M Harris wrote: > I understand this as well; however, think beyond M$ to MP3 or Flash. We > should *never* capitulate to the enemy over their formats... if the format is > closed we don't use it--- period. If I can't read your format... I don't need > your format. If more folks stood their ground on this point *everyone* would > begin using *free* formats, and *free* software. To use RMS' analogy (tired > as it is) think free access (as in freedom) instead of price (as in free > beer). >
I respect the sort of purity of principle you're going for, here, but it's a bit like declaring that you will only drive cars that run on hydrogen. It's noble, but you won't be taking many trips. What good is ideologically pure software that no one uses because it's impractical? Even people who don't use proprietary formats *anymore* inevitably have old documents in those formats. And they have to exchange documents with people who only know how to use closed-source formats. If an HR department demands my resume as a DOC file I'm probably not going to get a job by arguing with them. ;) > Every task must have an open alternative... if it doesn't exist yet, then it > is high time to invent it. > And there's part of the rub. What open source packages get written depends entirely on what people find fun and interesting, because open source developers don't usually get paid to write open source software. This is why, for example, there are dozens of open-source music players but very few open-source accounting packages. There are dozens of different open-source window managers but no industrial-quality CAD programs. The open-source software world's ability to draw cool-looking screen savers knows no bounds, but the best open-source word processors are still playing catchup with MS Office. People aren't going to do the boring stuff for free. Why would they? > ...the M$ history has > such a depth and scope that no one can deny that their intentions *this* time > are also probably evil. > When I hear language like this all I can think of is the run-up to the Iraq war. RMS and his ilk, like George Bush, believe the world divides neatly into two camps. People are either for OSS, or they're The Enemy. In the real world it's a lot more complicated. Extremism never solves problems, it only creates them. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
