Cynicism is the last refuge of the idealist

Macworld UK - Microsoft’s Ballmer to meet EC antitrust chief

I want them to levy the harshest possible fines against Microsoft - I want them to be punished in the way the US government was to scared/feeble to do

It’s heartwarming to see that there are some people out there in the technology world who see that technology has a place in saving the world and it will only happen if it is not at the hands of greedy evil corporations instead, handing technology to the poor and underprivileged.

MIT Labs have announced that they will unveil a prototype of their sub $100 laptop intended to provide every child in the world with access to technology

The lab expects to unveil a prototype of the $100 laptop at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) on Nov. 17, according to Negroponte. The WSIS is due to be held in Tunis, Tunisia, from Nov. 16 to Nov. 18. He showed slides of the prototype at the MIT event.

The 500MHz laptop will run a “skinny version” of the open-source Linux operating system. It will have a two-mode screen, so it can be viewed in color and then by pushing a button or activating software switch to a black-and-white display, which can be viewed in bright sunlight at four times normal resolution, according to Negroponte. He estimates the display will cost around $35.

The laptop can be powered either with an AC adapter or via a wind-up crank, which is stored in the housing of the laptop where the hinge is located. The laptops will have a 10 to 1 crank rate, so that a child will crank the handle for one minute to get 10 minutes of power and use. When closed, the hinge forms a handle and the AC cord can function as a carrying strap, according to Negroponte. The laptops will be ruggedized and probably made of rubber, he said. They will have four USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports, be Wi-Fi- and cell phone enabled and come with 1GB of memory.

what an absolutely fantastic idea and one that truly deserves supporting.

I particularly lie the way the device will utilise open source software rather than the evil, bug-ridden bloatware that infests far too many of the worlds’ computers

Eolas Wins Round vs. MS in Browser Patent Fight

glad to hear that Microsoft aren’t getting things their own way in the fight agains Eolas - the US Patent Office has rejected Microsoft’s attempt to squash a patent which could cost Microsoft hundreds of millions of dollars.

A Microsoft spokesperson admitted the decision was not promising. “This is disappointing news, but we are committed to seeing this case through to a successful resolution,” she said.

I guess that’s Microsoft speak for ‘we’ve been found guilty before and avoided being punished, so it ain’t over till Bill gates sings’

Microsoft’s court trial isn’t bound by the decision of the PTO, and could come to a different conclusion, though “such cases are rare,” Crouch said.

I guess we should prepare to hear about Microsoft lobbying the fool on the hill and all his cronies to make sure they get off

Evil evil, I hate them