Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

China drops leading technology brands for state purchases

reuters.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 52 posts

Re: China drops leading technology brands for state purchases

#21

Post by TorKlingberg »

higherpurpose wrote: post #17
tormeh wrote: post #7

No Windows. How cool wouldn't it be if there was a single place on earth where they didn't have a monopoly on OSes for generic x86?

It's the reason why Microsoft has always turned a blind eye to the extreme Windows piracy in China. If the Chinese couldn't pirate it (somehow), then Windows would have a much smaller market share, perhaps of 50 or 60 percent. And Linux would have a thriving ecosystem of programs. The lack of that is why Windows has such a strong lock-in now.

I would think it is also that Microsoft cannot do much much about it. The pirated versions of Windows XP are already out there. They could have tried to block updates, but that just means more unpatched Windows machines and bigger botnets.

Macs are not an option, and I really doubt 40-50% of Chinese users would start using Linux.

Re: China drops leading technology brands for state purchases

#22

Post by seanmcdirmid »

TorKlingberg wrote: post #21
higherpurpose wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's the reason why Microsoft has always turned a blind eye to the extreme Windows piracy in China. If the Chinese couldn't pirate it (somehow), then Windows would have a much smaller market share, perhaps of 50 or 60 percent. And Linux would have a thriving ecosystem of programs. The lack of that is why Windows has such a strong lock-in now.

I would think it is also that Microsoft cannot do much much about it. The pirated versions of Windows XP are already out there. They could have tried to block updates, but that just means more unpatched Windows machines and bigger botnets. Macs are not an option, and I really doubt 40-50% of Chinese users would start using Linux.

Macs are an option and are increasingly popular...not just by high end consumers but also in SOEs. Linux has done well enough via android and lenovo is making big bets beyond mobile devices with it.

Re: China drops leading technology brands for state purchases

#23

Post by Fuxy »

smoyer wrote: post #13

It could be that the Chinese government has legitimate security concerns - or it could be a convenient excuse to exercise some protectionism using an illegitimate excuse. Either way, pressure on US companies to not blindly fall in step behind the US government is a good thing.

Realistically thought the NSA may be celebrating now since truth is security is weaker in the home grown products compare to the big name american brands.

Better yet skilled foreign hackers won't be checking the security of these products since they most likely can't get their hands on them.

So it's security through obscurity for the most part.

Re: China drops leading technology brands for state purchases

#25

Post by madez »

fauigerzigerk wrote: post #15
NigerianPrince_ wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unlike China, Germany is under the thumb of the U.S. Their state prosecutor won't even start an investigation into the tapping of Merkel's phone because 'there isn't sufficient evidence'. Never mind that the U.S. gov't admitted to it. I don't think Germany or any other E.U. countries will follow.

Germany is not "under the thumb" of the U.S as much as you seem to think. Just look at Ukraine or all the anti Google action that reeks of protectionism. There are simply too many rational arguments against starting a trade war over NSA rigged electronics. Neither Germany nor Europe as a whole makes enough electronics equipment to replace everything that may have been rigged by the NSA or other nations' spy agencies.…

European electronics and surrounding technology could very well ease the problem.

That does not imply rolling back globalisation or division of labor nor is it aiming at national self-sufficiency, it's about competition and having choices.

It's virtually impossible to evade US-american or chinese products if you want to buy a modern electronic consumer device. That is what should change in my opinion.

Re: China drops leading technology brands for state purchases

#26

Post by TeMPOraL »

Fuxy wrote: post #23
smoyer wrote: post #13

It could be that the Chinese government has legitimate security concerns - or it could be a convenient excuse to exercise some protectionism using an illegitimate excuse. Either way, pressure on US companies to not blindly fall in step behind the US government is a good thing.

Realistically thought the NSA may be celebrating now since truth is security is weaker in the home grown products compare to the big name american brands. Better yet skilled foreign hackers won't be checking the security of these products since they most likely can't get their hands on them. So it's security through obscurity for the most part.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Let's hope China has enough skilled hackers of their own to keep their own products secure enough.

Re: China drops leading technology brands for state purchases

#27

Post by Sven7 »

UnclePeepingSam wrote: post #5

"China drops leading NSA partners for state purchases" might be a better title

And they have done well for themselves with protectionism. They have their own versions of Google, Facebook, Amazon and Ebay...why not their own Cisco and Intel next. Wealth wont just keep accumulating in silicon valley. Not a bad thing.

Re: China drops leading technology brands for state purchases

#28

Post by acd »

I do understand their security concerns though having read part of what the media reports of Edward Snowdens revelations.

I think some things China are doing some things that is worth a WTO investigation. For example that you cannot put up IT with media services in China without a local partner and a license from the Chinese state. Then surprise the local China partner may end up copying your services intellectual property. However Chinese companies are free to put up business in the West without local partners. That is unfair competition!

Re: China drops leading technology brands for state purchases

#29

Post by MollyR »

This is really interesting not just from the security angle. I read http://www.amazon.com/Bad-Samaritans-Secret-History-Capitali... this book recently. It talks about how South Korea became an technological powerhouse so quickly compared to their neighbors. China could be using the security fears, and protectionism to create their own version of silicon valley. It wouldn't really surprise me, as some US cities like Boston are trying to create their own silicon valley styled area's http://www.technologyreview.com/view/516586/crowding-into-bi....

Re: China drops leading technology brands for state purchases

#30

Post by happyscrappy »

madez wrote: post #25
fauigerzigerk wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Germany is not "under the thumb" of the U.S as much as you seem to think. Just look at Ukraine or all the anti Google action that reeks of protectionism. There are simply too many rational arguments against starting a trade war over NSA rigged electronics. Neither Germany nor Europe as a whole makes enough electronics equipment to replace everything that may have been rigged by the NSA or other nations' spy agencies.…

European electronics and surrounding technology could very well ease the problem. That does not imply rolling back globalisation or division of labor nor is it aiming at national self-sufficiency, it's about competition and having choices. It's virtually impossible to evade US-american or chinese products if you want to buy a modern electronic consumer device. That is what should change in my opinion.

Or closing US military bases.
Post reply on HN