Hello Everyone,
I just read the long thread about "Y use Linux instead of Windows" , and it sparked a question in me. I use Linux for any serious applications such as web/file/print services but I use Windows on the box I play games on. The reason is simple, all of the major games I want to play are on a win M$ platform. I am not bias to any one OS, I see it as a tool and use the most appropriate OS for the job. If more games were available to Linux then windows, my game box probably would be RH9.

My question is this........

What if the government presented a bill that demanded any company creating software for profit must make versions that will play on a minimal of two operating systems (Separate companies' operating systems, not win98 and win2k; or RH7 and RH9) unless of course the software being created is an operating system itself.

Example:

1. Doom3 is released in two versions, one for winXP and one for Mandrake and sells for $49.95
2. John Doe writes his own software for RH9, but offers it to download for free. He is exempt from this new bill.
3. M$ releases a new OS, Windows YP which is an OS and is exempt.
4. M$ releases a new game, Fishing for wives, and makes a version available for OSX.

What do you all think? This would then allow buyers to pick the OS they think is best and force companies to deal with competition. Competition makes better products. No competition, and a company gets lazy (<cough>....Micro<cough>t)

My only question about this is.....can you write a program FOR Linux and charge money for it? I know of course Linux itself must be free, but what about games and apps? SORRY...I AM A NEWBEE STILL!

Ooops!!! Just realized this should have been posted in "General" section.




[me] ....runs from rath of the forum admins........[/me]

You can have un-free software for Linux. Some games like Neverwinter Nights are good examples.

We don't need the goberment telling anyone stupid stuff like that. The government is already too involved in day to day life. I would never support a law like that even though I love Linux and want it to beat M$ Windows. But goberment interference is NOT the way to do it.

My 0.02
Luantum

Oh yea in case your wondering Im one of those "Gun Nut" anti big government Open Source Linux guys. A little like ESR

My only thought is.....Unless the government does something, the only way major game makers will start writing games for Linux is if the is enough of a percent of home owners that use Linux to be profitable. To get a big percent of home owners to use linux, there needs to be more games and popular applications.

Kind of like the fact that in order to get experience, you need a job. But in order to get a job, you must have experience!

Any other comments?

Like I already said goberment control is not the answer.

quick question:
can I move my own thread if it is in wrong location?

OK: besides the fact of the government being evil and restricting our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, how do you get world-wide legistlation? answer that one, and I might join your flag.

titanium_geek

What do you mean, titanium_geek?

world-wide legistlation? What be that exactly? It sounds like some UN project run amuck!

Luantum

I just mean the simple idea that laws made in Germany won't affect people in papua new guinea. (unless they're german)

for war crimes, there are international laws, people from any country under the sun can be tried for such crimes under these laws. (usually at the hague etc)

of course, these international laws can be ignored (US protecting colin powel and the generals in Iraq {"miss! miss! they're picking on me miss! it snot fair miss! miss!})
and are only for things like war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide.
This is why spam exists today. This is why porn gets placed under people's eyes when they don't want to see it. This is why the internet is so hard to legistlate (control using law). This is why Microsoft struggles against piracy.

so how do you get your idea legistlated worldwide. I agree with the sentiment, but this is the sort of argument you would have to face.

PS in response to your sig, with gun legistlation, the half crazed maniac wouldn't get the gun that he uses to shoot your dog, you don't have to own a gun to shoot him back.

titanium_geek

Well.......uhm...........I was only thinking of a US law, not world wide. Even I know that the wrold wide laws are actually only enforced by one's own morals. To be more exact, I was thinking about all of the US companies making games. I am not saying that other contries software products are not worth including in this idea, I just agree with you that there would be almost no way to enforce it. It would have to be a country dependant law.

I guess I dont have all of the answers......but I keep trying!

*thinks about most of the things heard like this*
*sighs*

Your idea is a really cool one, I like it alot. But any idea not enforced world wide will not be accepted/usable. For example.. despite the legistlation against spam, you still get spam, right?

this really gets my goat. I think that maybe if it was adopted as a standard... YEAH! like TCP/IP, binary, etc... (txt, bmp, jpg)
hmmm... so how do we ask for a new standard?
email some big names... I guess.
:]
titanium_geek

This law would be unconstitutional IMO. Guns have lots of uses: Hunting, target shooting, consealed carry protection, home defence and finaly protection from the government.

Luantum

Sorry:
I forgot that america was formed from fear of the government... that the government is big bad evil... coming to get you.
Also that the US was influenced by France (vice versa), where EVERYONE was your enemy at some stage during the reign of terror.

still: humans are so messed up that even in countries where only policemen and farmers carry guns, the murder rate is roughly the same; only that stabbing is more prevalent. This is why we need a change of heart.

and.. I'm not american.
(Australian and proud of it)

titanium_geek

titanium_geek,
Can I not convince you I hope these links will:



Gun Ownership: A human Right

A flash movie about Libertarian Ideas

A Gun BBS with Friendly People

Try those out

Luantum