Comments on: Fear of the Dark http://polishlinux.org/gnu/fear-of-the-dark/ All About GNU/Linux and BSD - reviews, comparisons, articles Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:41:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Lindsaay http://polishlinux.org/gnu/fear-of-the-dark/#comment-115833 Lindsaay Mon, 25 Feb 2008 04:13:04 +0000 http://polishlinux.org/gnu/fear-of-the-dark/#comment-115833 Hmmm... a couple of things are missing from your great article. * Ballmer's patent infringement count came from an external security company (Sorry, I forget which) that DID NOT get involved after releasing their public statement, although I do remember that Linux was the LOWEST infringer. It's pure FUD! But ... * DRM-overload - TV networks are even setting DRM on their NEWS shows. So, the <em>few</em> Linux users are out in the cold. * Some TV news can be seen by greasmonkey scripts and setting your browser to return that it is running Windows IE. But now there are <em>even fewer</em> Linux users in the statistic counts. * Didn't I read a couple of years ago that MS is "assisting" TV networks with their web sites? Something about free software; free as no-cost, not as no-DRM. DRM on the TV network sites is probably the largest Linux killer on the desktop. I have no idea what to do about this; but, WOW - that's a "marketing" technique! Hmmm… a couple of things are missing from your great article.
* Ballmer’s patent infringement count came from an external security company (Sorry, I forget which) that DID NOT get involved after releasing their public statement, although I do remember that Linux was the LOWEST infringer. It’s pure FUD!
But …
* DRM-overload - TV networks are even setting DRM on their NEWS shows. So, the few Linux users are out in the cold.
* Some TV news can be seen by greasmonkey scripts and setting your browser to return that it is running Windows IE. But now there are even fewer Linux users in the statistic counts.
* Didn’t I read a couple of years ago that MS is “assisting” TV networks with their web sites? Something about free software; free as no-cost, not as no-DRM.
DRM on the TV network sites is probably the largest Linux killer on the desktop. I have no idea what to do about this; but, WOW - that’s a “marketing” technique!

]]> By: Bogdan Bivolaru http://polishlinux.org/gnu/fear-of-the-dark/#comment-105042 Bogdan Bivolaru Sat, 19 Jan 2008 11:15:16 +0000 http://polishlinux.org/gnu/fear-of-the-dark/#comment-105042 Great article! To add to the point: IF Microsoft or it's partners could do anything else to threaten us they would undoubtedly DO it right away and they would not let it linger. Also if this is the best they can do, then the rightful conclusion is that we are superior to them. Remember what Gandhi said: "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." See it at <a href="http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi" rel="nofollow"> Wikiquote </a> (This quote is also promoted by Red Hat.) In 1996 Microsoft ignored Linux, in 2001 they laughed at us, now Microsoft fights us: <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=ncsoft+linux&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8" rel="nofollow"> Google search on NCSoft and Linux</a> See what Martin Luther King Jr. spoke about fighting for social change: <blockquote>As the days unfolded, however, the Christian doctrine of love, operating through the Gandhian method of nonviolence, was one of the most potent weapons available to the Negro in his struggle for freedom. </blockquote><blockquote><a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/01/20/ED163673.DTL" rel="nofollow"> San Francisco Chronicle</a> Please remember we are not fighting for some technicalities like using MacOS over Windows. We fight for freedom, for that is what defines Linux (let us not discuss the gift of BSD). Many users argue they are interested only in the functionality of their computer, and not in freedom. That is because free software is something distant, cold, in which they can not take part. So let us teach users to share their own work under a free license in order to improve it. Their work may include artwork in GIMP, Blender, or a professional template in <a href="http://sourceforge.net/projects/ooop/" rel="nofollow">OxygenOffice</a>. Then they will understand what this freedom is about! And a user that understands this freedom it is impossible to continue to use Windows or MacOS. Keep fighting, be civil, helpful on forums and never despair. Linux and free software was never in a better position than it is today. We fought a long way, there is a long way ahead of us and we have to keep it up! Do not be angry with Microsoft, relax and join the Linux party, it's so much fun!</blockquote> Great article!
To add to the point: IF Microsoft or it’s partners could do anything else to threaten us they would undoubtedly DO it right away and they would not let it linger. Also if this is the best they can do, then the rightful conclusion is that we are superior to them.
Remember what Gandhi said: “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” See it at Wikiquote (This quote is also promoted by Red Hat.) In 1996 Microsoft ignored Linux, in 2001 they laughed at us, now Microsoft fights us:
Google search on NCSoft and Linux
See what Martin Luther King Jr. spoke about fighting for social change:

As the days unfolded, however, the Christian doctrine of love, operating through the Gandhian method of nonviolence, was one of the most potent weapons available to the Negro in his struggle for freedom.


