Why would someone want to use FOSS/LINUX/BSD

Sat Jun 17 16:14:25 UTC 2006

Linux Part 2

Anyone that has switched to Firefox, then taken the time to learn how to
customize it with extensions and via 'about:config' will have had a
small glimpse of what FOSS (and Linix/BSD OS's are all about!)

Those that don't run Firefox yet, should immediately hit the
delete button as this e-mail will appear to be from someone that is now
completely mad! (Which of course I may in fact be in any case and this
e-mail is then just proof of that fact!)

So maybe just hit delete now in any case! :)

Hi William

As you mentioned, you have 'played' with Linux before, so I think you 
will know some of this already, But here's my take on FOSS (Free open 
source software and Linux/BSD type OS's in particular), for what its 
worth, if anything at all...

After running Ubuntu for a mere few weeks, so I am no expert by any 
stretch of the imagination, but I now think that Linux OS's will be a 
labour of love for me, for my foreseeable, as I am truly taken in by it.

This time I kept a open mind while try understand how to install, run 
and maintained my machine with it.
In the past it just did not really make sense to me, why I would want to 
run a system that was not as 'Easy' as Windows XP and that did not 
support my printer and  so on.
What helped me this time, BEFORE, I installed Ubuntu, I had read several 
articles talking about Linux/BSD OS's on a deeper more 
fundamental/philosophical level.
I now better understand why one would use Linux, after the penny finally 
dropped for me, I very much doubt that I would willing go back to MS again.
Its really is simply a certain mind space that one must be in when 
finally choosing to run Linux/BSD OS's, as it really just comes down to 
having 'freedom of choice', in and of itself, this for me is what makes 
one choose to travel this less travelled road.

So whatever you do don't expect to just hit go and have it all done for 
you, although the initial installation is very refined and straight 
forward now days.

A Linux OS is a interactive learning experience where the user has to
initially work to get things running, but the rewards are great, as the
feeling of accomplishment that comes with learning something seemingly
complex or new is irreplaceable. (Knowledge is power?)

For a second, imagine typing these three seemingly simple lines:

apt-get update

apt-get upgrade

apt-get dist-upgrade

The first line will update the repository/list of files available for
your system, from your Distribution of Linux' servers.
(Ubuntu currently has over 18000 open source packages available for free)
The second line will update every single program package that is already
installed on your system.
The third line will update the entire OS part of the system to the most
current release. (99% of the time without even needing to reboot the
system!)
Imagine never again having to allow programs to phone home or personally
having to go websites to see if a package has been updated, then
downloading the set-up file, doubling clicking it, have it put files all
over the HDD, writing to the registry and if you need to un-install it
later, have it leave half the things behind including a mess of ones
registry)

(This can also all been done automatically with a GUI like Synpatic, but
the above is what happens and Linux allows/encourages you to learn and
use both methods)

The main point would be that this is not a system that dumbs the user
down to point of being almost irrelevant, by making the user a robot
that only ever knows how to point and click, while never teaching the
user anything about the operating system. MS/Windows appears to be
trying to make the OS/PC so simple to use that it will become like using
a appliance, where the user becomes mostly irrelevant.
(This unfortunately is now what most people have been conditioned to
want from most things in life.)
(A bit like the old simple way of servicing a car vs how the modern way
sometimes ends up working:
Years ago, one would change the points, plugs, condenser, oil filter and
oil in a car for say $30 versus the 'new method' which costs $300, WTF
for, who knows, and when something goes wrong, say the car wont
start..., its then, sorry Sir, your 'black box'/engine management unit
has gone, that will be $3'000 please! This they say is progress?)
Another example, years ago you would buy say a fridge, the
supplier/manufacturer would offer a free 3 year warranty with the unit,
as he was confident his product would not fail within this period, now
as its mostly all junk made cheaply in China one must personally buy the
3 year extended warranty?!, again, WTF!

One should not try a Linux OS with the sole intention of seeing what it
can NOT do, when comparing it to Windows/OSX etc, one would then be
missing the point entirely, I think...

Gnu Linux/BSD are operating systems written/programmed for free by a
community of people that ultimately enjoy freedom, in all its guises.
Its for individuals who will NOT accept being told how they can or cant
use their own systems.
(Does a person ever own ones copy of Windows/OSX? Can one sell it on
E-bay? Or does one merely get a license to use it as long as MS allows
one to use it? Can they change the rights you had when you first bought
it mid way through the products life cycle, can they cripple aspects of
its use like I-Tunes does with each update and so on)
Gnu Linux OS's are for people that don't like having a operating system
that, amongst many other things, phones home to the head office everyday!
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/06/08/ms_wga_phones_home/

GNU Linux is initially a mental challenge for sure, but the feeling of
freedom that comes with using it is immense.
The price, for me, in the time it needs to learn some of it, was/is a
small one to make.

IMHO, The adoption rate of Linux will remain very small for the
foreseeable future, as MS has 'dumbed' the average user to the point
where the time it takes to learn how to truly operate a operating system
would scare the average user, making the arguably steep initial learning
curve near insurmountable for the 'average' user.

I think that Windows and to a much lessor, but growing, extent OSX will
remain the mainstream desktop OS's for the foreseeable future.
I doubt that the masses will even understand the need for systems like
GNU Linux/BSD, very much the same as they will soon be lining-up to give
their DNA and getting ID cards to protect them form terrorism!
Or how they allow the NSA and co to listen in on their private everyday
conversations, and are not even protesting about it, again WTF!
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/02/01/atandt_wiretap_assistance_suit/

People ask me why I don't live in SA any more, amongst the obvious
things like crime/violence, how could I willing stay in a country that
has monetary exchange controls in place that effectively holds my money
ransom? In that case freedom of choice = freedom to move

Hows this latest one:
http://www.moneyweb.co.za/shares/ict_sector/549746.htm
South African Mobile operators may have to register SIM cards of
international visitors as they cross SA borders, according to a new law.
Rica has been spearheaded by the department of justice and allows
law-enforcement agencies to get information from telecommunications
providers and intercept communication signals in their crime-fighting
pursuits.
Vodacom SA says:
this would be a significant step backwards in trying to become part of
the global economy. South Africa would be only country in the world
where this was a requirement.

I say it wont be long before this sort of thing is a worldwide thing.
One needs to start learning how to use or build ones own OS's (say 
Linux/BSD) and other systems like VOIP, as in the end, as with 
everything it is ultimately about freedom of choice, in this case not to 
getting spied upon is still a choice? Are we now all criminals by default?

(By the way, why are we all not using free data/e-mail/text chat and
voice encryption ALL the time as a standard practice?)

Point being, long-term there is more to Linux/BSD type OS's than meets 
they eye.

Just don't for one minute think that Linux is just about blindly
pointing and click, click, click, click, click, clicking away...
That could surely one day even be taught to a monkey? ;)
http://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,60803,00.html

(If one has a simple set-up, it can sometimes be easy as point and
click, even in a Linux OS, but there is so much more to Linux than just 
that superficial part.)

So William,
Best of Luck on your latest Linux test run, but do remember it is all
about 'freedom of choice' in the end :)

Regards

Clive

e:mail			clivewagenaar at gmail.com
Personal skype:		clivewagenaar6999
Family skype phone:	wagenaar6888

For everyone else that was unfortunate enough to be Bcc'd on this e-mail
conversation, I cant believe you made it this far into this e-mail, 
don't you have a life! ;)

Is there anything new your side of the pond, tried anything new lately
or anything exciting to report... send it my way!