dikini.net

Ok, ok - it is a worn out subject. The free desktop (or as otherwise known open source software desktop) story is making rounds in the blogs and establishment news again. The arguments in the comments end up revolving around ether of the the following

If open source/linux were so much better why everyone is not using it?

Oh, it hurts. Excuse me for repeating - because ms windows comes installed on your computer and everyone "knows a guy" who can lend a copy of their favourite software. Or you could download it from a warez source. I could actually argue that software piracy is very good for Microsoft's coffers. Not so much for Adobe and friends. But I digress. Since you already have a working thing installed on your box, you would just use it. That is fair and square. Unless you are an enthusiast. But how many people just want to get on with it and how many want to tinker? How many proud shed owners do DYI in there and how many just escape from the missus? Sorry, I did it again. Have you tried to get a naked PC or laptop? Preinstalled desktop linux is a new feature on the mainstream market, so there isn't that much uptake yet, althogh the eeepc was selling like hot cakes around Christmas. Is it that misguided bedroom creatures thinking the girl comes with it? And your settop box under your plasma probably has a free software infestation on it. But hey, nobody is otherwise doing it. Right. Except on servers and geek desktops, and some commies in third world countries, and paranoid anti-american governments here and there.

My favourite program doesn't work on Linux

Well, probably. My favourite program doesn't work on Windows either, or at least I think so. So what? It is an edge case usually. Reading the various blog comments I have the impression that every other person in the world is a creative professional, what an ugly phrase, an adept, highly skilled Photoshop CSX user. Actually I do like Photoshop, it is a well written piece of software, but there are too many tech-snobs out there, who consider it an achievement - "I used photoshop to do this picture'. Yeah, yeah. Show me that it is the only software with which you can do what you've done. Show me that you know what are you doing, i.e consciously creating your art rather than click wait and see what happens, oh I like this result, it is cool - yes, it is, but it is not your baby, it is the art of the plugin writer, you just happen to be the part of the installation, dude. Another ugly word. Oh, by the way, have you paid for it? And the plugins? I did it again. Off topic. I won't apologise again. Just know that I'm sorry when I do it, but I can't help it. It is a rant, after all.

Anyway, for most uses, let's put a random percentage above 70 here, there is a perfectly usable software in free land. The gtk forbearer the GIMP being a good example. It can do a lot. It can't do all. But that is fine. Where it is objectively lacking is an edge case - professional design for print. It doesn't have proper support for CMYK, pantone, gamut warnings, etc... But I bet that most people actually complaining about it are people not having a clue that you actually need to calibrate your devices - monitors, scanners, cameras, printers to really benefit from correct colours. If you do, then usually you spend a lot of dosh, including for your tools. It is an investment for you, and you usually want the peace of mind, support, that is. But that is a niche market.

For the masses? OOo is a replacement for MSO (microsfot office). Firefox, Konqueror are better than IE, ask any web designer, the web would have been a better looking place, but for the internet explorer. My point - prove that your program is not an edge case, not a very specific niche thing, prove that you haven't broken the law in acquiring it, if you do I can probably find several replacements, which can do the same job for you or better, with better support and at no cost to you.

It is hard to install programs on Linux

Stop it. Have you actually installed a program on Linux? Ever? You consider it hard? Have you tried some of the modern desktop distros? Like Ubuntu, Fedora, Mandriva to name a few? And you have problems installing programs? Ok, let's stop with the questions. Let's take Ubuntu, as an example. The raset a just a variation on the theme, when you take away the underlying technicalities, which the end-user doesn't care about. You want to install a program. You open up your 'Install software'(synaptic or similar) application from a menu. Type in the search box the name of the thing you want to install. When it finds it, just click and forget. Voilà. It automagically gets downloaded, together with all of the other bits and pieces required to run it.

