Ridiculous I tell you. Other OS' especially unix have had virtual desktops way longer than MrJukes ever even made his shell modules for virtual desktops in windows. Or even LoneRunner (who works at nullsoft now) even thought of Litestep.
I don't think MS should get this patent. :rant:
Its a shame but if nobody has a patent they can apply for it. Im trying to find the date but I remember hearing that noone had patened the ladder untill the 1900's. Weird.
They maybe Pirates but I think M$ has unbelievable buisness skills. It may be frowned upon but at the end of the night their the ones sleeping on mounds of coin. (coin = money for those of us who are not ebonically inclined)
Originally posted by smoke@Feb 25 2004, 10:35 PM
damn... I dont wanna charge against neowin today but... please dont read that "place"... Go to the source... at least they arent kiddies/wanna be/etc...
Now I stop to talk about neo***... Dont get me wrong, Im not here to say nothing againt another boards/communities...
and again... I just stop flaming about any board.
I don't care where it came from, to me the info was more important and I saw it there first. So I linked to there. I don't care about whether someone thinks they are "wanna bes" or things like that like, "poseurs". I don't care what someone thinks is more real than something else.
I read slashdot\neowin\here\aquaxp I read whatever I want. Thanks.
That's not what this subject was about anyway.
i doubt they'll get the patent.
but sometimes people patent the strangest things. someone patented the method of swinging. 
today the desktop, tomorrow the wheel!!
British Telecom own the patent on hyperlinks and no-one seems to care.
#7 Posted by weenur on 26 Feb 2004 - 04:13All someone has to do to invalidate this patent is show prior art. Besides, the patent isn't on Virtual Desktops, it's on the previewing tech.(scaled 1-to-1 preview)
#7.1 Reply by mbg on 26 Feb 2004 - 04:42
It's also on their specific method used to accomplish this...
#7.2 Reply by mr_da3m0n on 26 Feb 2004 - 11:12
Somehow I think Englightenment already had Scaled Down virtual desktops
#8 Posted by figgy on 26 Feb 2004 - 04:48
What a bunch of crap floating around.
I can't believe the misinformation spread by some News Sources against Microsoft.
Microsoft isn't patenting Virtual Destops. They are only patenting a particular way of scaling destops.
In the patent, they even link to KDE to indicate that virtual desktops have been here for a long time and they are not inventing it.
Well I know for sure that the particular method they are trying to patent they didn't invent either as Enlightenment *HAS* had it for a long time.
Here's an idea that people at Neowin, Slashdot, and A-S could try:
Read things before you criticise.
Originally posted by US Patent Application #20030189597A method for a user to preview multiple virtual desktops in a graphical user interface is described. The method comprises receiving an indication from a user to preview the multiple virtual desktops and displaying multiple panes on the display. Each pane contains a scaled virtual desktop having dimensions that are proportionally less than the dimensions of a corresponding full-size virtual desktop. Each scaled virtual desktop displays with one or more scaled application windows as shadows if the corresponding full-size virtual desktop has one or more corresponding application windows that are active.
Note the words "A method for a user to preview[...]".
They're not patenting virtual desktops, they're patenting a particular way of displaying previews to users. 
And they're not talking about the powertoy, if that's the case...
Can you say "Longhorn"?
^Pwned!
dreamz: there's no doubt they will get the patent. And it means absolutely squat.
who cares if they patent it? They can patent me for all I care. The us patent office hands them out like candy. It doesn't mean they can *enforce* it. It would take them to sue somebody, then the defense would say, hey look at these other upteen million things that have used it for 10's of years.
And besides, you know how many software patent's microsoft probably has? I've never heard of them suing little guys just because they can, they're not Apple. A, they know it's not original, and B, they're not making/losing money from it. It's just something to add to their arsenal incase there ever is a day where they have a big league contender.
Originally posted by Deleted@Feb 26 2004, 12:43 PMdreamz: there's no doubt they will get the patent. And it means absolutely squat.
who cares if they patent it? They can patent me for all I care. The us patent office hands them out like candy. It doesn't mean they can *enforce* it. It would take them to sue somebody, then the defense would say, hey look at these other upteen million things that have used it for 10's of years.
And besides, you know how many software patent's microsoft probably has? I've never heard of them suing little guys just because they can, they're not Apple. A, they know it's not original, and B, they're not making/losing money from it. It's just something to add to their arsenal incase there ever is a day where they have a big league contender.
I agree other than the whole the' wont sue someone just becuase they can becasue if you remember they tried suing a boy becuase his name was similiar to microsoft.
I believe linux will be the next big thing. I have this feeling that someone is going to give their UI a bit more of a "user friendly" makeover.
