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http://www.techworld.com.au

Sony's announcement of the new PS3 Slim has excited gamers worldwide, but people wanting to run Linux on the console have been shunned with the removal of its 'Install Other OS' feature.

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HeresJohnny's picture
Created by HeresJohnny 12 years 40 weeks ago
Category: Industry   Tags:
lozz's picture

lozz

12 years 40 weeks 28 min 7 sec ago

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FSUMBR?

It's about time we created a FSUMBR - a Free Software Unfriendly Manufacturers Boycott Register.

Onto the list could go the name of every hardware manufacturer who pursues Free Software unfriendly policies - along with the recommendation that Free Software users avoid purchasing such brands.

Hit these jerks where it hurts and let them know it.

Jimbob's picture

Jimbob

12 years 39 weeks 6 days 21 hours ago

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Not a bad idea

However, I think your idea could be taken much further - meaning that it should list companies that have _any_ effect on free software (whether it be positive or negative) and list pros and cons of each with references. Furthermore, they could be ranked separately in terms of free software AND in terms of open source. After all, being pro-open source but not anti-free software is much better than being anti-foss.

Why not provide approval ratings for companies in terms of foss friendliness? You could give a rating from -10 (very unfriendly) to +10 (for very friendly).

The approval ratings could be given in objective terms based on imperical evidence - actual behaviour, lawsuits, press releases etc. But, separately, they could be given approval ratings based on community analysis and opinion - blogs, media, community surveys.

But, even this extension of your idea could be carried further. If the register and approval rating system is built, then why not give approval ratings on other factors - they could be ranked as having positive or negative effects on:

* the environment
* developing nations
* the patent system
* legal systems
* communities
* tax systems
* governments
* health care

...and more.

As I say, if the system is built for one approval system then it could easily be applied to other areas. Then a company could be given a list of [dis]approval ratings.

Companies definitely need more scrutiny by the community and this could be a way to provide it.

I hope someone clever enough to build this does so. I would like to see it in action.

lozz's picture

lozz

12 years 39 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago

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Virtually a wiki

Yeah, a wiki might be best to collate that amount of factors.

Actually, Linux Foundation have something similar to what you suggest, with regard to printers. They test many brands of printers and report on how well they perform with Unix-style operating systems. From memory, HP mostly worked pretty well while Canon worked rather badly.

http://www.linuxfoundation.org/collaborate/workgroups/openprinting

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