Now let's look at how Microsoft or for that matter Apple solve the same problem You get a package installer, it comes with all of the prerequisites to tun this software, libraries and such bundled in. Fair play, but what if they clash with something else? Older version, required by some other app for example? How many times have you tried to change the order in which you install applications on windows, so that they actually don't clash? Oh, but you want a separate install - yes, usually you get those binary tarballs, or bin files and such. No problem at all. For example look at how skype installs on linux. If you want to be messy stick to microsoft's and apple's way. Keep cleaning up after somebody else's mess. I prefer creating my own. But then again, I might be awkward.

My hardware doesn't work with linux

Yes, it could be a problem. But recent decent distros work out of the box with more hardware that Windows or Mac OS ever did. It is true that there is a problem with having feature complete drivers, that is, not that a device is not working, but that every feature of that device is actually exposed and working. Well, until linux becomes more mainstream than it is now, that won't happen. It is a chicken and egg problem. But you can buy hardware with linux pre-installed from the mainstream. You know the likes of dell, hp and not just your pc repair corner shop. The hardware they bundle together is usually with feature complete drivers, translated to human-tongue - it just works. And you get all your bells and whistles and stuff. And it tangoes when you look away.

It is hard to use

Excuse me! Have you actually tried it or is it a word of mouth knowledge? And if it is the latter, do you know if the source is from the mid ninetees, of the last century? The fact is that every time I let people play with my laptop (not the mac one) in the past, they lost interest in their arguments very fast. And more importantly, never, ever tried to argue again. So sue me, but I will call you a liar. Yes you - spreading the lies that desktop linux is harder to use than windows or mac os x. It is different, I concede that, but harder? Make a proper study and then claim. Take the same number of users who are used to a particular desktop and put them on the alternatives. Let them fry with similar tasks. Don't use the tech crowd. Yes, there are such people using linux, you'll find them. Take a bunch of kids, who don't have established habits. test on them. Then talk. before that - sorry, but you might be a victim of habits. You can't accuse people of being both different and stealing ideas from others.

All of the complaining people. Yes, you, I'm looking at you. Personally at yo man. Put your money where your mouth is. Buy your windows. Buy your office. Buy your photoshops, plugins and what not. I know you probably don't care about software freedom - that is the freedom to preserve and share knowledge. You care about consuming products. So be an honest little consumer and not a thief - buy your software and then complain. By the way, that copy at home, is it legal? Or is it a copy "I got from work, to do work at home"? I repeat. Is it actually legal? Have you read the legalese? Read again... Are you made sound like a fool? Taken for a ride? Are you treated like a villain, a thief and a fool by the same people whose products you consume with such a passion? Would you buy a TV if you were treated like this by a salesman in a f2f shop?

Stop and think.

Do you want to be a brainless consumer of products, aka a force fed part of the oral-anal displacement chain, thanks for the metaphor Mr Pelevin and ghost of Che, or you want to make choices. Your own choices, no lock-ins, no force, no nothing. Your choice. Not mine. Not theirs.

I'll stick with freedom, clear conscience and less time spent on the annoying little things like 'my puter just crashed' or wonder 'have I updated my xyz'. I have the puter do it for me. So I can have time to follow reddit, xkcd, boingboing and the myriad of other weird and wonderful stuff on the wild wild interweb. And yes, I manage to do my work in between. You see - I have freed some time. Shht! That's a secret.

P.S. Yes, I find it difficult to use Windows. Most Mac OS X software is allright to use. I find it difficult to install and maintain software on Windows. That bit is as difficult in Mac OS X, IMHO. Could it be that this is a consequence of me being a linux user for what, past ten years or so? And no, I'm not buying a Mac again. It is a failed experiment. It doesn't pull chicks and doesn't have a telepathy interface. Sleek, good hardware, but the rest is not worth the hassle. X doesn't integrate well. Most of it's goodness comes from third party apps, which have their cousins in the land of the free or are part of it. Yes, it's not just linux, it is Xbsds, and now solaris, which are as good, or nearly as good on the desktop. And as easy, or there about. With their own quirks and stuff. Yes, I'm a card carrying free software bigot. So be it.