Re: [Fsf-india] Four more questions...
On Sat, 13 Apr 2002, Gopal.V wrote: I wonder who wrote all these programs these 'people' use... We can very well invert that question to - I wonder who uses the programs these developers wrote?. I believe it's not confined to the developer clan alone..! It's actually the people who are in the win-win situation -- what does the developer get ?. (other than more bugs to fix). The developer gets a community that insists on free software, and will use it for a reason other than lower cost. The developer will also get money for his work and a market for his product. ( Market - as in 'free' market!). I read this as : Eventhough Sasikumar was not a coder, he was able to use GNU/Linux. So did the tailors do a good job for the people or what ?. They did. I'm saying we need more Sasikumars :) + Ranjit ___ Fsf-india mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mm.gnu.org.in/mailman/listinfo/fsf-india
Re: [Fsf-india] Freedom, affordable costs...
On Thu, 11 Apr 2002, Pappu wrote: I don't know. May be he won't. But the purpose of free software foundation and this list is to help people like him to understand the importance of freedom, and inform him that freedom is a good thing to have. To the average user - my Bio prof. for example, freedom has little to do with the way he uses software. To the developer, this freedom is a very significant issue. Surely, we can go on and on telling him that freedom is a good thing to have, but that concept must manifest itself in his day-to-day life. Even though this is not the topic of discussion in this thread, let me We are all for projecting 'freedom' as the goal of Free Software. The only way you can negate the 'low cost' argument is by stressing on this. So I believe, this discussion should very well be part of this thread. if he is using free software, he can (since he doesn't know programming) ask a friend or pay a neighborhood developer to do the task. But if he was using non-free software, he is entirely at the mercy of the vendor. Excellent thought; except.. again.. how practical is this? Is there a friendly neighbourhood developer avail;able to each and every user who has the time and skill to modify code for others? But product usage will always be the end-user's priority This is one of the things that we have to try to change. It is a difficult task, but if we are persistent, we will achieve this goal some day. Changing user priority isn't really required. I believe a software product is essentially for 'use'. What drives the programmer? The scope of usage I think.. Well, freedom is important and more important than usability. My grandfather tells me that during the pre independence days, every thing (essential services, infrastructure ...) used to be much more better. But he was very very happy when India became free, and though he finds many `usability` problems in almost all day to day things, he can't imagine going back to the pre-independence days. Even though I have never had any pre-independence experience, I also don't want such a situation either. What about you? Let's look at that from another point. Your grandfather (and mine perhaps!) may have found trains 'more usable' then. The point is that.. today, trains may be 'less usable' but the trains still run don't they? Free software in India does not have anything 'usable'. Why not promote GNU/Linux in terms of usability and inherent freedom ? If it doesn't turn out to be usable, its up to the community to make it so. Arguments for the cost aspect and anything else will take a secondary role; cost will fluctuate anyway. Ranjit ___ Fsf-india mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mm.gnu.org.in/mailman/listinfo/fsf-india
Re: [Fsf-india] Freedom, affordable costs...
On Fri, 12 Apr 2002, Pappu wrote: We are all for projecting 'freedom' as the goal of Free Software. The only way you can negate the 'low cost' argument is by stressing on this. Sorry, I didn't understand what you mean. I said we can _negate_ the low cost argument by stressing on freedom. Which means promoting FREE software as the flag bearing concept of freedom in the Computer Age is a better option for spreading the word, than talking about lower costs. As far as I can see, there is *NO* low cost advantage to free software. How can we claim something we don't have. I wouldn't mind I agree. I think you misunderstood my earlier email. My views match those that Fred has on the usability aspect- I mean 'better' usability not usability per se. Maybe a discussion on 'better' usability of free software would come up as a seperate thread after the current arguments and discussions are resolved. Regards, Ranjit ___ Fsf-india mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mm.gnu.org.in/mailman/listinfo/fsf-india
Re: [Fsf-india] Four more questions...
On Fri, 12 Apr 2002, Pappu wrote: 2) How many percent of computer users can really modify the software to suit your uses? The question is not whether a person is capable of modifying software, but whether he has the right to do that. Is it really? What about those who _cannot_code? What significance does the _right_ to modify hold for one who does not have the ability or inclination? + Ranjit ___ Fsf-india mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mm.gnu.org.in/mailman/listinfo/fsf-india
Re: (long and repetitive) Re: [Fsf-india] Freedom, affordable costs...
On Thu, 11 Apr 2002, Pappu wrote: All other factors being same (free software may be in a worse state in some cases) Freedom IS the ONLY advantage that can get free software any where, in a any kind of market (rich or poor). When we talk of freedom, we primarily mean the freedom to modify code and use it without being policed. What significance does this freedom hold for a user who cannot understand code or modify it? Let's say we have a Bio professor who wants to create a question bank for quizzes. He has zilch knowledge about programming. His aim - open up a screen, type in questions, click a few buttons and get his questin paper. Provided he has the option of choosing between a proprietary product and a free software release. Assume cost is of zero significance cos his university will spend all the money he requires. If both competing software products boast of equally good functionality, would *freedom* be the reason he chooses free software? The freedom we talk of will allow a programmer somewhere to modify the existing software and improve its functionality; someday, these _may_ beat the propretary product in performance. But product usage will always be the end-user's priority- is there a broader meaning to software freedom or am I short on vital information here? + Ranjit ___ Fsf-india mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mm.gnu.org.in/mailman/listinfo/fsf-india
