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Circles are everywhere, and the communities of IT engineers on the Internet are even more innumerable, both open and dark. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

I don't know when and where a rumor came out: Zheru Software, which has just gone solo, will contribute its disk operating system, FreeDOS, to the open source community.

Further, after FreeDOS publishes its source code to the public, it is very likely to become free~free software, or even free software.

After turning on the computer and reading the relevant news for a while, Steve Ballmer scratched his hair in annoyance - the years are not forgiving, and the metabolic speed on the top of his head is not as fast as the endless pressure of reality, and it is not far from the level of bareness.

"Now that the open source community has a mature text code editor and a mature C language compiler, the next step is a mature operating system." Steve Ballmer hurriedly said: "If FreeDOS is really open source, it is estimated that it will soon be derived from a version other than the Fangyuan PC platform; If FreeDOS becomes freeware, it means that all new PCs will be able to pre-install a highly usable operating system without paying any licensing fees. Although it does not have the graphical user interface features that have become mainstream, it is enough to attract the attention of all parties. ”

Gates, frowning, certainly tasted the meaning of Steve Ballmer's words.

In Microsoft's operating system product line, the Windows_NT series for professional-level groups such as servers and workstations is still in the stage of trying to make the market accept it. Windows_3.X and MS-DOS for consumer groups are the main products at present, and the operating environment of Windows_3.X depends on MS-DOS.

It can be seen that although MS-DOS is a crappy product, it shoulders an irreplaceable role.

Zheru has open-sourced his disk operating system, FreeDOS, or even made it free, which is equivalent to giving Microsoft a salary draw, and the trick is too ruthless.

Seeing that Gates was silent, Steve Ballmer had no choice but to continue: "It seems that our Windows_4.X development progress needs to be accelerated, and strive to launch a truly stand-alone graphical user interface operating system that does not rely on MS-DOS next year - hopefully, we have enough buffer time." ”

"Of course we'll have time." Gates, who sneered on his face, finally spoke, "Do you think that after FreeDOS is open sourced, it will win a lot of applause?" I'm afraid not! ”

"But the open source community does lack a mature operating system at the moment, isn't FreeDOS coming at the right time?" Steve Ballmer asked in confusion.

"There's a sort of similarity between the open source community today and the home brewing clubs I was exposed to in the 1970s — you were still doing a degree at Harvard." "There's always a handful of people who have an aversion to business-related things," Gates said leisurely. FreeDOS, which is so commercially successful, suddenly breaks into what they consider to be a pure land, and I am afraid that it will cause all kinds of suspicions. ”

Steve Ballmer, who came to his senses, slapped his thigh very approvingly, "As long as you do public relations, you can lead to a public opinion, Zheru, the giant of commercial software, trying to get into the free wisdom wealth of the open source community." ”

Gates nodded, "But at the end of the day, it's all about the competition for the product." Tell the development team that Windows_4.X's commercial name, called Windows_95, must be completed next year. ”

Steve Ballmer muttered, "Perhaps, we need some allies to resist the pressure from the Dzheru. ”

"Really smart people, it is enough to have a tacit understanding." Gates shook his head disapprovingly, "The new company doesn't have the strength to be united; The old company has survived until now, and there is no one to deal with, and if it is too close, it may instead evolve into a relationship between hunter and prey, so forget it. ”

……

The news of the open-source of FreeDOS is mainly spread on the Internet, or more precisely, fermented in hacker circles.

However, the criterion of the depth of the rivers and lakes still applies!

Doing good deeds does not necessarily lead to good results.

Take charity as an example, after donating for the first time, when a similar situation happens again, if you don't continue to help, it may end up as if you didn't do anything at all.

FreeDOS, a former gold-sucking cow, suddenly wants to join the open source community, and there is no shortage of conspiracy theories in the discussion.

There are even more moral cleaners, who are shouting directly - FreeDOS is not welcome as a monster.

Such a noisy and noisy noise finally alarmed the traditional media.

Tang Huan just said it briefly on the exclusive community that AOL has set up for himself - no matter what, this should be a good start, maybe in a few years, everyone will look back and feel a lot calmer.

The actions of Zheru Software are more concrete, and it also makes the outside world understand what the so-called FreeDOS open source means.

It turns out that FreeDOS, which was open-sourced, is 2. X version, which is the disk operating system used by the 16-bit second-generation Fangyuan personal computer.

The 16-bit FreeDOS_2.X, while also running on 32-bit third-generation Quadratic PCs and later models, does not support the advanced features of 32-bit systems.

Why is Microsoft's MS-DOS a lame thing? Because it was still a 16-bit system, and with the advent of the third generation of Fangyuan personal computers in the mid-1980s, FreeDOS_3.X, it was already a 32-bit system.

For Intel's x86 family of CPUs, the 32-bit platform means that the protected mode is adopted, and the system runs more stably.

It is not difficult to see the power and leadership of Zheru software, a 16-bit operating system, don't want it, everyone take it, play it for free! Directly put the likes of MS-DOS, which are still in the life cycle of the commodity, disgusted to death!

The source code of FreeDOS_2.X, after being packaged, was hung on the official website of Zheru for free download, and the result was more than 100,000 downloads within 24 hours, almost causing the server to go down.

