The issue as far as software is concerned is not so much about money as
it is freedom.
Richard Stallman has explored these issues convincingly and that is why
I support
the Free Software Foundation.
I think, long run, that free software will win. In many areas it is
already superior.
Also it is more trustworthy since it is peer-reviewed, auditable, and
has a better tool-chain.
You can build on it.
Citizens should insist upon free software for voting machines for example.
An ethical question: If the marginal cost of software approaches zero, why
shouldn't everyone have it ?
Hardware also should have some attributes that can make it more trustworthy.
An open-source BIOS is good and a blob-free release of GNU/Linux like
GNUSense
is more free. The Tor application on a Freedom-Box can give us better
security.
I look for combinations of these, recognizing that cutting-edge features
are slow
to arrive. That's the kind of hardware that I would like to buy.
I did buy one of these: http://www.osnews.com/story/21530.
Some of my other thoughts at http://www.seconnecticut.com/free_software.htm
Bob
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