Ubuntu vs. Apple [WAS: Re: Novel and Microsoft]

[der.hans]

Am 14. Nov, 2006 schwätzte Darrin Chandler so:

> On Mon, Nov 13, 2006 at 10:16:52PM -0700, der.hans wrote:

>> To some extent they use OSen other than GNU/Linux or *BSD due to job
>> requirements, but some also just prefer to use them for one reason or
>> another.
>
> One should always use the best tool for the job at hand. If you're not,
> then you're not doing your job properly. Free software is increasingly
> the best tool, but it's nowhere near 100% yet.

Proprietary software is not near 100% the correct tool either :).

>> I think promoting Free Software due to the freedoms is how Free Software
>> will succeed. I also think the restrictiveness of proprietary software is
>> how it will fail.
>
> The philosophical ideals often turn out to have meaning in the real
> world. The OpenBSD 3.9 theme was "Stop Blob!" and was scoffed at and
> downplayed to a large degree by other open source projects/users. Then
> came the Wifi driver exploits, and the nvidia driver exploits. Windows,
> OSX, Linux, FreeBSD issued patches. OpenBSD didn't need to, due to
> sticking to their guns. Freedom matters, and it matters in everyday life
> on our laptops and desktops. From a practical stance, open is better.

I would note that at least some of us GNU/Linux users avoid proprietary
blobs.

>> Trying to make it a duel about "we're better" or "we're spiffier" or
>> "we're $whatever" or "they suck" is the wrong way to go. True or not, it
>> just turns into a fight.
>>
>> Does this mean I disagree with Shuttleworth's recent call to make
>> GNU/Linux prettier? No, of course not.
>>
>> In fact, he's hitting on what Free Software developers have been working
>> on for years, continue making Free Software the best around and keep
>> working on the areas that need help. Mark just pointed out that, in his
>> opinion, the attractiveness of Free Software is something he thinks needs
>> help.
>
> He's right. Most free software is not as spiffy looking as commercial
> software (Ubuntu included), and it seems to matter to people. Especially
> to non-techy users who make up the vast majority.

We're working on it :).

I saw that Ubuntu has a list of graphics people working on pretty pictures
for Ubuntu. Next time I'm asked if I know a graphics person I'm going to
point at that list.

For years I've been looking for someone who would do good graphics using
Free Software. I've even tried to get a few people to adopt Free Software,
but I don't understand making graphics or the tools near well enough to do
a good job of that :(.

ciao,

der.hans
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