Dear Rishi,
"WE" here stands for FSF evanglists who value FREEDOM as much as you do. I
really wonder whether FREEDOM again means not trying to write good software.
What you call FREEDOM for yourself is the hard work of countless Open Source
guys towards a common goal - promoting Free software.
So you mean to say that if the software come for FREE I should not expect it
to be good. What a foundation "WE" (FSF evangalists) are laying down for
others to follow.
Let me remind you I am not talking about "you", the IT guy. I am talking
about the end user for whom computers is a tool to do his work. And trust me
he values "RICH USER EXPERIECE" more than getting a free software. IS THIS
WHAT YOU CALL FREEDOM?
FREEDOM for who? You or the MASSES? I repeat lets move from "PHILOSOPHICAL
MINORITY" to "MASS MAJORITY" and for masses your so called
"SHALLOW" user
experience matters.
Windows market share is a testimony to this SHALLOW concept.
I remind you again ... i am not decrying linux .... of FSF. I am myself a
strong supporter and have followed linux from its nacence.
Anyways, its been great interacting with you .. no point in dragging this
any further, i dont think we are going anywhere with this. Lets agree to
disagree.
Regards,
tarun
From: Rishi <rishi(a)gangfam.com>
To: "Tarun Gaur" <gaur_tarun(a)hotmail.com>om>,
anivar@linuxmail.org,fsf-friends@mm.gnu.org.in
Subject: Freedom VS Rich User Experience
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 2004 22:42:32 +0530
Hi Tarun,
Now, he is a live example of an END USER
PERSPECTIVE on Linux Desktops.
Let
me remind you I am not talking of Linux as a
Server.
I use Linux at home and office as a Desktop. Been doing that for the past 1
year now.... Linux Servers have been at the office and home since 1996.
;-)
Now I have a question for you ... are
"Diversity" and "Flexibility"
synonyms of "Complexity" and "Non-Rich User Experience"??
Sure they are. But the more crucial point I'm trying to make is the Value
of
Freedom which according to me, supercedes the more shallow concept of
having
a 'Rich User Experience'.....
This of course depends on the crux that the end-user values freedom.
From where I sit and all the friends at FSF, I'm sure we value freedom
first
and then "Rich User Experience"
So, when the competetion picks up it is the
BUYERS market and you have
to
be very agile to pick up a market share. And we
have to behave very
responsibly and look at the world from customer's perspective. We have a
big
resposibility here. Remember we are not a market leaders but intend to
be.
You like it or dislike it Microsoft is still
there on 94% of wold's
desktops. You know why .. because they dont ignore the suggestions of
guys
like Ram Reddy.
That's the other issue.... who is 'we' ?
FSF Friends: Are a group of people that value freedom and wish to
participate
and help people spread the concept of free software. We're not working on
becoming market leaders.
Red Hat / Mandrake / Suse: Are comercial organizations that value the
concept
of freedom and make software products / services available to the public at
a
price. They are working on becoming market leaders.
This is the angle that's different... There isn't software (product) to buy
in
the free software world. If at all there are services to be bought...
1. With Free Software ... it's usually supported by the community who
provide
support through newsgroups and e-mail .... such as the FSF Friends list.
2. With non-Free Software ... it's usually supported by the hardware /
software vendor's that's making money on selling/installing the software
product for the end-user. In the case of Windows and MS Office, hardware
vendors in India typically (90%) install it for 'free' (piracy) so that
they
get to sell a computer...
In Mr. Reddy's case did he buy Mandrake with installation support? Or did
he
get the CDs from some guy?
Note: Windows without installation charges cost Rs. 5-8K per PC.
Mandrake or Redhat (Fedora) can be bought at much lower prices than 5K.
Please do not look at this as a Developer, try
looking at it as a
business
man or an end user.
Sure... If he (Mr. Reddy) want's to install Linux he can pay someone (you)
to
do it. You could charge him Rs. 500-2000 to do the job.. I would if I were
you.
We have have done a lot to reach here, lets not
assume that we are the
best, lets plug each and every hole one by one ... cause thats the only
way
we can turn from a philosophical minority to MASS
Majority.
Here comes that 'we' thing again. ;-)
You need to figure out who 'we' is ....
Please do not take this note as personal, it is
for every Linux
Evangalist
who thinks we are the best. If you still think
so, please read the mail
sent by Mr. Ram Reddy (and you can be sure that he is a responsible guy
giving genuine opinion) once again.
His feedback, I'm sure is great... but it needs to be directed towards the
commercial organization providing the Linux Distro "Mandrake" and not the
FSF
group of friends.
Lets continue to improve, to end the note .. I am
going to Mr. Ram
Reddy's
place this weekend and be sure we will win one
more guy for FSF !!
We're here to improve our friend ship and talk about freedom. We're, at
least
I am, even here to help you out with the installation if you get stuck...
or
probably point you in some direction to get help.
Good luck to you and Mr. Reddy. Do let us know how the installation of
Mandrake goes.
Regards
Rishi
.