On 7 Mar 01, at 21:48, Craig Box wrote:
> Something you forget in the word-of-mouth sale approach to PCs:
>
> 1. "Hey, I got this cool new computer with Linux pre installed!"
> 2. "Sweet. Hey, heres this disk with a game/cool program/document on it"
> 1. "Erm.. I can't load it or use it sorry" 2. "That sucks dude. Get
> Windows, everyone I know uses Windows (perhaps hands over warez Windows
> CD)"
Doze is not worth pirating.
> Vicious cycle. Until Linux can interact 100% with Windows, how are you
> going to sell it as a desktop OS?
By pointing out that the viruses that infect Windows also won't run
on Linux - especially VBS-based email and Word viruses.
In order to make Linux 100% interactive with Windows, you'd have
to make Linux as brain damaged as Windows. WinE has made
some good advances in getting some Windows-based software
running.
Documents and graphics files are generally no problem. Providing
our Linux box has Arial and Times New Roman fonts (they have
extended characters in them that do not display if viewed using
some Type A fonts - makes the conversion of some Word docs to
Star Office problematic) most Word docs can be converted into
Star Office or Applixware Office. Graphic files - jpg, gif etc - can be
read without problems. Even animated gifs can be read.
There are plenty of Linux games out there, including a lot that are
popular on Windows that have been ported across or a similar
game has been written from scratch.
As to accessing the disk - my standard for Linux installs is to add
another mount point: /mnt/msfloppy - same as /mnt/floppy but the
type is VFAT. This allows a disk formatted on a doze box to be
read and any *legitimate* stuff copied onto the linux box.
Most the "cool programs" in the public domain that don't have a
Linux equivalent are pure fluff (such as exe files that give a short
video clip of someone stripping/having sex etc). Those that aren't
in the public domain aren't allowed to be copied - what's the
problem?
You can get mpegs with people stripping if you're into that sort of
thing - and they run fine on Linux. (oops ;P)
The great joy about Linux is that the stuff written for it is largely free
to be distributed, tested and modified (with a few exceptions) being
able to pirate copyrighted software on your Linux box seems to me
to defeat the purpose.
The idea I have is to enlist more people in the notion of having a
great community where you're *allowed* to circulate stuff that
people have freely given, not to promote stealing stuff that people
have invested moiney in and expect a return from.
Hackers and Warez-d00dz both agree that software should be free.
The main difference is that hackers say "here's what I've created,
take it, distribute it, if it suits you, use it, if you can improve it let
me know. This is my gift." A warez-d00d says "here's something I
stole from someone else, I don't think they deserve to get a return
on their investment."
I for one agree with the hacker outlook. Many hackers are paid to
create programs for those companies that charge money for their
software; what the hacker creates during *free time*, for the love of
hacking, is what is given away. But to eat the hacker maybe
works for Broderbund or Adobe.
I do not begrudge those companies who invest money in their
product making a fair return. Let those who wish to charge for their
creations do so, let those who wish to give their creations away do
so as well.
Let's try this scenario:
1. "Hey, I got this cool new computer with Linux pre installed!"
2. "Sweet. Hey, heres this disk with a game/cool program on it"
1. "Erm.. I can't load it or use it sorry"
2. "That sucks dude. Get Windows, everyone I know uses
Windows
1. "And look at how many people voted for [insert favourite political
scapegoat]! Actually, I've already got a Linux version of that game
and I'm not interested in stealing someone's stuff when I've got a
whole community out there giving me cool stuff for free. You can
spend the rest of your life worrying about whether you'll get busted,
if you like, I don't have that worry.
The Linux-based software I've looked at so far that is not freely
distributable is extremely well priced.
Compare Applixware Office - $220 - with M$ Oriface 2000 - $1080.
Gee, I wonder which I'd rather buy...
Photoshop - certainly worth stealing IMHO, but the GIMP is free,
so why bothr? AutoCAD is bloody horrifically priced, the Linux
equivalent is free.
Regards
Jon Tocker
***There is no spoon***
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