[oclug] New MS File System...

[Ross Jordan]

> 	But why is MS really doing this? Because the VFat system is a kludge
> upon a klugde upon a kludge?
> 
> 	No. Microsoft doesn't fix mistakes, it makes them the standard!
> 
> 	What it *is* going to do is make the disk format so propriatory that
> even if WINE can run all MS applications, it will no be able to handle the
> disk-format! And they're going to build rights management into that database
> disk format, so if you try and fake out applications to run on other disk
> formats, they will lock up and refuse to do so. And if you try and reverse
> engineer that disk format or system calls, they will DMCA you do death,
> claiming it is a way to protect the rights of the "artists and programmers"
> to prevent piracy. Of course, the fact that it will also help to propagate
> and perpetuate MS's Illegal Monopoly is almost the most important thing
> about this new disk format. And that is the real reason to push to prevent
> Microsoft from using this format. There will be no way to legally, in the
> US, and maybe Europe and Canada, to  reverse-engineer this format...and if
> it does get reverse-engineered, it will be hunted down in a manner worse
> than the DeCSS software is today. And I don't like the idea of Microsoft's
> jackboots trampling the human rights of people world wide in quest of saving
> it's monopoly. And that is what will happen. Mark my words.


Of course, the other benefit is that it will force the majority of
users to upgrade their software in order to be able to read the
lucrative Microsoft format. Not many are upgrading from Office 97.
A few use office 2000, and even fewer use office XP. Similarly for
the recent versions of Windows. Microsoft's cash cows aren't providing
enought milk. However, if the file format is completely re-written 
-- many businesses will feel the need to upgrade -- for interoperability.

One might have hoped they would slow down; given the Monopoly
litigation against Microsoft.

-Ross

-- 
"Trying to make bits uncopyable is like trying to make water not wet.
The sooner people accept this, and build business models that take
this into account, the sooner people will start making money again". 
	-- Bruce Schneier