Microsoft FAT patents upheld

User Comments: 12

1. January 10, 2006 8:09 PM
   nathanskywalker said:
   well, personally i preffer the NTFS format.
   Reply
2. January 10, 2006 8:22 PM
   asphix said:
   What surprises me most about this is the fact FAT is still used. I didnt know so many devices still used the file structure. I thought we were done with FAT with 98.
   Reply
3. January 11, 2006 2:15 AM
   exscind said:
   Most flash or compact storage drives still use FAT 32 rather than NTFS. Some newer flash drives default the format to NTFS, while most still tops out at FAT 32. For an item like flash drives, it hasn't made much, if any, difference storage-wise. But with the advent of NTFS, I really don't see why companies/foundations are fighting over an outdated file system. It seems like flash drives are moving towards the NTFS file system, and with technology progressing forward, it wouldn't be unreasonable to think other digital devices - flash cards and the likes - to follow suit.
   Reply
4. January 11, 2006 2:17 AM
   Mictlantecuhtli said:
   Memory sticks use FAT16/32 probably because they can be read and written in virtually any operating system.I wouldn't have fun with NTFS USB stick switching between Windows, Linux and OSX.
   Reply
5. January 11, 2006 4:33 AM
   iluvnug said:
   It's always great to hear about people challenging Microsoft.
   Reply
6. January 11, 2006 9:37 AM
   Cartz said:
   "A set of long-disputed patents"Lol, you might as well just have said "A set of disputed patents", whenever theres a patent dispute it is, by its very nature, long.That said, any company that uses FAT has a very large interest in freeing up its patent obligations to MS. For now, if MS decided to, it could attempt to impose retroactive licensing fees for its patents, and charge companies for the years they have been using the FAT system whilest 'infringing' on MS's patent rights. Failing that, they could file for injunction which would require that production for all devices that use the FAT system be halted immediately and permanently, or until a settlement is reached between MS and the 'infringer'.Even though the technology is outdated, there is still a lot at stake for everyone involved.
   Reply
7. January 11, 2006 9:52 AM
   sngx1275 said:
   [b]Originally posted by Mictlantecuhtli:[/b][quote]Memory sticks use FAT16/32 probably because they can be read and written in virtually any operating system.I wouldn't have fun with NTFS USB stick switching between Windows, Linux and OSX.[/quote]Exactly, change the format from FAT and it no longer is going to work on .
   Reply
8. January 11, 2006 10:23 AM
   MonkeyMan said:
   I thought we were done with the Fat file also, but if NTFS is better, then I see no reason to use it, if its at all possible to do so.
   Reply
9. January 11, 2006 11:39 AM
   sngx1275 said:
   MonkeyMan, look above at what Mictlantecuhtli said. NTFS isn't going to allow me to take my files from a windows machine to a linux machine to a mac machine.That is why FAT is still in use.
   Reply
10. January 11, 2006 12:32 PM
    exscind said:
    Okay, I'll concur; never thought about transferring files between the different operating systems. And I guess that makes sense why most flash drives are still utilizing FAT file system over NTFS. Always nice to learn something!
    Reply
11. January 11, 2006 2:13 PM
    Mictlantecuhtli said:
    Well, Linux and OSX can read NTFS. Linux can also [url=http://sourceforge.net/projects/linux-hfsplus]read and write HFS+[/url] (OSX's filesystem), Windows won't understand that. OSX can [url=http://sourceforge.net/projects/ext2fsx/]read and write ext2[/url] (a filesystem in Linux), Windows has a [url=http://ext2fsd.sourceforge.net/]driver for ext2[/url].I don't know how UDF would work, but that could be a possibility as well (DVD-RAM and some "drag'n'drop CD" systems use it).
    Reply
12. January 12, 2006 2:08 PM
    mentaljedi said:
    My HD uses FAT32 and the floppies normally use FAT. In any case, it hasn't become obsolute yet, so therefore shouldn't be ignored.
    Reply

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