So given the benefits of OSS, is it unethical to produced closed source software?
Justin Findlay wrote:
I've been wondering how much the average end user really from Open
Source software -- does the fact that a package is OS make a significant
difference to a person who is not a programmer? Sure -- they could
pay a programmer to do some work for them, but in my experience,
it takes a fairly in-depth understanding of how a package works
before you even know if it _can_ (or ought to) be modified the way
you'd like. And then the cost of paying a programmer to add your
modifications may be prohibitive.
I suppose I am an "average end user". At least you could say that I use
Redhat simmilar to how I used Windows. OS makes a tremendous difference
to me mainly because of the amount of software available. What is more
important to me (in the desktop sense) is not whether I am capable of
modifying a complicated piece of software to my needs, for a desktop user
everything you need has been written in most cases multiple times. You
have a KDE desktop and a GNOME desktop, OpenOffice and KOffice, etc. What is more important is that all of this costs little or is free and
whether my box can keep itself alive without me worrying over it. As for
modification (the simple GUI end-user kind) itself and an understanding of
how your system works, OS will always be superior.
Now _Open Standards_ on the other hand, seem to be very beneficial to
the average end user. When the end user utilizes file formats, network
protocols, etc. that are based on open standards, they avoid vendor
lock-in. This means the consumer dictates to the vendor what level of
service is required. If the vendor fails to respond satisfactorily,
the consumer can choose another vendor.
Exactly, and for open source/free software there actually are many good projects to choose from.
Of course, I may be way off track. Please enlighten me.
Yeah, you are way off track. (it's a joke :)
Justin
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