Linked by Thom Holwerda on Sun 8th Feb 2009 19:15 UTC
OSNews, Generic OSes No major events of announcements this week, but that doesn't mean we didn't have any interesting content the past 7 days. The steady stream of news about Windows 7 continues to flow, while the netbook stream dried up a bit. We also some very interesting releases this week, such as the latest ReactOS and a new JNode release. Linus Torvalds made headline news once again because of his comments about having multiple Linux distributions, and it became clear SGI is in trouble yet again. This week's My Take is about working on a dream.
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Cat's out of the bag...
by cmost on Sun 8th Feb 2009 21:54 UTC
cmost
Member since:
2006-07-16

I wonder if the steady stream of Windows news is to drum up demand (and with it revenue) for this "savior" of Microsoft. First we hear about some niche group clamoring for Windows 7's early release (yeah, like that's going to happen) and then the plethora of news bites about how fast and stable Windows 7 beta is on netbooks. Since it's common knowledge that the media is all about marketing and little to do with actual news (i.e., perception IS reality) it gives one pause as to the motives.

Edited 2009-02-08 22:06 UTC

RE: Cat's out of the bag...
by Thom_Holwerda on Sun 8th Feb 2009 22:16 UTC in reply to "Cat's out of the bag..."
Thom_Holwerda Member since:
2005-06-29

Since it's common knowledge that the media is all about marketing and little to do with actual news (i.e., perception IS reality) it gives one pause as to the motives.


So, you're insinuating we're being paid by Microsoft? That we are owned by them or something? What is it you're getting at?

Look, I can't help it that people want to hear about Windows 7. As far as I'm concerned, it's just another release, and I don't understand it either why everyone is up in joy about it.

Still, Windows 7 is currently simply the thing in the software world, just like a while back Ubuntu was the shit and we were getting complaints from a vocal minority that we posted too much Ubuntu news. Back then, we already explained it was just a wave, and that it would pass - and it did. Now, there isn't as much Ubuntu news anymore, just as we told everyone.

The same will happen with Windows 7. Sure, you can go black helicopter on our bums and insinuate what you want, but the fact of the matter is that one of these weeks, the Windows 7 wave will pass, and we'll be welcomed by another wave of the next best thing.

And then people like you will complain once again. It's a recurring cycle, and as the managing editor here, I see that cycle more clearly than anyone else.

I'll end with what we always tell to people who crybaby over stories: there's no obligation to read them, you know. There's no man holding a gun to your face forcing you to read items that you clearly are not interested in.

We have a very strict policy on people complaining about editorial choices in the comments. We have an email address to send your complaints to. Comments to that effect in the comments' section will be deleted, as per our forum rules.

Edited 2009-02-08 22:21 UTC

RE[2]: Cat's out of the bag...
by cmost on Sun 8th Feb 2009 23:23 UTC in reply to "RE: Cat's out of the bag..."
cmost Member since:
2006-07-16

So, you're insinuating we're being paid by Microsoft? That we are owned by them or something? What is it you're getting at?


A little defensive are we Thom? I'm not getting at anything as far as OSnews is concerned. You do a great job! You along with the rest of the technical community are simply parroting what articles and news bites you find on people's blogs and the mainstream media in general, (which for all intents and purposes is a joke.) So, if the pulse of the community is buzzing over Windows 7, so will OSnews and all the rest in trickle down fashion. It's the guys at the top, where it all starts, who are suspect.

RE: Cat's out of the bag...
by google_ninja on Mon 9th Feb 2009 02:02 UTC in reply to "Cat's out of the bag..."
google_ninja Member since:
2006-02-05

Sad truth is 99% of the time, the tech media have nothing to talk about, so they just harp on the last thing they talked about so they can justify receiving a paycheck.

It has nothing to do with black helicopters and conspiracy theories, all we heard about for the last while was about how netbooks are the jesus of computers. Before that,as Thom said, the rage was talking about how Linux has finally come into its own with Ubuntu. Before that it was how Vista was satan-spawn, and there is always the tried and true "Is this the year of the linux desktop?" that has been pulled out and dusted off for over a decade now.

RE[2]: Cat's out of the bag...
by kaiwai on Mon 9th Feb 2009 11:31 UTC in reply to "RE: Cat's out of the bag..."
kaiwai Member since:
2005-07-06

Sad truth is 99% of the time, the tech media have nothing to talk about, so they just harp on the last thing they talked about so they can justify receiving a paycheck.


