I myself have seen a lot of ignorant madness regarding open source and free software in my state Kerala. There are many open source and free software initiatives in Kerala, and a few of them are funded by the government also. Most of that money is being spent on anti-microsoft activities. A few “intellectuals” are even making a living out Windows bashing. In this light I wanted to share an article with my readers.
I often have wondered, and have been a part of it most of the time in my college. I see a real sense of rebellion in students when they hear the name windows..
An operating system called Ubuntu has now been recently trying to rekindle the lost fire of dethroning windows. I am not a open source/ FOSS hater nor i’m a preacher for windows but i was concerned with the attitude people are being exposed to in the colleges.
The open source communities have one point plan in the colleges, to encourage people to HATE windows rather than encouraging students to contribute to open source / FOSS. I don’t understand why the whole war of soft wares has suddenly been centralized towards an operating system. An OS merely costs a few thousand rupees (windows) and in India most of it is available dirt cheap sorry but thanks to piracy.
Correct me if i’m wrong, most of the people i’ve confronted on open source/ FOSS, people have always said the following points to defend their weak stand towards free/open software
- I Hate windows cos its code is not open
- I hate windows cos it is not free
- Microsoft just sucks money and makes bad software
- Windows is not secure!
Hey kenny
thanks for adding the post there man!
Can you just visit once more and participate in the ongoing discussion there?
Thanks
Comment by Anirudh Goel — May 20, 2009 @ 12:09 pm
Good post mate
I agree why does the ubuntu or open source guys always promote their open source s/w “shouting” @ windows. Why cant they promote their s/w by teling what is good in their s/w than telling what is bad in Windows?
I am also a ubuntu user and a windows developer. I can run exe programs, I can develop all those programs which can be done in a linux machine. I can un .net programs, I can run silverlight programs and lots more … Now who does not have the freedom?
People don’t realise that there are any opensource application from MS itself.
Comment by Shoban — May 20, 2009 @ 2:43 pm
The same can be seen from our (Kerala) primary school syllabus. It is just because of ignorance of some people. Out kids should not be injected with some ignorant madness. They could be left out in the increasingly globalizing world just because they hate the popular one because of a reason they do not remember.
The open source philosophy, “Give it for free any get paid for service” is relatively young and it needs to prove a lot in commercial world. The failure of Redhat in home PC business and recent failure of SUN to make money out of open source are not good signs.
Even though Microsoft and its founders made lot of money by selling windows, they deserve the full credit for making PC available for mass population. They are the people who made PC at cheap prize (And cheaper quality … Well that is another story).
The security concern about windows is correct to some extend. But a badly configured linx can do the same harm.
Linux is a wonderful platform to work. I fell in love with it with my assignment on it and still find a living out of it. As a techie using Linux is a wonderful experience, but from point of view of a novice user it has miles to go.
Love for Linux is a great thing, but madness is not. I wish everyone here love linux for the right reason, and spread no hate!
Comment by Sachin — May 20, 2009 @ 5:10 pm
If you had 2 routes to reach somewhere and someone tells you, “Take the left one, It is good.” Doesn’t that imply the right one is bad?
I think it is the same way. Someone says Ubuntu is better than Windows, and people hear it as “Windows sucks! Ubuntu rocks!”
Ever tried buying a laptop without windows in it. My friend bought a Sony Vaio. He had to pay more than Rs.6000 for the Windows license which he doesn’t even use.
Comment by Aswin — May 20, 2009 @ 5:59 pm
//I myself have seen a lot of ignorant madness regarding open source and free software in my state Kerala. There are many open source and free software initiatives in Kerala, and a few of them are funded by the government also. Most of that money is being spent on anti-microsoft activities. A few “intellectuals” are even making a living out Windows bashing. In this light I wanted to share an article with my readers. //
Stop blaming the messenger for bad news,listen friend internet is a good place if you use it properly but some people exploit the negative sides like porn and other stuff , does that mean internet is dirty !!
If people exploit open source funding , it doesn’t mean Open source is bad,if
they are using it for anti MS , does that mean Open Source is the culprit ?
OS is a concept beautiful concept which is practically implemented too.It has nothing to do with MS !
Anti MS thing your talking about is just a propaganda! and Not true,if people are doing it then they have poor understanding OS.
Comment by Althaf — May 21, 2009 @ 1:54 pm
@Althaf
I never said anything against FOSS. This post is against those messengers itself.
Comment by Kenney Jacob — May 21, 2009 @ 2:09 pm
Well those interested im showing some light into
OPEN SOURCE BUSINESS MODEL
http://mykeystrokes.blogspot.com/2009/05/open-source-business-model.html
Do give your comments and criticism !!
Comment by Althaf — May 21, 2009 @ 3:14 pm
About author: “Hi, I am Kenney Jacob, love blogging about Education, Media hypocrisy and Social Issues”.
Third para last line. “An OS merely costs a few thousand rupees (windows) and in India most of it is available dirt cheap sorry but thanks to piracy”
Do u support illegal activity (piracy!!)??? then what is this blog about???
is that not a social issue???
I am a free software user for the past 3 year. Supports free software users in solving their issues. gives free software based solutions.
I wont speak anything against MS but I speak against the proprietary concept. There may be people who has pledged to fight against MS.
Remember technology freedom is also a Social issue which people are not usually concerned.
Do not encourage people to do illegal activities.
blog has a very nice design.
Comment by Free Software User — May 21, 2009 @ 6:07 pm
Just wanted to mention some points here
Windows has grown into this much poluparity because of their agressive marketing and the support they provide to their customers. It is because of the after sales support,(not in context of india) windows have grown this much in polularity. In the perspective of a lay man who buys a computer he needs to blast at some one if the software he has brought is not functioning as intented.This is where Ms gains and Open source looses.
Another thing worth mentioning is, The concept of computer for personal use came into being only because of Ms and apple ,which could other wise have been constricted to main frames and unix machines in Berkley and bell labs
Comment by Ansil — May 22, 2009 @ 6:38 am
Very true. Some Linux fans indulge in a lot of mudslinging activities.
As for me, I’ve been using Ubuntu (regularly) for 2 years. There are mainly 2 reasons why I prefer Ubuntu to WinXP:
- No hassles with virus/spyware.
- Visible performance improvement (at least, for me).
And as far as evangelism is concerned, apart from the gentle push “Why don’t you try Ubuntu” with my friends, I haven’t done much. There are reasons to why I haven’t tried really hard to *convert* people. Most of them are comfortable with Windows and are not patient enough to put through a steep learning curve. Now if they are satisfied with it, why push them? More importantly, why abuse them and make them feel inferior? That’s bad karma.
Comment by Rameez aka remzology — May 24, 2009 @ 3:56 pm
Just like the BJP always finding and publishing faults of Congress, rather than promoting their own good deeds !
(And the ones who says Windows’ code isnt open. Do they really use the available source code of Linux ??)
Comment by @AravindJose — May 26, 2009 @ 8:26 am
Spreading the word is the only way open source technologies can get any publicity. how many ads can you see saying ubuntu is the best os? same time, how many ads saying “use windows and your kid will be 1st in class”?
Its already skewed towards the richer contenders – Mac and Windows.
At least Mac’s quality is great
less said about Windows the better.
Comment by Neel — May 26, 2009 @ 10:15 am