----- Original Message -----
From: "Russell McOrmond" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 01, 2003 11:09 PM
Subject: Re: [ilug-cal] [Fwd: [TwinCLinG] [OT] Nice discussion this,]



On Wed, 1 Jan 2003, Sankarshan Mukhopadhyay wrote:

> some nice points to ponder over :
>
> Sure, Linux can be downloaded for free, but finding and downloading all
the
> software needed is something only a few of us are interested in.

  The 'price' of Free Software is not what allows you to save money, it is
the 'freedom' of Free Software.  Remember the "Free as in speech, not Free
and in Beer" and remember that in the context of saving money it is "Free
as in Free Market competition".

  All computers require some level of technical support, and you get what
you pay for.  If you do it on the cheap, you will have failures no matter
what the OS is.  The suggestion that Linux is more costly to administrate
is entirely marketing FUD from the Software Manufacturing lobby.


  There are two main reasons why it sometimes costs more for Linux
technical support.  Most common is because you are hiring people to do
*more* with the Linux machine than you would expect from a MCSE.  The
second is that FLOSS technical support is also in higher demand (and thus
sometimes costs more) because of the lack of adequately trained
professionals.  This latter issue is largely caused by the FUD from
Software Manufacturing that try to suggest that there are 'no jobs in Free
Software'.

  If all you want is someone capable of installing and creating new users
in a GUI, you can go as cheap with Linux support as the (underqualified
for the real task) MCSE.

---
 Russell McOrmond, Internet Consultant: <http://www.flora.ca/>
 Any 'hardware assist' for communications, whether it be eye-glasses,
 VCR's, or personal computers, must be under the control of the citizen
 and not a third party.   -- http://www.flora.ca/russell/


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