News Update: Petition asking Microsoft to open-source Windows 7 sails past 7,777-signature goal

[steven36]

The Free Software Foundation really set the bar high there

 

 

Good news everybody! The Free Software Foundation has blown through its self-imposed target of 7,777 signatories in its efforts to persuade Microsoft to make Windows 7 open source.

We noted last week the GNU-gang's attempt to coax the born-again open-sourcerer formerly known as "The Beast Of Redmond" into making a surprise deposit into GitHub.

 

The thinking was that since Windows 7 has now come to the end of the road, as far as free security updates are concerned, then perhaps Microsoft might release it as open software?

 

We put it to the Free Software Foundation that it might be more complicated than that – after all, Windows 7 contains all manner of codecs and the like licensed from third parties, as well as code licensed back to those same customers.

 

The FSF's Greg Farough told us: "We want all software to be free software." The clue, after all, is in the name. "But Microsoft freeing just the operating system itself would satisfy our demand here."

 

But what of those enterprises that have already paid for support? Should Microsoft start lobbing out refunds or fork the freshly open-sourced code base?

 

"Enterprises wouldn't be paying for a licence anymore," explained Farough, "but they would still need support."

 

With what we imagine is the starry-eyed glint of a true believer, he added: "They could either choose to take that on internally, with other vendors, or stick with Microsoft. That's one of the beauties of free software.

 

"You may still have to pay for support, but you can shop around without arbitrary restrictions, and you're not paying for just a licence."

 

Certainly, anyone who has had to explain to a bean counter that Linux is free but those who look after it – internally or externally – still expect to be paid will know that there is always a cost somewhere down the line.

 

We put it to Farough that other obsolete software in the Office or Server lines might also benefit from the open source wand. He agreed, but said the focus was on Windows 7 due to "headlines we're seeing about users feeling left in the lurch by the EOL".

 

Farough told us that the FSF usually gives Microsoft stick "for their proprietary software", but since the giant had "been talking so much about how they now support free software (they usually say 'open source' or 'Linux'), we think they should take this opportunity to do the right thing."

 

Freeing the software, he reckoned, would mean it would stay alive as long as someone could be bothered to maintain the thing. "Intentionally killing Windows [7] off," he said, "is irresponsible and even disrespectful to the many people who have spent so much time using and developing it."

 

While those who developed it (Microsoft) would dearly like to see the back of it, Farough has a point regarding those used to its familiar Aero desktop. A good portion of users remain on the platform unable or unwilling to upgrade or pay for extended support.

 

"We do already have our own operating system, GNU/Linux, so we don't *need* Windows 7," Farough said, but added the FSF would be happy to shepherd Microsoft through the wilds of open-source licenceland (and all the monsters within).

 

"As the FSF is the caretaker of the GPL, we feel confident in our ability to assist them."

 

We asked Microsoft if it had any more thoughts now that the petition had passed its target but the company declined to comment.

 

And the target? Far be it from us to suggest it might have been a little on the low side, but more people signed a petition to sort out the roads in the UK county of Surrey. Or ban the sale of fireworks to the clearly untrustworthy British public.

 

To be frank, Satan is more likely to caught riding a snowplough before that source is made free. Certainly in the near to medium term. In the meantime, if Windows 10 is out of the question and you're reluctant to pay Apple's idiot tax, then perhaps a look a modern Linux distribution will be enough to scratch that free software itch.

 

The world has, after all, moved on a bit in the decade since Windows 7 was new.

 

Source

[stylemessiah2]

Stupid clickbait article

 

Microsoft couldnt make it open source even if they wanted to, simple reason, they dont own all the code or patents used in it

 

Next silly article, please...

[steven36]

2 hours ago, stylemessiah2 said:

Stupid clickbait article

 

Microsoft couldnt make it open source even if they wanted to, simple reason, they dont own all the code or patents used in it

 

Next silly article, please...

