After trying to look it up, and stumbling through all the meaningless business jargon, I have no idea what it even purports to try to do.
I have a general skepticism of anything that needs that much marketing, so I think I'll choose to believe you instead of researching, until it matters to me.
Re: Re: Re: Re: @Anonymous Coward: "Microsoft isn't alone in doing this sort of thing."
"End effect is that the organizations which received this 'charity' are just as well off as they would be if Microsoft hadn't stepped in."
That's inaccurate. Let me fix this:
End effect is that the organizations which received this 'charity' could potentially have been as well off as they would be if Microsoft hadn't stepped in. They may also have still bought microsoft products. (I don't think using MS products is a wise choice either way, but some people, like Blaktron here, disagree.)
Generally, with the open source community, I get an unlimited amount of help with my OS troubles, and even with a lot of stuff that isn't due to my OS. A lot of times, they've taken the time to write up nice tutorials to tell me what's what and show me around, and are still willing to help me, (for free, I'll remind you) if I can't RTFM or if my problem slips through the cracks.
Of course, I've also never needed to ask for support, because of the extensive documentation which often already does address my exact problem down to model #'s.
My point is, in general, (there are exceptions), Linux distros aren't made or run by commercial entities and they still outperform MS.
Re: Re: Re: @Anonymous Coward: "Microsoft isn't alone in doing this sort of thing."
*sigh*
The reason we don't like it, likely including Glyn but he might not share my particular opinion, is because that $1 billion doesn't mean what they make it seem like it means.
Of that $1 billion, almost none of it comes out of their pockets. They could have installed all free OS's and software instead . . . or, they could have downloaded pirated versions instead.
End effect is that the organizations which received this 'charity' are just as well off as they would be if Microsoft hadn't stepped in.
It didn't cost them $844 million to gain that $844 million worth of tax refund, that's more where we're pissed off.
I considered this briefly for a second, but if artists want to make the most money, they'll probably want to make albums all the same, and use the extra attention from DigSin to sell the albums.
I might also note that as a university student, the crackers were one thing that attracted me to that grocery store, and this IS a university town, so they're probably capitalizing on it in many different ways.
"Marcus, it is on par with a grocery store giving away crackers and hoping like hell someone buys overpriced caviar to put on them."
You say this, but I don't think you realize my grocery store does this. Except not with caviar; the brand of crackers that they sell (2 packs/cust/visit) are in the middle of an aisle filled with jams, and peanut butters, and cheeses and soups, and mixes like brushetta mix, and that aisle is also right beside the produce section, with all those fresh veggies and fruits.
Just an interesting note, it's really quite irrelevant.
Somehow, I don't think that's a terribly accurate comparison.
I mean, a top 40 is a collection of 'the most popular'. A label releasing singles . . . well, a label can, and will, whether it likes it or not, release more popular and less popular songs.
Similarly, while the top 40 will never veer too far from the familiar, a label must constantly veer from the familiar in order to continue being relevant and profitable.
And digsin is just a label focused around singles . . .
And in that they aren't keeping the artists, or the copyrights on the songs, it seems to me to be very far from a top 40, and will have to be constantly focusing on new stuff.
And hey, it's free, what am I going to lose if I don't like the service?
Actually, I'mma admit, I'm spending more on music than I was before I started reading techdirt, and a lot of it is due to techdirt. Artists you've highlighted, (Color Theory in particular. Currently, he's selling all his music, ever, recently remastered and put on a USB key in lossless formats. He's currently surveying his fans to figure out a price point, and I'm figuring it's worth about $100 to me), sites you've pointed out, and other little things that pop up in the comments, (Talco comes to mind; I hadn't heard of them before someone mentioned them in the comments. And fortunately, their music is available on jamendo for me to check out).
Hmmm . . . I can see the argument that Steve Jobs did not follow what we now know in hindsight to be a more optimal path, but can you argue that his path wasn't positive?
I don't feel any animosity at all, Marcus. Nor do I intend any :)
Also, for merely having megaliths, you'd be wrong. To make a lot of them, yeah, you'd want technology, but, for example, the rock formations made by the Inuit, the inuksuks, were made only by hand.
Inunnguaq's, at least the larger ones, were often made using tools to help the stones stand upright until the head stone was put in place, but some of the largest Inuksuks were made entirely by hand.
Of course, on the time scale, red ochre still beats them hands down. And if we're talking about communication, I can't prove any inuksuk was ever used for that purpose, even if it's entirely possible.
On the post: Microsoft's $844 Million Software Giveaway To Nonprofits: Pure Charity Or Cheap Marketing?
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Lock in
I have a general skepticism of anything that needs that much marketing, so I think I'll choose to believe you instead of researching, until it matters to me.
On the post: Microsoft's $844 Million Software Giveaway To Nonprofits: Pure Charity Or Cheap Marketing?
Re: Re: Re: Re: @Anonymous Coward: "Microsoft isn't alone in doing this sort of thing."
That's inaccurate. Let me fix this:
End effect is that the organizations which received this 'charity' could potentially have been as well off as they would be if Microsoft hadn't stepped in. They may also have still bought microsoft products. (I don't think using MS products is a wise choice either way, but some people, like Blaktron here, disagree.)
On the post: Microsoft's $844 Million Software Giveaway To Nonprofits: Pure Charity Or Cheap Marketing?
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Duh
Of course, I've also never needed to ask for support, because of the extensive documentation which often already does address my exact problem down to model #'s.