Originally posted by Deleted@Feb 26 2004, 05:43 PMdreamz: there's no doubt they will get the patent. And it means absolutely squat.
who cares if they patent it? They can patent me for all I care. The us patent office hands them out like candy. It doesn't mean they can *enforce* it. It would take them to sue somebody, then the defense would say, hey look at these other upteen million things that have used it for 10's of years.
And besides, you know how many software patent's microsoft probably has? I've never heard of them suing little guys just because they can, they're not Apple. A, they know it's not original, and B, they're not making/losing money from it. It's just something to add to their arsenal incase there ever is a day where they have a big league contender.
Again, I say, read the patent application.
They're not trying to patent virtual desktops, they're trying to patent a method of previewing them using "scaled window shadows".
That's been done before, yeah?
Where? They're talking about doing something like Exposé, but for virtual desktops, if you actually read it.
Where are the patents for that? Where are the previous examples of it?
I love the way people always say MS never innovates. It's not that they never innovate - it's that the innovations are always things that you say "but I could have thought of that". Real innovations are things that no-one would even think of, because they're so obvious. That, people, is where MS excells (aside from using hardcore business practices).
And since when is improving on other people's ideas a bad thing?
Originally posted by XJOSHATTACKX@Feb 26 2004, 12:48 PMI agree other than the whole the' wont sue someone just becuase they can becasue if you remember they tried suing a boy becuase his name was similiar to microsoft.
ok. then. give me a case where they sued over a patent, and not suing some large corporation.. (you got me on the canadian kid :6 )
and no, linux wont be the next big thing, it already is. (:
Sun has a slick desktop for it, just hasn't really gotten out yet, and i'm sure IBM will do big things. Give it another 4-5 years.
Originally posted by Deleted@Feb 26 2004, 12:53 PMand no, linux wont be the next big thing, it already is. (:
Sun has a slick desktop for it, just hasn't really gotten out yet, and i'm sure IBM will do big things. Give it another 4-5 years.
It's the next big thing for computer geeks not commercial use.
Originally posted by XJOSHATTACKX@Feb 26 2004, 12:58 PMIt's the next big thing for computer geeks not commercial use.
apparently you haven't worked for any mid-large sized corporation.
Everyplace i've worked has run AD/NT domains. but every single one has had atleast a few *nix servers. HP-UX, AIX, and lots of pop3/imap servers run on linux. (ah la redhat)
I've yet to work for one that uses it on desktops though. Lots of Hospital applications use *NIX tho. Wishard hospital, where I used to work, used unix on what they called 'Watch Child' stations, which monitored néwborn babies. There were a good 50-60 WatchChild stations that nurse's used.
Edit: thnx GillBates I didn't notice, i hate that sh¡t.
it's still not in more peoples homes.
Let's not have the "Is Linux ready for mainstream use?" argument, guys...
There's only one correct answer: Maybe, depending on what you want from an OS, who you are, and what your stance is on politics.
Contra and I will go wild, if you continue, and you don't want us two arguing our sides in this one.
Originally posted by Stevie BM@Feb 26 2004, 10:51 AMAgain, I say, read the patent application.
They're not trying to patent virtual desktops, they're trying to patent a method of previewing them using "scaled window shadows".
That's been done before, yeah?
Where? They're talking about doing something like Exposé, but for virtual desktops, if you actually read it.
Where are the patents for that? Where are the previous examples of it?
I love the way people always say MS never innovates. It's not that they never innovate - it's that the innovations are always things that you say "but I could have thought of that". Real innovations are things that no-one would even think of, because they're so obvious. That, people, is where MS excells (aside from using hardcore business practices).
And since when is improving on other people's ideas a bad thing?
If you read my last post you'd see that the Enlightenment window manager on linux has had that for a long time. It also had snapshots for minimized windows before anyone else.
it wasnt an arguement but a friendly debate.
I don't see linux being mainstream for a long time not with Micosoft and Apple still around. Most people use computers to chat and e-mail while only a tiny percentage actually know how to use a somputer. Linux deals more with the hardcore computer user rather than the granny who just plays solitare.
Josh,
That's exactly why I feel it is ready for mainstream use. The average user doesn't do much at all. All they do is browse and e-mail. i know countless times i've had to walk my mom or dad through starting a windows program, or showing them where the E to click on it to get on the internet.
Just the same, I've had them using linux just fine. I show them how they start the internet, how they send their email, and they're absolutely fine. Well, I also have to have an OK solitaire program for mom, but the point is the average user IS very basic in what they need, and it has all the basics.
But I completely agree with you, it's going to be quite a few years before it is used desktop/home user wise. But I think pretty much everyone is in agreement that, it WILL happen in the somewhat near future.
I couldnt agree wiith you more.
People in general are zombies. If you flash enough commercials in their face they will conform and buy that product. Lets pary that the recent Linux commercials stir up some curiosity.
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