[Sussex] July moot

[Nic James Ferrier]

linux at oneandoneis2.org writes:

> Quoting Nic James Ferrier <nferrier at tapsellferrier.co.uk>:
>
>> For the life of me I can't see what is contoversial or wrong with the
>> statement:
>>
>> Linux is perfect in absolutely all ways and you're daft not to
>> switch [from Windows]
>>
>> because in comparison to Windows it is perfect /8->
>
> Oh, you've had a go on Vista too? ;o)
>
>> Also, that is not really the point about why you should switch. You
>> should switch because software should be free. If we don't fight to
>> make it free then our computers will become like our cars... closed
>> systems that can have their behaviour changed without our consent and
>> only do what the manufacturer has preconfigured them to do.
>
> That's true. Perfectly true.
>
> The trouble is, many people seem to prefer those closed systems. Take  
> cars - they have Free Software equivalents: Kit cars.
>
> There's huge advantages in buying a kit car: They're substantially  
> cheaper to buy, cheaper to run, and more environmentally friendly.  
> They're much less susceptible to corrosion than production cars, and  
> you can even buy them pre-assembled for less money than a comparable  
> production car - and yet they're still a niche market.
>
> It appears people would rather spend more money on an inferior but  
> familiar product than even find out if there *are* alternatives. An  
> extreme example: most people buy a Ferrari supercar because they want  
> a really fast car. It defies logic, when the fastest supercar in the  
> world is the Ultima GTR - a kit car. Which can be had for £20,000 or  
> so - try buying a new Ferrari for that!
>
> (I'd like to build a kit myself, but living in a 2nd storey flat it's  
> not really an option right now ;o)
>
> Most people seem to prefer a car they have to return to the dealer to  
> get fixed (for a fee!) when it breaks over a car they can repair  
> themselves. Same often goes for computers: They don't care that they  
> can't tinker with the software, because they wouldn't tinker with it  
> even if they were given the opportunity.
>
> Freedom can be a tough sell when people get institutionalised.
>
> Hmmm... I seem to have rambled on rather more than I was intending to.  
> Sorry about that.

Good analysis though.


> The point I was trying to make is just that there are some people who  
> are never going to be interested in switching to something new, even  
> if it is demonstrably better in every single way.
>
> Hopefully, in a few more years, ReactOS will be ready to take over  
> these people's needs - at the current showing, it'll be ready before  
> Vista is ;o)

Bwa-ha-ha-ha.

-- 
Nic Ferrier
http://www.tapsellferrier.co.uk   for all your tapsell ferrier needs