Yet Another Reason I Hate Microsoft
Microsoft claims patents on Linux kernel
This is bordering on insanity. If Micro$oft is allowed by the courts to proceed in matters such as this, it will be opening the door to legalizing monopolies, and encourage stifling innovation. Micro$oft really wants to completely own the computer software market, forcing consumers to buy computers that run only their software. The next thing you know, M$ will be claiming patent rights against products that predate their own “invention.”
Interestingly, Micro$oft has, in the past, been forced to pay for their own infringements, and some of those cases haunt them to this day.
I proudly run open source software, and will continue to do so. C’mon Micro$oft, try and sue me. The day I’m forced to bow to a vendor on this level is the day I’ll stop using computers altogether.
[Note: The fun little logo at the top of this article is the avatar used by Sunbeam Photography on Flickr. I came across it moments after reading the article, and thought it quite appropriate. Hopefully, the creator of the logo is not too upset by my use in this context.]
Post Revisions:
There are no revisions for this post.
Dude! You’re using my avatar!
No problem at all. I just read a post on Tim Sanders’ blog (http://sanderssays.typepad.com) that suggested that business owners google themselves at least once a year, so I did, and I found your site.
The avatar was created when I was working at Ferrari Color (www.ferraricolor.com) and we were doing huge prints for McCann-Erickson, the agency that handles at least most of Microsoft’s marketing. I worked in the prepress department so I had access to all of the files and snagged the Vista logo for my own use, including the avatar with the OS X’ “X” knocking out the 45 degree rotated Vista logo.
My favorite use, howeveer, was turning it into ASCII art and putting it in an ancient typewriter that my eclectic boss had in the department, as though the logo had been typed out on the typewriter as a splash screen. I swiped the “Made for Windows” sticker from a Dell in the shop and used it to finish off the theme. It was rusty and dirty and the most beautifully symbolic representation of Windows I’ve conceived (so far).
Thanks for the credit, by the way. I’ve been using it for a long time now, and I see it pop up all over the place (some Mac forums have adopted it for use by any member) but this is the only time I’ve seen anyone give credit.
- Jon
Jon,
I try to credit folks whose images I use whenever possible (sometimes, it’s very difficult to find out who created or developed a graphic). Great to hear the history behind it.