What does patients have to do with it you got a source for you info? I got sources were Microsoft devs say it can be made open source.  Linux  Distros dont own the code to stuff  goes in it ether most of that stuff is optional if it's closed source you have   React OS  has been making a open source OS to run windows apps for years if Microsoft would make the code they own open source  the community would  make a open source Windows Clone .React OS , NeoKylin OS  would be able run all  modern  windows 32  programs if they hand over Windows 32  to open source no other  platform can run Win 32 but windows unless  you use wine or proton. Most stuff Microsoft  dont ship in Windows  unless they own  it or someone puts it in windows store they was sued  by Sun  and Apple for stealing  Software code in the past so those became programs you had to download  just like you do on Linux . Linux  Distros  have all kinds of stuff  in there Update Mangers /Stores /PPAs and repos that Microsoft  / Google  and many  others own the code too.  a whole lot of Close Source  stuff  that our distro  that don't own the patients run just fine on open source. It dont conflict  with it ether because  it's under a closed source license. Ether you buy  it are it freeware.

 

Microsoft  said themselves  back in 2015 Open Source Windows is possible

Microsoft: An Open Source Windows Is 'Definitely Possible'

Source: https://www.wired.com/2015/04/microsoft-open-source-windows-definitely-possible/

Source; https://venturebeat.com/2015/04/03/microsofts-mark-russinovich-an-open-source-windows-is-definitely-possible/

 

While in the past I might’ve laugh at the idea, nowadays it seems like Microsoft is preparing to do so in a way that still would be profitable for them (since they’d need some other income source to replace what Windows brings in). There are few hints.

1. Microsoft lately is going into services in a big way, Microsoft Store, Xbox Live subscription, Office 365 and as we know, most open-source projects profit from services, aside of donations.
2. They’ve just bought Github. This may not seem like much, but owning a popular service might make easier to actually host Windows source code. Granted, they could do it without buying Github, but having access to backend would make shift easier in case of some problems (and for all we know, M$ may use VSS internally and changing it to Git… hoo, boy. Had several projects like that where we needed to switch away from VSS and it is never a pleasant to do - and these projects were much smaller than Windows has to be).
3. Opensourcing Windows would make ReactOS pointless and Microsoft try to fight fragmentation of the install base - having “almost the same, but not quite” OS floating around would make that goal fruitless. Keep in mind that while ReactOS isn’t usable at the moment, one day it will be.
4. They were giving away windows 10 licenses to all 7/8 users and even now, if you agree to betatest (Windows Insider), you can upgrade for free.
5. Piracy audits costs money so it may be beneficial for Microsoft to open-source Windows even if the paid services income would be replaced with aren’t all there yet.
6. Automated anti-piracy checks usually add bloat to the software, so removing them might make Windows even faster on low-end machine and the only reason these would be removed/disabled is if Windows either becomes free as in “free beer” or as in “free speech” (open source)
7. Code could be audited for security and if somehow Microsoft hasn’t sold its soul to the NSA (which I doubt it didn’t) and there are no real backdoors, it would put those rumors to rest.

Source: https://www.quora.com/Will-Microsoft-ever-make-Windows-open-source

 

They may not make Windows 7 open source but if the cons of making Windows closed source  ever becomes more than the pros of open source they want have no choice  like a mass exodus from windows  for being held hostage monthly for  Windows 365 contracts. They sell  lots of Cloud  to Linux already  .

 

FSF  wants them to put there money were there mouth is .Talk is cheap they said they can do it , but if they dont that  just makes them shitty company that wants to just keep there users on the latest version of Slurp OS... Windows is the only  OS  left thats  trying  to  charge for the OS being a service instead of it being free software to sell there  services  on. Apple upgrades  is free  for the life of your device  and Android  has always been free. But its fine for them   to sell services to other free /open source OS . They done  lost most consumers interest all ready ( check the OS market share all devices)  . 64%  are using some other OS besides  Windows.

https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share#monthly-201812-201912-bar

 

 

Windows 7 was the end of the Windows OS  were consumers bought  its all down hill  for Microsoft  Windows from here on out .Time for Windows users to get off there Dinosaur they rode in the 90s and 2000s and get with the reality  of the 2020s  .

