Just finishd reading ESR's article (thanks for th link), and it's refreshing to see geeks realising that th main limitations to tech are human factors.
I agree with his main points: that linux needs to attract a large non-tech user base before the 64-bit architecture deadline in 2008, and that th key stumblin block for linux within this timeframe is all those proprietary multimedia codecs.
I do not entirely agree, however, with his proposed methods for winning this battle.
His points on putting aside idealistic notions of open source purity in favour of more pragmatic means in the short term, i applaud. If we can take this preliminary watershed battle, then we'r able to continue to fight on all those other issues which th linux community hold so dear.
The idea of bundlin together binaries of all th relevant codecs to provide a simple one-step completion to any linux installation - that is also wonderfully practical thinking, as anathema as kludges are to th thought processes of th avg geek.
But as to th possibility of providing this legally? Pfft! Though they spend hours simulating warriors in their spare time, geeks do not think like warriors. Even if they could thread their way thru this legal minefield, th path would simply be closed again by one dirty trick or another. Microsoft, Apple, th RIAA & MPAA, and th host of other IP holders, they'r not just goin to hand over all that power, are they? And between them, they can afford more lawyers. You do not conquer by fightin on yr opponent's terms.
The path to victory can be summed up in one word: China. Th world is about to get at least a couple hundred million new computer users, probably more than 50 mil before th 2008 deadline. They'l have a natural distrust of American monopolies. They'l mostly be buying very low-end systems (which, incidentally, will extend that deadline somewhat), so th cost of proprietary software will be a significant issue. They have no entrenched software usage patterns. The majority will also likely be selecting from a small number of generic systems from major manufacturers, reducing hardware issues.
How to capture this market? Well initiatives like Ubuntu have already begun th task. We need to make sure such distros are thoroughly mandarin & cantonese friendly. With such a huge virgin non-US market in th offing, th OEMs won't be so fearful of th wrath of Microsoft, as long as they and their customers know you just need to DL one big file or copy one CD and bam! th linux installation's done. Th Chinese won't balk at a little piracy, far from it, it'l give em a thrill! Esp if it saves em 250 bucks (whatever that is in yuan). This will be th killer app that Windows won't survive. And fuck callin it "the Codex", how intellectual and eurocentric is that? Th Middle Kingdom couldn't care less if Bill Gates bought Leonardo's old notebook, they won't see th humour. If the idea is to go for mass appeal, then find out what "window-breaker" is in mandarin, and call it that. In th west, we could call it "bill-killer".
Now, the US corporations will kick up a fuss, apply pressure, but it'l only be a few years beyond 2008 until th greenback collapses, and after that, it's all over bar th shoutin, cos Asia contains all th infrastructure for buildin th damn machines, outsourcing saw to that, and without th machines, there is no software.
linux's killer app
and it's refreshing to see geeks realising
that th main limitations to tech are human factors.
I agree with his main points:
that linux needs to attract a large non-tech user base before
the 64-bit architecture deadline in 2008,
and that th key stumblin block for linux within this timeframe
is all those proprietary multimedia codecs.
I do not entirely agree, however,
with his proposed methods for winning this battle.
His points on putting aside idealistic notions of open source purity
in favour of more pragmatic means in the short term, i applaud.
If we can take this preliminary watershed battle,
then we'r able to continue to fight on all those other issues
which th linux community hold so dear.
The idea of bundlin together binaries of all th relevant codecs
to provide a simple one-step completion to any linux installation -
that is also wonderfully practical thinking,
as anathema as kludges are to th thought processes of th avg geek.
But as to th possibility of providing this legally? Pfft!
Though they spend hours simulating warriors in their spare time,
geeks do not think like warriors.
Even if they could thread their way thru this legal minefield,
th path would simply be closed again by one dirty trick or another.
Microsoft, Apple, th RIAA & MPAA, and th host of other IP holders,
they'r not just goin to hand over all that power, are they?
And between them, they can afford more lawyers.
You do not conquer by fightin on yr opponent's terms.
The path to victory can be summed up in one word: China.
Th world is about to get at least a couple hundred million new computer users,
probably more than 50 mil before th 2008 deadline.
They'l have a natural distrust of American monopolies.
They'l mostly be buying very low-end systems
(which, incidentally, will extend that deadline somewhat),
so th cost of proprietary software will be a significant issue.
They have no entrenched software usage patterns.
The majority will also likely be selecting from
a small number of generic systems from major manufacturers,
reducing hardware issues.
How to capture this market?
Well initiatives like Ubuntu have already begun th task.
We need to make sure such distros are
thoroughly mandarin & cantonese friendly.
With such a huge virgin non-US market in th offing,
th OEMs won't be so fearful of th wrath of Microsoft,
as long as they and their customers know
you just need to DL one big file or copy one CD
and bam! th linux installation's done.
Th Chinese won't balk at a little piracy,
far from it, it'l give em a thrill!
Esp if it saves em 250 bucks (whatever that is in yuan).
This will be th killer app that Windows won't survive.
And fuck callin it "the Codex",
how intellectual and eurocentric is that?
Th Middle Kingdom couldn't care less
if Bill Gates bought Leonardo's old notebook,
they won't see th humour.
If the idea is to go for mass appeal,
then find out what "window-breaker" is in mandarin, and call it that.
In th west, we could call it "bill-killer".
Now, the US corporations will kick up a fuss, apply pressure,
but it'l only be a few years beyond 2008 until th greenback collapses,
and after that, it's all over bar th shoutin,
cos Asia contains all th infrastructure for buildin th damn machines,
outsourcing saw to that,
and without th machines, there is no software.
Linux, take th initiative: go Chung Gwo!