patents

[Chanchao]

On Thu, 2006-03-30 at 21:08 +1030, Karl Goetz wrote:

> If i may be so bold - *Anyone* who takes the "Windows has mp3 playback,
> so i expect Ubuntu to install with stuff like MP3" playback  is being
> unreasonable.
> Strait out.
> I have not *ever* installed an MS Windows system and had mp3 support out
> of teh box. NOT EVER.

I don't agree. Windows comes with the rather good (finally!) Windows
Media Player (version 10, now) which plays mp3.   I'm not sure if
there's a reason in your mind why this wouldn't qualify as 'support out
of the box' but even IF there is: I'm only asking a similar level of
support in Ubuntu: Having the (a) included media player be able to play
mp3.

> Some OEM systems (ones that were bought and came with "rescue" cds) have
> the multimedia stuff on the *second* cdrom - I have never encountered it
> on the first (Windows) CD.

The only issue I'm aware of relating to Media Player is the the EU
(Europe govt) forcing Microsoft to ALSO offer a 'reduced media' edition
to be fair to companies making media players (some of which every bit as
evil as Microsoft, say Real Player).  I thought that was a bit silly,
and of course no consumer in his right mind wants the 'reduced media'
version. (Then the EU got even more childish by specifying what MS was
allowed to call that version, they didn't want it to sound too
unattractive, even though it was of course precisely that: a less
desirable version of Windows that dind't play MP3 out of the box.)

> >> There might also be a philosophical side to the problem.
> > 
> > Yes: "Should humanity have music?" :)
> 
> Yes, and they should be able to share it and modify it...

Hahahahaha, okay. :)

Cheers,
Chanchao