I tend to agree here. What about a rule instead to require manufacturers to split out the cost of the OS on the device and allow users to choose which OS to use. Additionally, if they already get the device with an OS, they can get a refund for the cost from the manufacturer?
Eric On Sun, Oct 30, 2016 at 3:42 PM, Hanno Böck <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello, > > On Sun, 30 Oct 2016 12:00:37 +0000 > Kees Epema <[email protected]> wrote: > > > I have tried to draw attention in this group to a petition aimed at > > the European Parliament. The petition title is: "Computerdevices > > should be sold without operating system". > > I think such demands may actually do more harm than good. > > First of all I think it's totally unrealistic that what you're asking > will become true, but that's not my main problem with it. My problem is > that you're reinforcing the idea that free software is for nerds only > and not for normal users. > > Many users simply don't know what an operating system is. Asking them > to buy a phone without an OS and then deciding to install one is just > an absurd idea. > > I don't think the concept of free software is in principal incompatible > with usability for the average user. Our goal should be to make free > software more accessible, not to reinforce the idea that free software > will mean more nerdy tasks that no average user wants to do. > > -- > Hanno Böck > https://hboeck.de/ > > mail/jabber: [email protected] > GPG: FE73757FA60E4E21B937579FA5880072BBB51E42 > -- Eric Schultz, Developer and FLOSS Advocate wwahammy.com [email protected] @wwahammy