San Francisco Chronicle

Please remember we are not fighting for some technicalities like using MacOS over Windows. We fight for freedom, for that is what defines Linux (let us not discuss the gift of BSD). Many users argue they are interested only in the functionality of their computer, and not in freedom. That is because free software is something distant, cold, in which they can not take part. So let us teach users to share their own work under a free license in order to improve it. Their work may include artwork in GIMP, Blender, or a professional template in OxygenOffice. Then they will understand what this freedom is about! And a user that understands this freedom it is impossible to continue to use Windows or MacOS.

Keep fighting, be civil, helpful on forums and never despair. Linux and free software was never in a better position than it is today. We fought a long way, there is a long way ahead of us and we have to keep it up! Do not be angry with Microsoft, relax and join the Linux party, it’s so much fun!

]]> By: spiffx http://polishlinux.org/gnu/fear-of-the-dark/#comment-96208 spiffx Wed, 26 Dec 2007 22:41:32 +0000 http://polishlinux.org/gnu/fear-of-the-dark/#comment-96208 it's a nice feeling; i've just switched four people to firefox/linux over the holiday season it's that simple we are legion it’s a nice feeling; i’ve just switched four people to firefox/linux over the holiday season

it’s that simple

we are legion

]]> By: Martin http://polishlinux.org/gnu/fear-of-the-dark/#comment-96181 Martin Wed, 26 Dec 2007 20:15:40 +0000 http://polishlinux.org/gnu/fear-of-the-dark/#comment-96181 Great conclusion :) It is really the time to stop making fuss about nothing, and concentrate on doing something more productive, helping beginners especially - cause they are the people who draw most new users, and if they are introduced properly to Desktop Linux, they will use it more and more, maybe even as a primary OS. And something else... even if scenario 4 happens, and Red Hat is 'lost in the dark' :P that means nothing. Novell is still here, IBM,SUN,GOOGLE is still here, WE THE COMMUNITY are and will be still here. Great conclusion :)

It is really the time to stop making fuss about nothing, and concentrate on doing something more productive, helping beginners especially - cause they are the people who draw most new users, and if they are introduced properly to Desktop Linux, they will use it more and more, maybe even as a primary OS.

And something else… even if scenario 4 happens, and Red Hat is ‘lost in the dark’ :P that means nothing. Novell is still here, IBM,SUN,GOOGLE is still here, WE THE COMMUNITY are and will be still here.

]]> By: Rey A. http://polishlinux.org/gnu/fear-of-the-dark/#comment-96155 Rey A. Wed, 26 Dec 2007 18:21:25 +0000 http://polishlinux.org/gnu/fear-of-the-dark/#comment-96155 Wow! Superb...you hit it right on the head with this article and yes if we want to keep moving Linux forward we must remain focus on our task which is the spread of Linux. MS can't touch this. Wow! Superb…you hit it right on the head with this article and yes if we want to keep moving Linux forward we must remain focus on our task which is the spread of Linux. MS can’t touch this.

]]> By: Chris Lees http://polishlinux.org/gnu/fear-of-the-dark/#comment-95872 Chris Lees Wed, 26 Dec 2007 02:33:36 +0000 http://polishlinux.org/gnu/fear-of-the-dark/#comment-95872 A very clever article, which I enjoyed reading. I'd imagine that there are more than "a few hundred thousand" Linux users though; I think we number into the millions, even without counting the people who use Linux and don't know it (TIVO subscribers, smartphone owners etc). A very clever article, which I enjoyed reading. I’d imagine that there are more than “a few hundred thousand” Linux users though; I think we number into the millions, even without counting the people who use Linux and don’t know it (TIVO subscribers, smartphone owners etc).

]]> By: daniel http://polishlinux.org/gnu/fear-of-the-dark/#comment-95740 daniel Tue, 25 Dec 2007 23:16:36 +0000 http://polishlinux.org/gnu/fear-of-the-dark/#comment-95740 super! super!

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