Richard Stallman [1953-2007]

Goodnight, sweet prince.

>>38
Yes. They also did not sell you the guarantee of help. Go, modify it. Fuck if they have to help you with that.

There's a good reason: competitive advantage.

>>41
Exactly, you bought it, it's yours, feel free to fuck around with it. But they don't have to teach you how to do anything. You don't get a free "How to make your own Coke" pamphlet every time you buy a soda.

As far as you're concerned, the machine code inside the flash memory they supply is your source code.

Welcome to the real world, where people sell you goods for cheap prices. Information on how to build those goods isn't as cheap, and for a reason.

>>37
Computer software is a set of instructions designed to perform a task. Software should be modified if it is inadequate for any purpose. I find booting times for my computer's BIOS to be grossly inadequate so therefore, my computer's BIOS should be updated to improve booting times.

If you don't like your BIOS, that's simple. Buy a better BIOS or make your own.
Just because the guys who made your hardware chose to use flash memory instead of doing it at the hardware level should give you the right to modify it in whatever ways you see fit?

The hardware belongs to me as I have bought it. The information I need to control it is secret. Please give me specifications or code so that I can help myself.

Are you going to demand for ATI and NVidia to release the entire schematics of their video cards so you can make a few changes and build your own custom video card?
No. I don't need schematics, I need the hardware specifications. Schematics are nice but not required.

Free software is great, but let's not be completely unreasonable here.
Is it reasonable if society is deprived of their right to control their own destinies? Because without the right help ourselves, we remain subject to the manufacturer's dictations. Hardware is not the same as software because it is impractical to make meaningful modifications to it.

>>43
You bought the hardware, yes it belongs to you. You may modify it anyway you please. However, the people that sold you the hardware have no obligation whatsoever as to give you specifications or help for that matter.

You don't like your BIOS booting time? Flash the rom with ultraviolent and build your own. After all, it's only a set of instructions.

If you want to help yourself go ahead, don't expect them to help because they are not obliged to. You payed for the silicon, not for their service. You got the silicon, you don't get anything else. If I trade you an apple for a pear, I cannot demand that you give me your pear tree simply because I traded something for one of your pears.

Also freedom is a lie. Look around, and see whether we really control our own destiny.

>>44
Existential arguments? In my /prog/?

>>44
It's more likely then you think.

bump.
i want to hear more

>>47
Go to Slashdot

Have you read your SICP today?

Fatal error! Message could not be posted.

Please post threads less often!

>>47
More what? Flaming? http://images.google.com/images?q=fire&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi
FSF propaganda? http://www.fsf.org/campaigns/free-bios.html

http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2002/05/thrd2.html#00662

>>32
Join us now and share the software...

>>53
You'll be-e free, Ha-cke-ers
You'lll bee freee.

>>52
from that thread
http://web.archive.org/web/20060212034956/http://www.geocities.com/stallmanus/
http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2002/05/msg00846.html

I am amazed.

soda As far as   to page p   22 in the   episode Party Games   He used his   political immunity to.

Beloved.

Your bag Approaching a bus station where  you meet a  young lady Umm.