
>
> --
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> ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-ca
>
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