Evaluating the Harmful Effects of Closed Source Software 490
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by
Soulskill
from the probably-causes-cancer dept.
from the probably-causes-cancer dept.
New submitter Drinking Bleach writes "Eric Raymond, coiner of the term 'open source' and co-founder of the Open Source Initiative, writes in detail about how to evaluate the effects of running any particular piece of closed source software and details the possible harms of doing so. Ranking limited firmware as the least kind of harm to full operating systems as potentially the greatest harms, he details his reasoning for all of them. Likewise, Richard Stallman, founder of GNU and the Free Software Foundation, writes about a much more limited scope, Nonfree DRM'd games on GNU/Linux, in which he takes the firm stance that non-free software is unethical in all cases but concedes that running non-free games on a free operating system is much more desirable than running them on a non-free operating system itself (such as Microsoft Windows or Apple Mac OS X)."
Re:RMS is more prescient than ESR credits him for. (Score:5, Funny)
The microwave example is not that good, either. Many modern microwaves have an insanely complicated user interface, and I wouldn't mind replacing it with a more intuitive one. Not to mention what silly things you could do with a microwave if you could network it.
Because if there's one thing people think of when it comes to FOSS software, it's well designed, intuitive interfaces.
Re:on the other side of the coin (Score:4, Funny)
I am not an astrotufer you foil hat wearing freak, my video card is fucking fine I use it in windows every day, my experience was yesterday morning, I am on slashdot every day. Right here is one of the major problem with linux, ... you.
Linux is not perfect, linux is not always stable, and when anyone dares mention it, here comes sir douche, defender of linux, having a pissy fit of how DARE anyone dishoner linux and they must be put to shame!
Re:on the other side of the coin (Score:2, Funny)
what MS talking points, are you so far up stallmans ass you cant even see the words anymore?