[ubuntu-us-in] Another Reason to love Open Source

[Keith Karnafel]

Greeting,

I really don't mind paying for good, solid software. Open source software
usually makes the version number 0.something before the authors feel it's
really ready to go. I agree with you that if a piece of software is really
buggy I shouldn't have to pay a premium price for an even buggier "better"
version of the software. If I bought a car and it made me take it to the
dealer every couple of weeks it wouldn't be long before a "free" nationwide
recall was issued, not a just buy next years model for more problems. With
my step daughters computer the first 3 - 4 times I was the one who had to go
there and spend the time on the phone with MS to get it going again. My
step-daughter is now comfortable enough now to do it herself but how many
people aren't that comfortable and just give up. I've had several people at
work who came to me after not using their computer for months before seeking
help to get their computer going. Biggest XP problem seems to be malware,
biggest Vista problem seems to be wireless connection problems and Vista
randomly deciding your software is pirated. One person is bringing me their
laptop tonight to fix his wireless woes. Funny how in the forums a lot of
people complained about Gutsy wireless problems and now it seems Vista is
much worse. (Never had a problem with Gutsy's wireless except with a then
unsupported card which was fixed easily with online tutorials.)

I thought with going to Ubuntu I would get away from MS problems but I'm
still screwing with other people's computers. Sorry for getting off the
subject.

- Keith

BTW anyone see that Sears is now selling Linux PC's?

On 1/18/08, Jason Corfman <computers at corfyscorner.com> wrote:
>
> That is a good point about the software models. However, there is a side
> point that you missed.
>
> With free software, if the software is "half-baked" upon release, you
> wait a few weeks or months and get the next version for free and try it.
> Usually, it will improve over that time (whether it has improved enough
> or not is up for debate). With proprietary software, which may cost
> hundreds of dollars or more, if the final product is "half-baked"
> (coughVISTAcough), you wait two to five years and spend hundreds of
> dollars more to get the next version.
>
> If I have to wait 5 years for an updated software program and pay
> upwards of $400 for the updated version, I expect it not only to be
> better than the version before it, but to also have fewer headaches with
> it than with a similar program that I didn't pay anything for .
> Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), many
> times that has not been the case.
>
> One of the things that made me switch to Linux was the realization that
> XP just wasn't doing what I needed it to do. Regular defrags, regular
> virus scans, regular adware/spyware scans, strong firewall, disk check
> scans, seemingly constant updates that require restarts, and yearly
> reinstall of the OS just to make it run better, and there were still
> problems that were hard to diagnose and/or track down. Ok, so I had
> troubles installing Linux for the first time that took me nearly two
> weeks to work through (part of that was my fault for being a newb and
> not knowing any better, part of that I blame on the distro, which I
> don't use anymore), and on one laptop I installed it on, I had trouble
> getting the wireless card to work (finally got it working, though, but I
> don't have that laptop anymore... the other two laptops I installed it
> on went without a hitch). Other than that, I have had zero problems with
> Linux. I definitely cannot say the same about XP.
>
> Jason "Corfy" Corfman
>
> Simón Ruiz wrote:
> > Keith,
> >
> > Copy protection schemes that get in the way of legitimate use of
> > software by the licensees is probably the single most offensive
> > problem with proprietary software, especially for free software
> > people.
> >
> > All software is going to have SOME bugs and annoying quirks that get
> > in your way.
> >
> > People used to the proprietary software model complain when free
> > software doesn't do what they expect it to and forgive proprietary
> > software for being intentionally difficult to use because it gets
> > their specific job done. On the other hand, people used to the free
> > software model complain when proprietary software does not function by
> > design and forgive free software for sometimes not being completely
> > baked before its released.
> >
> > In my humble opinion ;-)
> >
> > Simón
> >
> > On Jan 18, 2008 5:13 AM, Keith Karnafel <keith at karnafel.com> wrote:
> >
> >> Who knows what's up with M$ but this past week my step-daughter had to
> call
> >> them twice because Genuine pain [sic] decided that she was running a
> pirated
> >> version of Vista. This will make five of six time since last fall when
> I
> >> purchased the computer for her and the grand kids that we had to call
> M$ to
> >> re-cert the computer. Oddly enough, the grand children prefer Ubuntu.
> Even
> >> the two year old knows how to reboot the computer into Ubuntu, and
> start up
> >> his favorite game, Childsplay. He also knows how to get to get to
> Nickjr on
> >> his own and play the games there. I'm afraid that kids going to be
> cracking
> >> code soon.
> >>
> >> - Keith.
> >>
> >>
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> >>
> >
> >
>
>
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