Differences between version 10 and revision by previous author of LinuxAdvocacy.
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| Newer page: | version 10 | Last edited on Thursday, September 11, 2003 4:51:26 pm | by CraigBox | Revert |
| Older page: | version 1 | Last edited on Monday, July 22, 2002 8:31:46 pm | by PhilMurray | Revert |
@@ -1,2 +1,40 @@
-You can find out how to advocate linux
here:
-http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/mini/Advocacy.html
+This article at SlashDot (http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/08/03/210219) raised some interesting questions. The article, which was written by a [DSE] salesman[1] in NewZealand apparently, says that people wouldn't buy [Linux]-based computers, partly or mostly because they couldn't understand why the software was [free] (let alone [Free]). To them, obviously the software wasn't even good enough that the author(s) thought they could sell it!
+
+!So, why is the software free (and Free)?
+There are the obvious "freedom to tinker" style arguments that we're familiar with - http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html
+
+To most people, (and to computer geeks when considering anything other than software) "you get what you pay for". Why is software different?
+
+__The majority of software is not "shrink-wrapped" commercial software__. There are estimates that only around 10% of all software is written by commercial software vendors for selling off the shelf. The majority of software is written either "in-house" or for contract, for custom solutions. If software is not your core business, and it is merely a tool to help you conduct your business, then it does not affect you much if other people also have access to that software.
+
+While many developers of Free software are volunteers doing it for fun and/or recognition, there are many developers who are employed to help make the software better for their employers, and add features needed in their particular situation.
+
+For example, the famous [Apache] software came about because lots of system administrators cooperated to improve the software. They were all trying to make the software better for their own particular purposes, and benefitted from other people's effort to do the same.
+
+
+[1] This is actually a local Linux user, sometimes spotted at WLUG meetings, James Hutton.
+
+
+!! Links
+
+OpenSourceSuccessStories
+
+WellThoughtOutReasonsToRunLinux
+
+
You can find out how to advocate [Linux]
here:
+http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/mini/Advocacy.html or locally at HowToAdvocacy.
+
+[Linux] Vs [UNIX]: WhyUnix
+
+[Linux] Vs [Windows]: The TCO argument (Total Cost of Ownership)
+http://www.enterpriselinux.org/pages.php?page=TCO
+
+http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/19958.html
+
+http://cin.earthweb.com/public/article/,,10493_1477911,00.html
+
+http://www.vnunet.com/News/1128453
+
+http://www-1.ibm.com/linux/RFG-LinuxTCO-vFINAL-Jul2002.pdf
+
+http://www.members.optushome.com.au/brendanscott/papers/freesoftwaretco150702
.html
