Eric Raymond explained why he hates proprietary software. And the reason is not with the software itself, but with how it is being written: In that world, the working programmer’s normal experience includes being forced to use broken tools for political reasons, insane specifications, and impossible deadlines. It means living in Dilbert-land, only without the … Continue reading Why writing proprietary software is not fun
Hyper-V: Linux or not Linux?
A recent column by Mitchell Ashley argues that Microsoft's upcoming Hyper-V virtualization platform (formerly known as Viridian) "leaves out Linux in the cold", because it only supports SuSE Linux and not the bigger contenders like RedHat and Ubuntu. I believe that Mitchell Ashley misses two important points in his analysis: The US market, where RedHat … Continue reading Hyper-V: Linux or not Linux?
Ah, Branding!
A video says it all:
Microsoft Surface
A friend pointed me to Microsoft Surface. Apart from the annoying fact that the site does not work with Apple's Safari (but it does with Firefox), I find it pretty interesting. Surface is, to put it shortly, a new breed of user interface using the same kind of multitouch screen you find on the Apple … Continue reading Microsoft Surface
Bill Gates 1989 predictions
In 1989, Bill Gates gave a talk at the University of Waterloo. An audio transcript recently became available. Money money money The talk is interesting from a historical perspective. You get Bill Gates' personal perspective on the history. Like "software is where we belong", because once it works, it keeps working. The reasoning is really: … Continue reading Bill Gates 1989 predictions