Linux and RIM
 

Ok sorry for the rant but I do not understand RIM decission to BLOCK Linux / BSD out...

Linux / BSD is the future of PC's... It's free and everything (well 99%) is free and open source...

OpenOffice (is better than Office 2003), Beryl (blows M$ Vista) out the water 3d wise... GIMP smokes Photo$hop....

RIM has locked Linux and BSD (Unix) out for the most part. I don't understand how since their competition is Windoze Mobile, yet they ignore the people who dispise ever giving another red cent to Micro$oft...

I do understand that Unix and Linux require some w/o a degree in computer science to learn. But just think of the savings....

M$ Vista $399
M$ Office $299
Yearly anti-virus $40
Yearly Firewall $40
Yearly Anti-spam $40
Photoshop $599

Using Linux / BSD and not having to worry about virus, firewall, antispam = PRICELESS :)

Come on RIM.... Get with the open source and lets take a few bucks out of Bill Gate$ pocket....

That is all :)

Ahhhhh sorry, I had to get rid of the 666 post count... YIKES :)

uh...your Avatar is a little devil..seems only fitting!

:)

My avatar is Beastie... He the logo of BSD (Unix) :) :)

I was not familiar with the logo of Linux....He does look a little devilish, though! He's better than my Alfalfa computer geek!

He a funny looking little dude :) (Beastie that is) :)

Must let you know whose friends with who.

Ya I agree but since their main competition is Windoze mobile you'd figure they'd embrace the Unix / Linux community....

Interesting, I was figuring they will soon get in bed together. RIM has a great piece of software and M$ can't beat or match it. That's why I have the feeling they will try and buy RIM eventually.

Problem is RIM also comes with a hardware part of the company. M$ has no interest in that, just the software. It would devalue RIM BES if it runs on other OS since M$ really wants to include it in their server/exchage package. The question is how much can RIM get for that patent?

I hope you are wrong, but yes I can see Micro$oft trying to buy up the competition.... They recently started a 'joint understanding' with one of the largest Linux company's, Novell...

I have written RIM several times reference them opening up the OS to open source OR at least develop a DM that works under Linux / Unix.

Obviously RIM is still marketing towards their core customers - businesses - and their new customers, consumers. Not to Mac users, and not to Linux guys. What percentage of desktops use Windows (calling it Windoze and Micro$oft is sooo old) compared to Linux? The stories of companies and governments moving to Linux are legendary. And very, very few.

I know people love Linux. And Betamax was better than VHS for years, right?

Linux has a future - but today it is still a niche and could remain that way for several years.

And once Linux meets some critical mass, the viruses and spyware will start. Open Source does not mean free OR secure. Remember there were no Mac viruses either....

Agreed with most of what you stated.... However, as I am sure you are aware, a virus will react far differently in Linux than it will in Windows (better??) :)

In Linux or Unix the virus will NOT be able to spread because it does not have access to the main portion of the PC... Hence the command line and the need to SU or SUDO, enter admin password to do anything worthwhile in Linux / Unix...

I do agree that as Linux / Unix gain popularity that the number of hazards will increase BUT the damage they can cause are minimal, at best..

Many, many foreign governments use Linux, and many major companies use a Linux or Unix based server because they are ROCK solid...

Just to clarify the mascot of Linux is "Tux" which is a penguin. Also BSD which is a UNIX derivative is not Linux. While both OS use similar command scripts they are both two different OS. See Linux - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and Berkeley Software Distribution - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for more information.

Yup

Linux is Tux and BSD is Beastie :)

@Dark Knight

What distro are you using????

I have tried the following Linux distros (in order of preference)
--Ubuntu
--Fedora Core
--Suse
--Debian
--Slackware
--Gentoo
--Xandros
--RedHat

BSD Distro's
--FreeBSD
--PCBSD
--DesktopBSD
--NetBSD

I love Ubuntu and FreeBSD :)

You are thinking about how today's viruses would work with Linux. Think like a virus writer. Think differently. Find a nice piece of open source and hack it. It can be done....

I agree, point well taken :)

So I was poking around the net today while watching the Michigan -v- OSU game and found this article rather interesting...

*snip*
There are about 60,000 viruses known for Windows, about 5 for commercial Unix versions, and perhaps 40 for Linux.

*snip snip*
None of the Unix or Linux viruses became widespread - most were confined to the laboratory.

Link:
Linux vs. Windows Viruses | The Register

In due time... Just like with the Mac... And Symbian phones.
If it gets big enough, the hackers will arrive...

Okay, I guess I am a Microsoft brainwashee. I definitely did not understand half of this thread. All the technical jargon :)

Just thought I would state that I thought Beastie was a little cartoon character. The cutest devil I have ever seen. ha.

As for Tux, I stumbled across a desktop wallpaper a couple of years ago and thought it was adorable, only to find out later that it was a Linux mascot. Definitely caught me by surprise. Both so cute.