My point is, in general, (there are exceptions), Linux distros aren't made or run by commercial entities and they still outperform MS.
On the post: Microsoft's $844 Million Software Giveaway To Nonprofits: Pure Charity Or Cheap Marketing?
Re: Re: Re: @Anonymous Coward: "Microsoft isn't alone in doing this sort of thing."
The reason we don't like it, likely including Glyn but he might not share my particular opinion, is because that $1 billion doesn't mean what they make it seem like it means.
Of that $1 billion, almost none of it comes out of their pockets. They could have installed all free OS's and software instead . . . or, they could have downloaded pirated versions instead.
End effect is that the organizations which received this 'charity' are just as well off as they would be if Microsoft hadn't stepped in.
It didn't cost them $844 million to gain that $844 million worth of tax refund, that's more where we're pissed off.
On the post: New Record Label Will Give Out All Its Music For Free; Wants Fans To Subscribe To The Label
Re: Makes me sad
I considered this briefly for a second, but if artists want to make the most money, they'll probably want to make albums all the same, and use the extra attention from DigSin to sell the albums.
On the post: New Record Label Will Give Out All Its Music For Free; Wants Fans To Subscribe To The Label
Re: lol
Go for it.
Find a company that techdirt endorsed a year or so ago that failed. Heck, find all the ones that TD endorsed last year that have since failed.
No, go on, please.
On the post: New Record Label Will Give Out All Its Music For Free; Wants Fans To Subscribe To The Label
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
On the post: New Record Label Will Give Out All Its Music For Free; Wants Fans To Subscribe To The Label
Re: Re: Re: Re:
I might also note that as a university student, the crackers were one thing that attracted me to that grocery store, and this IS a university town, so they're probably capitalizing on it in many different ways.
On the post: New Record Label Will Give Out All Its Music For Free; Wants Fans To Subscribe To The Label
Re: Re: Re:
You say this, but I don't think you realize my grocery store does this. Except not with caviar; the brand of crackers that they sell (2 packs/cust/visit) are in the middle of an aisle filled with jams, and peanut butters, and cheeses and soups, and mixes like brushetta mix, and that aisle is also right beside the produce section, with all those fresh veggies and fruits.
Just an interesting note, it's really quite irrelevant.
On the post: New Record Label Will Give Out All Its Music For Free; Wants Fans To Subscribe To The Label
Re:
I mean, a top 40 is a collection of 'the most popular'. A label releasing singles . . . well, a label can, and will, whether it likes it or not, release more popular and less popular songs.
Similarly, while the top 40 will never veer too far from the familiar, a label must constantly veer from the familiar in order to continue being relevant and profitable.
And digsin is just a label focused around singles . . .
And in that they aren't keeping the artists, or the copyrights on the songs, it seems to me to be very far from a top 40, and will have to be constantly focusing on new stuff.
And hey, it's free, what am I going to lose if I don't like the service?
On the post: New Record Label Will Give Out All Its Music For Free; Wants Fans To Subscribe To The Label
I'mma sign up, this sounds like a great idea!
Actually, I'mma admit, I'm spending more on music than I was before I started reading techdirt, and a lot of it is due to techdirt. Artists you've highlighted, (Color Theory in particular. Currently, he's selling all his music, ever, recently remastered and put on a USB key in lossless formats. He's currently surveying his fans to figure out a price point, and I'm figuring it's worth about $100 to me), sites you've pointed out, and other little things that pop up in the comments, (Talco comes to mind; I hadn't heard of them before someone mentioned them in the comments. And fortunately, their music is available on jamendo for me to check out).
On the post: A Time To Reflect On Innovation
Re: Re: Re: Re:
On the post: A Time To Reflect On Innovation
Re: Jobs hideous influence on user interfaces:
On the post: Monster Cable Claims EBay, Craigslist, Costco & Sears Are 'Rogue Sites'
On the post: Movie Producers Ask Chinese Video Game Pirates If They Can Make An Official Version Of The Game
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: @ "HothMonster": please quit spamming the page with gibberish.
You won't.
On the post: Movie Producers Ask Chinese Video Game Pirates If They Can Make An Official Version Of The Game
Re: Re: Re: @ "HothMonster": please quit spamming the page with gibberish.
The lulz would be epic, if time-consuming.
On the post: ITV 'Investigative Reporters' Confuse Video Game With Terrorist Video
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Psh
Also, for merely having megaliths, you'd be wrong. To make a lot of them, yeah, you'd want technology, but, for example, the rock formations made by the Inuit, the inuksuks, were made only by hand.
Inunnguaq's, at least the larger ones, were often made using tools to help the stones stand upright until the head stone was put in place, but some of the largest Inuksuks were made entirely by hand.
Of course, on the time scale, red ochre still beats them hands down. And if we're talking about communication, I can't prove any inuksuk was ever used for that purpose, even if it's entirely possible.
On the post: ITV 'Investigative Reporters' Confuse Video Game With Terrorist Video
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Psh
On the post: ITV 'Investigative Reporters' Confuse Video Game With Terrorist Video
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Psh
REAL men place giant boulders in giant fields to spell out their thoughts, because biggest rock is best rock!
On the post: Canadian Copyright Reform Authors Know The Law Outlaws Circumvention Even If No Infringement... But Don't Seem To Care
Re: Re: Re: Legislative Capture
The NDP never received that many funds, and currently has a grossly disproportionate % of voters compared to the money it spent.
. . we'll have to see.
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