>no computer science degree necessary to run any of this software and
>they're all as good if not better than their commercially licensed
>counterparts.
ok. but as an example my friend Yolanda who is phenomenally
successful in a very different interest, has no desire for an
alternative browser, probably doesn't really even know they exist,
but certainly not where to find them, much less why. And they
certainly ARE find-able. but you have to have initial interest, time
to surf. Not everyone has either. The word of mouth info is still
basically just confined to those invested in the net and she benefits
from none of it. Her case is clear cut, but there is a fine range
between you and she.
>sure the source code is only REALLY accessible to programmers, but
>no one's stopping anyone from learning how to code. it's available
>to anyone if they want to figure it out.
nobody's stopping anyone from counting from 100 million to zero
backwards either, but there's a small but good enough reason it's
seldom done. coding's THERE for the folks who can afford the
machines (using the one at work is not ALWAYS an option), buy the $50
books (online tutorials are a nightmare in practice) but few who
actually end up trying it. Nobody needs to stop people from
investing (time,$) in stuff that bores them. Of those that even have
the time/$ to spare.
>>Linux is great. Generally, the folks who can use it, will actually
>>read the gobbilty-gook and figure it out.
>ever heard of apache?
cool when it works out. the example of Apache is not really
different than Linux. both are great uses for open-source-ness,
because the "marketing/packaging" is appropriate to the target
audience. but even with an installer, both would be incomprehensible
to the Yolandas of the world who haven't the faintest clue what
they're for. To those people they are still of no value, whereas the
potential sys admins are getting something rivaling the price of Unix.
not that there is any need at all for every bargain to be equally
available to all. Quite the contrary. But calling open-source free
for everyone is misleading. It's not really as altruistic and
saintly as it claims.
>openOffice.org
Another example. I don't surf much. Heard of this but didn't know
the name. It was unavailable to me until you mentioned it. Thanks!
YOU saved me the $500 though, not openOffice. (I really DO
appreciate your tip, but honestly probably end up trying it for the
next few weeks).
Yolanda COULD end up with value via your message. Production is
meaningless without marketing and marketing ALWAYS shows a bias.
It'd be the same if I was giving out free cars but only advertising
in Good Housekeeping. Technically, finding a copy is easy, but most
people would know or have any urge to look in there to begin with and
discover the ad.
Nothing wrong with giving away cars or even targeting a specific
group to receive them, so long as I am not touting what an
impartially generous guy I am.
judson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PLASMA STUDII
http://plasmastudii.org
223 E 10th Street
PMB 130
New York, NY 10003
Re: gnireenigne backward
-
Type: discussion
Comments
At 13:45 -0400 6/25/02, sorry, this is not real email wrote:
>>no computer science degree necessary to run any of this software
>>and they're all as good if not better than their commercially
>>licensed counterparts.
>
>ok. but as an example my friend Yolanda who is phenomenally
>successful in a very different interest, has no desire for an
>alternative browser, probably doesn't really even know they exist,
>but certainly not where to find them, much less why. And they
>certainly ARE find-able. but you have to have initial interest,
>time to surf. Not everyone has either. The word of mouth info is
>still basically just confined to those invested in the net and she
>benefits from none of it. Her case is clear cut, but there is a
>fine range between you and she.
>
>
it spreads out. yolanda is taking advantage of the open source
movement and doesn't even now it.
>>sure the source code is only REALLY accessible to programmers, but
>>no one's stopping anyone from learning how to code. it's available
>>to anyone if they want to figure it out.
>
>nobody's stopping anyone from counting from 100 million to zero
>backwards either, but there's a small but good enough reason it's
>seldom done.
the analogy makes no sense to me. there is no reason to count (unless
it's a meditation technique). there is plenty of reason to learn
computer programming.
agreed, the average computer user isn't going to download the source
to openoffice and modify it to suit their own needs. but the
likelihood of ms modifying office to suit this user's needs are even
more unlikely.
>>>Linux is great. Generally, the folks who can use it, will actually
>>>read the gobbilty-gook and figure it out.
>
>>ever heard of apache?
>
>cool when it works out. the example of Apache is not really
>different than Linux. both are great uses for open-source-ness,
>because the "marketing/packaging" is appropriate to the target
>audience. but even with an installer, both would be
>incomprehensible to the Yolandas of the world who haven't the
>faintest clue what they're for. To those people they are still of
>no value, whereas the potential sys admins are getting something
>rivaling the price of Unix.
what do you mean 'when it works'? it's extremely reliable. i'm not
talking about average users setting up apache and serving web pages
(although anyone with a macOSX and a broadband connection can). it's
the MOST USED server on the web!! so we're all using it everyday.
we're all benefiting from it's stability and security, even yolanda.
>
>not that there is any need at all for every bargain to be equally
>available to all. Quite the contrary. But calling open-source free
>for everyone is misleading. It's not really as altruistic and
>saintly as it claims.
>
>
>>openOffice.org
>
>Another example. I don't surf much. Heard of this but didn't know
>the name. It was unavailable to me until you mentioned it. Thanks!
>YOU saved me the $500 though, not openOffice. (I really DO
>appreciate your tip, but honestly probably end up trying it for the
>next few weeks).
why do you claim open source is a 'hoax' when you aren't even
familiar with this software, which was featured in the NYTimes last
week. Mozilla, linux, apache, openoffice.org are not hoaxes, they're
not for the expert, and they are all FREE.
–
<twhid>
http://www.mteww.com
</twhid>