TAG | It's a joke: In a Linux world without walls who needs Windows? |
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| by David M Williams | |
| Sunday, 31 August 2008 | |
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Page 3 of 3 After all, the fundamental basis behind Linux is freedom. And while this can be taken to mean “free” as in “free beer”, having no cost, it really means something deeper. It is “free” as in “free speech.” It is software which offers vast permissive rights upon its users. This is in stark contrast to proprietary operating systems which have complex and costly licensing strategies and which imposes restrictions on how the software may be used.Ok, maybe that was a bit obscure. How about another analogy: it’s like two gamers arguing over whether Jill Valentine or Claire Redfield is the most recognised female game character. Along comes someone, let’s call him Alex Z-R, say. He just has to say two words: “Lara Croft” and the gamers realise they’ve been pwned good and proper. Under a free software regime there simply are no walls. It’s not a case of removing, or even breaking down, walls but of shattering them. Smashing them to pieces. Users can use their computers. Software is plentiful and is available. It is accessible, it is attainable. It can be shared, it can be reused, it can be enhanced, it can be customised. Linux users have little experience with walls; these systems are constructed by architects to work without walls. The source code is freely distributed and they are conceived to be continuously linked to other structures, working from the bottom up and not the other way around. Linux is breaking down barriers to adoption. It spawned the whole netbook platform by completely eliminating the Windows tax on computers. It has made viable the idea of a cheap computer for third-world and developing nations. To hear the Redmond giant preach on the platform of “removing walls” is jarring and amazing. It is to claim ground that is not theirs, and which does not reach the heights attained by the work of the open source community. At the end of the day the Microsoft campaign beginning September 4th might just as well quote George’s girlfriend and say, “yada, yada, yada” because let’s face it; in a world without walls who needs windows? Or gates for that matter?
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