 

Android OS itself is  open source  you can use  Foss stores  instead  but vendors in the West ship  the Google closed source fork of it , But Google is ban in China  so there forks dont have it ,  Microsoft makes  $5 to $15. for every Android Device sold  in the west because the crap Google puts in it Android infringes on their patents.

source: https://www.howtogeek.com/183766/why-microsoft-makes-5-to-15-from-every-android-device-sold/

 

So Microsoft being the patent trolls they  are charging vendors  a tax for something Google Gives away for free. It No different then when you buy a device with Windows.  Microsoft charges the vendor a  windows tax so they  load  your OS full  of demo-ware . Software vendors pay PC vendors to put demo versions in the OS  and that pays for the Windows tax and more they make so much from bundling demo-ware  its cheaper to buy a PC with windows than it is buying one with no OS or Linux.   

[stylemessiah2]

Confused, you hate Microsoft or you want them to open source their code?

 

To be clear my comment about it being a silly clickbait article was directed at the original article not your posting of it here...total clickbait, not a chance in hell they would open source it, and i stand by my comments, would and could never happen, so its definitely pure clickbait...

 

FSF is just a bunch of whiny bored people pretending to know what theyre talking about, evangelism in any form is just a bunch of people with no idea who are very committed to promoting it....usually for their own egos. Add to the the head of the FSF has publicly said many times he doesnt believe pedophilia harms children. Nice role model

 

 

 

[steven36]

4 hours ago, stylemessiah2 said:

FSF has publicly said many times he doesnt believe pedophilia harms children. Nice role model

 

FSF and MIT made RS resign  when he made that statement you need  to get your facts right hes no longer  over it ! And now your  trying play the morals card and still you have no source  to back  up your info  and only posting half truths. If i used  software  because  of something  some CEO  said i wouldnt use nothing laid off  or active .

https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/17/20870050/richard-stallman-resigns-mit-free-software-foundation-epstein

 

Im and independent and i dont agree with surveillance capitalism backing  left leaning software ceos. That make OS that slurp your data . im too the center more than them. CEOs dont have freedom of speech  they can say anything and be laid off. Look what happen to Google  because a political tape leaked they being investigated  by the USA goverment  because of it and 12 other antitrust issues . Microsoft  is being investigated by the IRS for not  paying taxes and putting there profits  in foreign tax havens , they all dirty. If the IRS ever gets there budget  back they going to have a filed day with  all off Big Tech . Not paying your taxes is something the Mafia  would  do ,  If  a normal person didn't pay there  taxes the IRS takes everything you got . Al Capone went to prison  for years for stashing his money  and not paying taxes . If you want to play the morals card .

 

The internet is a scary place  it always has been  you dont know nothing  about anyone unless they chose to disclose it. Windows  10 may be made by a ax murderer for all you know  and it even more scary  in recent years . because  if you work in  tech and have a non technical opinion   anymore you lose your job or get sent to therapy . So you know less about people in the tech scene more than ever before. Only stupid ones  speak up on other matters. they bad people  in every company. look at the people Google made resign for sex discrimination like the father of Android but there many others as well  . People who work in tech are humans too  and ether  they bad people are there not and if they bad and  they still work there it means there number has not been called yet , or they been given another chance but  many didn't get another chance and are gone, at the end of the day you dont know nothing about  anyone ,but at lest with open source i can look  at the code and see what they put in it  . I dont have to take some filthy rich CEO's word for it and  in 1 day  to a month latter it was found  out to be a lie.

 

Denying people the right to freedom  of speech  hid genocides and caused all  kinds of bad things to happen  in the past . It makes it easier  for criminals to exist  if you not allowed to talk about it even makes it harder on the law to do there job too catch them.  with the SJW movement of today were people are scared to speak up were headed for dark times again. IBM still never took responsibility for all the people there tech help  the Nazi's kill . And they  never had to go court about  selling to both sides of World War 2 . They the oldest tech company  thats how much you can trust Big Tech . History is a great teacher about these outfits.

