TomTom won't be the last one!

Microsoft has sued TomTom for patent infringement. You should have hear it by now and what's better for M$ to have some extra cash and loyalty payment in the middle of a recession. Business as usual with a difference, that is their probable win or settlement can complicate things for FOSS community.

It's unlikely they sue everyone even if patents are to be upheld in court and applicable to other implementations. Others got patents for defend themselves too but that's still not a desired situation to be in for anyone.

OK. I hope you were not looking for any serious opinion or insight because I don't have any. I never liked FAT and I hope FOSS community take a note and don't assume (though I wished) their patents are all as worthless as the UAC one.

So don't format a FAT on that external hard drive if you don't have to attach to a FAT-only sh*t box.

What Are We Thanking Bill Gates For?

Since Bill Gates retirement from his full-time job at Microsoft, I read a few articles praising him for his role in making PC a commodity today among others.

Indeed, rise of Microsoft caused PC sales to increased significantly to become affordable enough to reach billions today but so did access to human right organisations and other pro-justice groups is easier today as a result of horrific events of the past. Maybe I'm exaggerating here but I hardly think people thank cruel kings and dictators for causing revolutions to form or inhuman employers for making people cry for unions.

My point here is not to say that Bill Gates is just as evil as Saddam Husein but I like to question his motivations that helped Microsoft to become evil monopoly. Did he really wanted PC to reach is every classroom in the world just for the sake of education? Or was this the plan he engineered to earn billions?

In my opinion, poeple's motivations are far more important than simply the result of their actions. You might disagree but computers becoming a part of everyday life was inevitable with or without Microsoft. Well, no doubt that it could be a bit slower but we would get there in a healthier environment.

Bill Gates indeed was the reason for many changes but like invention of nuclear weapons, changes were natural consequences and shouldn't be credited to those who don't deserve them.