Linux Genuine Advantage

rickh · 01-31-2007, 11:58 PM

http://www.linuxgenuineadvantage.org/

This site has been linked on the Debian Forums. I thought some of you who don't go there might want to take advantage of it as well. Even the FAQ and the source code links are worthwhile.

General · 02-01-2007, 12:27 AM

The joke isn't all that funny when you consider that many Linux distributions and applications actually do phone home. Upon alertion of this fact, many Linux users seem to to hold a double standard: when a certain monopolistic corporation is doing the spying they take offense; however, when Linux developers decide to conduct "research" on user usage, this is given a green light. If anything, unsaid company is more forward about their practices than can be said for Linux developers.

rickh · 02-01-2007, 12:31 AM

You have a real paranoia about that, don't you.

Penguin of Wonder · 02-01-2007, 12:49 AM

Thats a funny link rickh. People always say "who comes up with this?" but I'm always thinking to myself, who actually has time to sit down and actually create that kind of stuff. Still funny though.

In lieu of General I almost hijacked this thread but I passed.

XavierP · 02-01-2007, 01:39 PM

Funny page, thanks for that

microsoft/linux · 02-02-2007, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by General

The joke isn't all that funny when you consider that many Linux distributions and applications actually do phone home. Upon alertion of this fact, many Linux users seem to to hold a double standard: when a certain monopolistic corporation is doing the spying they take offense; however, when Linux developers decide to conduct "research" on user usage, this is given a green light. If anything, unsaid company is more forward about their practices than can be said for Linux developers.

The difference being, the Linux distributions aren't reducing functionality of your computer if something about it isn't genuine. The Linux distributions also provide source code for the software, and the user could uninstall whatever mechanism was being used(assuming it's software). And the research being conducted is not really identifying in anyway, outside of just downloads.

Said monopolistic corporation however, has no system of checks and balances, the user can't just decide that they don't want their computer phoning home anymore, this 'phone home mechanism' is crucial to the computer, or the user is locked out.

General · 02-02-2007, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by microsoft/linux

The difference being, the Linux distributions aren't reducing functionality of your computer if something about it isn't genuine. The Linux distributions also provide source code for the software, and the user could uninstall whatever mechanism was being used(assuming it's software). And the research being conducted is not really identifying in anyway, outside of just downloads.

Said monopolistic corporation however, has no system of checks and balances, the user can't just decide that they don't want their computer phoning home anymore, this 'phone home mechanism' is crucial to the computer, or the user is locked out.

all good points

Micro420 · 02-02-2007, 10:19 PM

I looked at the source code written in perl, which I am not too familiar with, but will it actually phone home to the website and check to see if it has been registered and paid for? I know it's a joke, but just wondering if the perl script can really be installed and executed.

sumguy231 · 02-02-2007, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micro420

I looked at the source code written in perl, which I am not too familiar with, but will it actually phone home to the website and check to see if it has been registered and paid for? I know it's a joke, but just wondering if the perl script can really be installed and executed.

According to their site, it's completely functional and if given permissions actually will lock you out. They even have removal instructions in case you're smart enough to run it on your system as root.