[stylemessiah2]

You seem to have issues with just about everything, ill leave you to it

 

I dont know where to begin, so i wont even bother

 

Tinfoil hat time

 

[steven36]

3 hours ago, stylemessiah2 said:

Tinfoil hat time

i have no reason to ware a tinfoil  hat  i use Linux 98% of the time for over 3 years now of the time  and mostly use open source programs to boot.  Only people  would have a reason to ware tinfoil  hat are people who need these products and want to change Big Tech  to suit them . At the end of the day it dont matter to me because  as a consumer  i  can do everything i need to do without installing there software or signing in to there services i use alternatives. Let me let you in on a little secret most Linux users dont care if Windows ever gets made open source or if Windows 7 stops getting updates  , We get updates just fine without Microshaft . Most of us dont even care if Windows users migrate to Linux . If they a fan of Windows  and happy more power too them. If there  not once if they get tired  of it like I did in 2015 they will find something to make them happy . Only people have to worry about Windows 7 is windows users. FSF is not Linux  they make programs cross platform  because people on Linux really  dont care  .

 

Programs made on WSL  in windows 10 for Linux run just fine on Linux without even having to touch Windows . you the one with the Windows problems not me. Most stuff Microsoft do for Linux is good for Linux every since  they got got new management in 2014 . They no longer compete against Linux like they do against  Apple and Google  they embrace Linux  . They biggest problem  with Microsoft is Windows users who are stuck in the past when Gates ran it  and that Microsoft is gone forever and  if all Windows users were happy they would not be holding on to Windows 7/ 8.1 and Windows XP before that even . I never knew Windows users to be happy because they dont really own there OS they just rented it tell support ends .

[spudboy]

20 hours ago, steven36 said:

 

 

Freedom of speech does NOT = freedom from consequence when enacting on said freedom. Exactly who's freedom of speech has been taken away? A person CAN say anything they want, but there may or may not also be consequences for it. That doesn't mean their freedom of speech was taken away.

[steven36]

19 minutes ago, spudboy said:

 

Freedom of speech does NOT = freedom from consequence when enacting on said freedom. Exactly who's freedom of speech has been taken away? A person CAN say anything they want, but there may or may not also be consequences for it. That doesn't mean their freedom of speech was taken away.

Words are just words they do no harm without actions  , Someone  may of just been confused  or angry  or just made something up off the top of there head .

 

You see a lot of that on  here  a lot of 1 liners  that dont  add nothing  to the topic  it use to be problematic when people became vip and vet from adding nothing to the site .So they changed the rules  and everyone new has too suffer . While  your right you are accountable for what you say  its not fair when the rules get changed  were everyone gets punished  because of a few bad seeds . Most rules on the internet that hinder  freedom of  speech  dont just effect the people that caused the  problem it effects everyone even people that  was not around at the time. Its like all those people that got fried  at Google  for protesting  against bad things they think Google did they got fired  over  it,  They made new rules that hinder freedom of speech in there workplace and it effected everyone not just the protesters.

[spudboy]

9 hours ago, steven36 said:

Words are just words they do no harm without actions  , Someone  may of just been confused  or angry  or just made something up off the top of there head .

 

You see a lot of that on  here  a lot of 1 liners  that dont  add nothing  to the topic  it use to be problematic when people became vip and vet from adding nothing to the site .So they changed the rules  and everyone new has too suffer . While  your right you are accountable for what you say  its not fair when the rules get changed  were everyone gets punished  because of a few bad seeds . Most rules on the internet that hinder  freedom of  speech  dont just effect the people that caused the  problem it effects everyone even people that  was not around at the time. Its like all those people that got fried  at Google  for protesting  against bad things they think Google did they got fired  over  it,  They made new rules that hinder freedom of speech in there workplace and it effected everyone not just the protesters.

 

Except their freedom of speech is still not being violated, hindered, etc. They are STILL free to say as they wish. Rules are rules. Being punished for breaking a rule is not losing ones freedom of speech. No matter how anyone can rearrange the words, no ones freedom has been taken away. Unless peoples tongues are being cut out, their mouths sewn shut, etc. Then no ones freedom of speech is being violated here or elsewhere.