Got that right - just check out news.zdnet.com for the last two days - the harping on and on and on about the UAC changes, good lord, you'd think it was the second coming. I guess for me I am depressed not because of all the Windows 7 information but the fact that so much of it is puerile crap.

I long for multipage articules that go really into depth as the the kernel changes, how it compares to Windows Vista and XP, and heck, throw a little cross platform contention by comparing it to Mac OS X and say a *NIX of some flavour.

I long to see big articles like they do on Arstechnica; I want to learn what Microsoft has changed - but so far, like I've said, the information has been puerile, pathetic and childish. Articles amounting to little more than girlie gossip over the latest information about the flavour of the moment.

It has nothing to do with black helicopters and conspiracy theories, all we heard about for the last while was about how netbooks are the jesus of computers. Before that,as Thom said, the rage was talking about how Linux has finally come into its own with Ubuntu. Before that it was how Vista was satan-spawn, and there is always the tried and true "Is this the year of the linux desktop?" that has been pulled out and dusted off for over a decade now.


Oh, it'll rotate. GNOME 2.26 is just around the corner, KDE 4.3 isn't too far off, there are going to be some big distribution releases over the next 6 months, including OpenSolaris. Lets not forget Snow Leopard and all the marketing that'll be around that once a semi-finalised (aka 99% complete - right now it isn't even close to that) development builds start appearing.

So quite frankly I say let Windows 7 have its time in the limelight, let the Microsoft boosters have their soap box because it goes in rotations - swings between Linux, Windows, MacOS X and other platforms.

I guess this 'love & hate' depends on whether you're an operating system zealot or just a technology and operating system enthusiast. Those of us who are technology enthusiasts and get excited on new technology will welcome Windows 7, its too bad a few spoil sports have to complain all the time.

RE[2]: Cat's out of the bag...
by WorknMan on Mon 9th Feb 2009 12:14 UTC in reply to "RE: Cat's out of the bag..."
WorknMan Member since:
2005-11-13

Before that,as Thom said, the rage was talking about how Linux has finally come into its own with Ubuntu. Before that it was how Vista was satan-spawn, and there is always the tried and true "Is this the year of the linux desktop?" that has been pulled out and dusted off for over a decade now.


It's interesting that you say that about Vista, as the buzz around 7 seems to be the exact opposite. For example, the guy who is head of IT where I work, and was anti-Vista from day one (and made no secret of it) told a couple of us the other day that he installed the Windows 7 beta and absolutely loves it. Says he can't wait for the final to be released.

My point here is that I don't think it's just the media hyping it up. I haven't personally tried it so don't have an opinion yet, but I am hearing mostly good things about it, whereas with Vista, it was all about how bad it sucked.

My take
by Buck on Sun 8th Feb 2009 22:32 UTC
Buck
Member since:
2005-06-29

Madonna is still better than Bruce Springsteen.

RE: My take
by Parry Hotter on Sun 8th Feb 2009 22:35 UTC in reply to "My take"
Parry Hotter Member since:
2007-07-20

But not as good as Vista 7!

RE[2]: My take
by raver31 on Sun 8th Feb 2009 22:42 UTC in reply to "RE: My take"
raver31 Member since:
2005-07-06

Vista 7, nope sorry, never heard of that one.
If you mean Windows &, then you are deluded.

Madonna is more sexy that Windows 7, I would do Madonna, I would not do Windows 7.


But, Windows 7 is WAY more sexy than Bruce Springsteen.

RE[2]: My take
by CapEnt on Sun 8th Feb 2009 23:56 UTC in reply to "RE: My take"
CapEnt Member since:
2005-12-18

I used to see big cats, like Tigers or Leopards, so sexy...

RE: My take
by kaiwai on Mon 9th Feb 2009 11:34 UTC in reply to "My take"
kaiwai Member since:
2005-07-06

"when did lip syncing become classified as a live performance" ;)

Edited 2009-02-09 11:34 UTC

RE: My take
by thavith_osn on Tue 10th Feb 2009 05:39 UTC in reply to "My take"
thavith_osn Member since:
2005-07-11

Afraid not... :-)

Is it really that hard
by h3rman on Mon 9th Feb 2009 20:53 UTC
h3rman
Member since:
2006-08-09

Is it really that hard to just ignore news (or "news") that doesn't interest you?

RE: Is it really that hard
by Kroc on Tue 10th Feb 2009 10:08 UTC in reply to "Is it really that hard"
Kroc Member since:
2005-11-10

If your house was knee-deep in slurry, would you find it easy to ignore? ;) There comes a limit, when pretty much all news is crap, that it can’t be ignored.