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Re: [Sheflug] Free software and the future



On Sat, 2002-06-22 at 15:09, Simon Brown wrote:
> Where does the FSF stand on on what you might call emerging technology?

Not directly on it, because it might break. Just a bit to the side.

> I just get the impression that although the FSF are making a big push 
> forward in the world of PCs, they could be out flanked by other devices.

Unlikely. Although there is a trend toward small devices, the trend _in_
small devices is more towards general computing. No longer restrained by
processor power or storage space to the same degree in the past, it
makes no sense to continue the Ebeneezer-type operating systems which
offer poor functionality but small footprint. 

Indeed, one of the big successes for Linux has been entry into the
embedded space - there is a lot of work being done on (hard) real-time
features, for example. People have ported Linux to things like the
Dreamcast, the InternetTV, Tivos (well, Tivo ported it, but :), etc.
Sendo have just brought out a PDA/phone based on the Microsoft PocketPC
2002 system - given that you can already flash a GNU/Linux distribution
onto iPaqs (for example), it would only be a matter of time for someone
to do it to a phone/pda once they became popular.

> I wonder if RMS owns a Mobile Phone.

No, he doesn't :-). 

BTW, people interested in Free Software could do worse than joining the
AFFS (http://www.affs.org.uk/). I will leave what's on the webpage as a
surprise to the curious... :)

Cheers,

Alex.

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