[CoLoCo] in defense of open source

[Ringo Kamens]

We'll let FAIR decide that one. I personally think he makes a lot of
ridiculous claims with very little or no backing, presenting them
based on facts.

"I've yet to see any phone as cool as the iPhone"
That's because of the profit motive. Flashiness and things like that
usually come with the consequence of sustainibility. Cooler looking
cars are fun but horrible for the environment and the only reason they
exist is because consumers want to feel cool. The reason the iPhone
can look cool is because of multi-million dollar ad campaigns and a
huge influx of profit. Very few open source programmers care about
flashiness but if a open source project with a goal of making a
current application (like GNU/Linux smartphones) more flash existed
and paid programmers (like Apple did) then GNU/Linux would trump the
closed options.

"Same thing with photoshop and gimp, both work, but one is far more
appealing (and powerful)"
A large portion of this is that photoshop has taken public domain
ideas, mixed them up and patented/copyrighted/whatever them so that
people can't build off them. If it weren't for their relentless
defense of their intellectual "property" then GIMP would be on a level
playing field.

Comrade Ringo Kamens

On Nov 20, 2007 5:25 PM, Jim Hutchinson <jim at ubuntu-rocks.org> wrote:
> > Jim, I think you make some good arguments for Linux, but I wouldn't agree
> > 100%. Take the iPhone, first I would argue that we do need it, in the same
> > way we need other technology. What once we lived with out, we now require.
> > As for the similar products that are open, they lack appeal, I've yet to see
> > any phone as cool as the iPhone. Same thing with photoshop and gimp, both
> > work, but one is far more appealing (and powerful). Windows, Apple and Linux
> > may all just be polished turds, but Apple often does a great job of making
> > theirs shiniest.
> >
>
> Sorry, Dave, I don't agree. We don't NEED the iPhone (any phone will
> do for what we really need - i.e. making phone calls). The world is
> not a better place because suddenly there is the iPhone. In fact,
> given the toxic nature of some of the components, I'd say the world is
> worse off. Sure, we all love technology and it's advances but love !=
> need. Furthermore, the iPhone is not even that much of an advance -
> just a shiny version of technology that already exists. There is very
> little in the iPhone that was not out before the iPhone (god, how many
> times can I say iPhone before I puke).
>
> But, yes, apple is good at making technology sexy. I'd love a new iMac
> (and then put Ubuntu on it).
>
>
> Jim
>
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