On Wednesday 09 May 2012 13:29:08 Pravin Dhayfule wrote:
Hi,
Thanks Bruno and JTD, for humble replies.
You both seem to actuallly understand the plight.
Bruno I am obliged by your generosity to come down at this thread and
provide a solution.
I am a GNU-Linux Users from years and have been preaching FOSS usage. I
have been converting ***doze users to GNU/Linux. However before converting,
they want to try some apps that they can practice before switching. The
point was I tell them how evil proprietary companies are who first provide
demo versions and ask people to pay for full version, and since I never
used GCompris on Windows, it was a brick-bat blow to me, when my friend
commented ... "See this is your Free software... asking for Code to get
full version", just imagine my situation at that time.
I agree that the code is available for compile and redistribute, etc. But I
and my friends are average desktop users (who support applications by using
and promoting them). Downloading the source code and compiling it, is still
a gigantic job for us.
Same as being average motorbike users. So all those screws on the bike are a
huge job. Try telling the mechanic that he should tune up the bike for free.
Apparently, people here (in India) are not ready to actively accept the
philosophy of FOSS easily, since for them a Free(dom) copy of GIMP
application is no different from (cash)Free copy of pirated Photoshop. I
have been conducting workshops on GIMP (on windows as well as GNU Linux).
Also they are reluctant to partition their drives (I know Virtual Box, etc
are solution but not feasible for desktop users).
So what are you cribbing about? If you are trying to reform crooks, tolerating
their behaviour goes with the territory.
In that case Windows based FOSS apps help transitioning users easily.
Imagine what if Firefox, Chrome or other FOSS Browsers disables some
features on Windows edition and ask users to pay for it on Windows and get
rest free on GNU/Linux, IE would have been ruler always. What if GIMP and
others do the same for their Windows counter parts.
It would be a perfectly good thing to do. After all they want to use windows.
Please dont feel offended, I am just reciting the reality of (Indian) IT
Dont know which India you are talking of, I charge a premium for my software
and services. Because I supply to people who value their data more than
anything.
Market, where people just demand a software and dont care about the source
code. They just want something that works. Schools here are ideally on
Windows, but slowly get converted to linux after using these windows based
FOSS tools. For them directly transitioning to Linux involves lots of
Internal management politics, resitance from users, etc. So till they fight
these things, they practice these windows based FOSS Tools.
You are mixing up all sorts of use cases. Schools are different from small
offices, are different from home users, are different from art college users,
are different from engneering college etct etc etc.
I am not a philosopher or an advocate, I am just a representative of a day
to day average desktop user who spoke from the end user's perspective who
just want to use the software and when they like recomend it to friends.
This is how Chrome and FireFox have stolen market from IE. Do people really
know whether VLC was born on Windows or Linux. They just use it....
Ignorance is bliss. But you could tell them that Microsoft was born stealing
other peoples code.
Lotsa contradictions in what you say (not an advocate, but trying to convert
doze users - which is.... umm advocacy). Lotsa things to crib about when the
user does not get what he wants and thinks he is doing everyone a favour by
using linux.
You have the source, you have hundreds of mailing lists, you have ALL the
tools you will ever need to shape GNU/Linux to your needs. You use those to
teach yourself, or pay to get someone else to do it, if it is not your cup of
tea.
Same as driving a mobike v/s hailing an auto.
