Listen up industry,
Was not so long ago that when you bought a piece of software, you had to agree to the license, The license was sealed in the package the software came in. To furthermore complicate the sale, written on the outside of the package had a notice that if you opened the package it was not returnable. These were known as shrink wrap agreements. The public who thought this was unreasonable quit purchasing software. The industry claimed it was because people were illegally copying the software. Though that might have been partially true. The real reason for the sales slump was that you could get what was known as freeware that in a lot of cases was as good as the commercial products. Freeware did not have shrinkwrap agreements. The public took the industry to court and had the shrinkwrap agreements invalidated and even made illegal in a way.
At the same time, software known as word processors (aka electronic typewriters) were very popular software. The only problem was that if you created a document in Word Perfect, it would not work in say Microsoft Word. Companies. The public cried out for some compatability. The Software vendors vowed not to have compatability. This kind of killed that market also. Then I forget which one, but they started to add compatability in their software. Sales for their product rose. The other software companies relented and even marketed how they were compatible with their competitors. Why did industry not want to serve the best for their users until they were forced into it?
Now to present day, where if you purchase any hardware or software, In some cases, you must agree not to modify the hardware or software or risk going to prison for doing so because you are violating some random alleged software patent or copyright. Seems what it comes down to is you really do not own the product. Huh? Do not believe me. Read the fine print of what you have purchased lately. Pretty much as bad as the shrink wrap agreements.
To make things even more complicated. a certain company from Redmond Washing allegedly bullied makers of computers to add what is known as UEFI as part of the system. That means that company from Redmond Washington can allegedly control your computer at their whim. You still own your computer?. The uefi was allegedly included so that you will be more protected from security issues such as viruses, software piracy, and the like. So far only the systems using the Redmond Washinton software needs this quick fix. Most intelligent people in the industry call it a joke.
Other operating systems have to license use of the uefi software. Linux being one of them. Linux, BSD, and etc has no use for uefi for the most part. There are a few hardware manufacturers who do make equipment without the uefi, but expect to pay a premium. The uefi for the most part will not be retrofitted to older equipment. (God Forbid!). It has been rumored the real reason that uefi was used to try to lock out open operating systems such as Linux in a competition limiting move by a company that has been allegedly adjudicated a monopoly already on two continents.
Like in the days of the shrinkwrap agreements, the industry is complaing sales are down and is doomed. Maybe if the uefi was not forced into the hardware of new machines, sales would be dramatically higher. Apparently the industry has not learned the lessons of the shrinkwrap days, You try to control your customer and they will seek business elsewhere.
Again we have open source to replace freeware. I prefer open source as it allows me to use older hardware and software a bit longer. Maybe the industry will get a hint by the time I need a newer system. Also, why maybe many people are not purchasing new systems. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Are you listening industry?
At the same time, software known as word processors (aka electronic typewriters) were very popular software. The only problem was that if you created a document in Word Perfect, it would not work in say Microsoft Word. Companies. The public cried out for some compatability. The Software vendors vowed not to have compatability. This kind of killed that market also. Then I forget which one, but they started to add compatability in their software. Sales for their product rose. The other software companies relented and even marketed how they were compatible with their competitors. Why did industry not want to serve the best for their users until they were forced into it?
Now to present day, where if you purchase any hardware or software, In some cases, you must agree not to modify the hardware or software or risk going to prison for doing so because you are violating some random alleged software patent or copyright. Seems what it comes down to is you really do not own the product. Huh? Do not believe me. Read the fine print of what you have purchased lately. Pretty much as bad as the shrink wrap agreements.
To make things even more complicated. a certain company from Redmond Washing allegedly bullied makers of computers to add what is known as UEFI as part of the system. That means that company from Redmond Washington can allegedly control your computer at their whim. You still own your computer?. The uefi was allegedly included so that you will be more protected from security issues such as viruses, software piracy, and the like. So far only the systems using the Redmond Washinton software needs this quick fix. Most intelligent people in the industry call it a joke.
Other operating systems have to license use of the uefi software. Linux being one of them. Linux, BSD, and etc has no use for uefi for the most part. There are a few hardware manufacturers who do make equipment without the uefi, but expect to pay a premium. The uefi for the most part will not be retrofitted to older equipment. (God Forbid!). It has been rumored the real reason that uefi was used to try to lock out open operating systems such as Linux in a competition limiting move by a company that has been allegedly adjudicated a monopoly already on two continents.
Like in the days of the shrinkwrap agreements, the industry is complaing sales are down and is doomed. Maybe if the uefi was not forced into the hardware of new machines, sales would be dramatically higher. Apparently the industry has not learned the lessons of the shrinkwrap days, You try to control your customer and they will seek business elsewhere.
Again we have open source to replace freeware. I prefer open source as it allows me to use older hardware and software a bit longer. Maybe the industry will get a hint by the time I need a newer system. Also, why maybe many people are not purchasing new systems. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Are you listening industry?
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