[Robotgroup] Micro$oft Robotics

[john at cozmicfunk.com]

For someone that doesn't have time to reply to emails, seems to have 
plenty of time
to complain  about microsoft (not that they aren't worth complaining 
about anyways).
Did someone have a bad day today? Take a break Vern, sit back relax...

Hey I used to work for that company, and I don't even need to waste my 
breath on
that one anymore! Your either working for them or against them!
I can think of dozens of better ways to spend time. Back to work... I 
mean sleep!
JPF

Vern Graner wrote:
> vkonradi wrote:
>   
>> I'm so glad to see Microsoft _finally_ apply their charitable bent to the cause.  Now things are really going to happen!
>>     
>
> <rant>
> Yup. Now robotics can benefit the same way the other markets have by 
> Microsoft being involved. Things like:
>
> Driving competitors out of the market (think Word Perfect, Netscape, Novell)
>
> Stealing ideas or sabotaging others in the space (think Stacker/ DR-DOS)
>
> Using their monopoly-made mega-dollars to patent *everything* so you 
> can't make a product without stepping on a patent "land mine"
>
> Hiding critical source code as "trade secrets" so no one can make 
> compatible or work-alike software.
>
> Draconian EULA's that strip away your rights i.e. "You can run THE 
> PRODUCT on ONE robot in your swarm, each additional robot requires an 
> additional license, if the robot speaks, you must purchase a separate 
> text to speech license for each robot in the swarm. If your robot 
> becomes damaged you cannot transfer this OEM edition software to another 
> robot." etc. etc.
>
> Your robot won't boot till it passes Windows Genuine Robot Advantage 
> Activation (I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that!")
>
> Giant, buggy, bloated, slow software prone to STOP: Your robot has 
> performed an illegal operation in module "walk.exe" and will be shut down.
>
> Weekly fixes and "upgrades" that won't apply if the W.G.R.A. *thinks* 
> your robot isn't "genuine" (I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I *still* can't 
> do that, you filthy pirate!")
>
> FUDing of Linux and/or open source alternatives (you can't trust 
> something as dangerous as a robot to a hodge podge of code from hippies! 
> You need a professional M$ product!)
>
> A EULA that will let them off scot-free if their "professional" product 
> damages anything or anyone. ("I'm sorry Dave, I know I killed people but 
> my EULA says all I owe you is a refund of my purchase price")
>
> Suing people into oblivion via the The Software Gestapo aka "The 
> Business Software Alliance"
>
> EULA terms that require you to submit any benchmarks or reviews to them 
> for approval before they are published.
>
> Security holes big enough to drive ED-209 through (hope your robot isn't 
> armed!)
>
> Yeah it's gunna be great, can't wait. :P
> </rant>
>
> :)
>
> Vern
>
>