People who couldn't stand the slow speed of downloading flocked to it after learning that sites such as AOL provided diversion resources.

Seeing this scene, commercial software companies, including Microsoft, have an indescribable feeling in their hearts, and what is even more ironic is that they are also among the downloaders.

The reason why a huge group of people, including competitors, partners, and unrelated soy sauce parties, are so eager for open source FreeDOS_2.X is not only because they are greedy for fresh bargains, but because the seemingly outdated FreeDOS_2.X is still very useful.

First of all, for smaller PC manufacturers, while saving considerable operating system licensing costs, it is effortless to make the product available to the user, although the function is not as good as the graphical user interface, but it is also more practical than bare metal.

And don't forget that there are more embedded systems beyond PCs for 16-bit FreeDOS_2.X.

In the final analysis, FreeDOS_2.X is a trustworthy and mature operating system, with processor calls, memory allocation, file systems, network systems, etc., which has been proven by commercial practice to be very reliable and stable code modules for everyone's reference, which is really valuable.

As Tang Huan said, after the source code of FreeDOS_2.X was spread at an incredible speed, there was no so-called Pandora's box that was opened, but only ushered in a large wave of free upgrades of commercial software.

In particular, Microsoft has made the biggest move, launching the latest version of MS-DOS 6.22, and claiming that this is the most feature-complete, powerful and stable version in history, and will also be the last version to be sold.

In the midst of this turmoil, the uninvited traditional media commented that Zheru Software contributed a 16-bit old version of FreeDOS_2.X that it no longer used to the open source community, which is not generous - the most advanced technology is still monopolized in its hands, but objectively it does play a role in driving the popularization of technology; Of course, this is a disaster for the competition.

Perhaps, this is the real conspiracy. But no one can accuse Zheru Software of "donation" - everyone has the ability to boycott it together! But the reality is that almost every computer science student has a copy of the source code for FreeDOS_2.X.

……

You people don't get to the point.

What conspiracy?

Making my code ubiquitous is the biggest conspiracy!

Tang Huan, who didn't respond much to the drama he directed, had a sense of loneliness standing on a high place and finding a confidant.

Fortunately, a star-studded celebration of the moon soon came - the richest man took the California high-speed rail to Los Angeles to attend the anniversary celebrations of MGM and United States.

Although the history of Luen Mei is five years longer than that of MGM, and it is the first to be under the command of Tang Tycoon, the protagonist of this event is MGM.

There are two main reasons for this: MGM is larger, has a more complex investor mix, and therefore has a wider network of contacts; and MGM's rich history.

You know, throughout the 1930s, and for most of Hollywood's Golden Age, MGM dominated the film market and had a large number of Hollywood superstars.

At the same time, MGM's Hollywood star system was well received.

Its star cast includes "Hollywood~" Clark Gable, Lionel Barrymore, Jane Harlou, Norma Shuria, Greta Garbo, Janet MacDonald, Kim Raymond, Spencer Qusay, Judy Garland, Kim Kelly, etc.

When it comes to filmmaking, quality-wise, all of MGM's studios produce the best work; Quantitatively, MGM releases a film every week,

In 1939, MGM created the most successful film in history, Gone with the Wind. Despite the depression when the clouds of war loomed, it remained the highest-grossing film in history.

It's a pity that in the chaos of the re-establishment of order in the American film industry later, MGM fell as a victim and declined; Immediately afterwards, it was replaced by a new owner, the Las Vegas gambling king Cork? Kirkrian, as a tool for collecting money, is broken.

Now, under the command of Mr. the richest man, MGM has been reborn and thriving, just like a Zhongxing look, how can it not be celebrated by the whole world!

The outside world also very much praised this celebration, there is no faction distinction between Paramount, Warner, Columbia, Disney, and Universal, and there are many celebrities, needless to say, the media that has been reported has summed up two major characteristics - different skin tones and gray hair.

The former refers to the fact that MGM's investors include North America, the Middle East, the Far East, Europe, and Australia, and now they are all running to join in the fun and brush up on their presence.

The latter refers to: the stars of the golden age of Hollywood, the only remaining old people such as Kim Kelly and Kim Raymond, have rarely appeared in front of the media.

"If only in the last five years, Greta Garbo was still alive." MGM CEO Harvey Weinstein couldn't get enough of it.

"At that time, the market in Hollywood was not as good as it is now." Mr. The richest man, who looked at the speech, said lightly.

"We really can't ignore this general trend." The fat man who looks a little lewd, even claims to be.

As MGM became more and more complex, Tang Huan casually acquired Miramax Films, which was founded by the Weinstein brothers, and let Harvey Weinstein manage MGM.

Not to mention, the cunning Harvey Weinstein regarded MGM well, and he himself seems to enjoy the feeling of comparing him to Louis Mayer, one of the founders of MGM.

Of course, no matter how many people are outside, in front of the real big boss, Tang Tycoon, the fat man will become as well-behaved as a pug.

When Tang Huan made a speech on the stage, he only mentioned a few words about MGM's past glory, focusing on the outlook for the global film market.

Mr. The richest man said: "I have reached an agreement with the Los Angeles Municipal ~ Government to renovate Hollywood Boulevard before the arrival of the new millennium, so that it can be restored to its former glory, and at the same time create a theater for the Oscars as a permanent venue." ”