OT? Free as in "Freedom", *is* different (was: Re: Microsoft to train 2 million people FREE)

[Mike Schwartz]

>  Just
> like any other product (MS, Linux, or practically anything), you can
> learn all about it by using it yourself and searching the Internet.

This is true to some extent.
However the phrase "Just like" may be a bit of a stretch (exaggeration).

Of course, in some cases, a given M$ product [e.g.] might well have good
documentation, either published by MS themselves, or in books available
either at the library or from O'Reilly or amazon.com, etc.  ...and the
"competing" FLOSS package[s], "if any", might well be getting produced by a
team of (mostly?) volunteers on a shoe string budget ... so there may be
some "room for improvement", in their documentation.

*But*, one thing that is different, almost by definition, is that
((stop me if you've heard this before...)):
with the FLOSS package, if you have the time, (or, the money to hire someone
to do it for you), the source code is out there, -- available, -- and you
can study it all you want [or pay someone to do so].

...and, the kind of experimenting that you can do, includes (potentially),
not just
> [...] using it yourself [...]
by executing it, with the static "released" version of the code frozen / not
changing, but now here with the FLOSS code, you can also tweak the source
code, as you are going along, and do some experiments to see how well that
helps (if at all) (if applicable...).

and again, if you are not a "source code" hacker yourself, you can hire
someone to do so, if you can afford it.
whereas, (typically) with "closed source" packages, you can't "play around"
with changing the code, no matter how big /slash, "rich" you are.

BIG difference!  <--(potentially...)
-- 
Mike Schwartz
Glendale  AZ
schwartz at acm.org

On Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 1:47 PM, Dorian A. Monroe, II <dorian.monroe at cox.net
> wrote:

> My take on that article is that Microsoft is offering classes to help
> get Americans more computer-literate so they become more valuable in
> today's down-turning job market.  Many people do not have the skills (or
> maybe just lack the confidence) to interview for jobs in which they feel
> they may be under qualified.  Going through a basic Microsoft class on
> using the Internet or learning the basics of how to get around in
> Microsoft Office may really help a lot of people get better jobs within
> their own companies or find something else that pays more $$.  The more
> "Advanced" training noted in the article mentions Implementing and
> Supporting Windows XP is something that even many lower-level
> technicians could find useful.  Like it or not, most technical jobs that
> you can find require some knowledge of Microsoft products.
>
> Most training classes that I've ever attended have full-featured
> time-limited versions of the software.  You can download many MS
> products as trial versions directly from Microsoft.  They'll stop
> working after 30-, 60-, 90-days, but that gives you time to work with
> them and learn what you want to know.  If you need to use it again, you
> may need to reinstall an OS and reload the trial.  But MS Virtual PC is
> useful for such testing (and is also free to download and use without
> time-limitations).  If you're going to a training class, you most likely
> already have access to the software that you're learning about and
> already have the proper licensing.  If not, use the trials+VMs.  Just
> like any other product (MS, Linux, or practically anything), you can
> learn all about it by using it yourself and searching the Internet.
>
> Some people like instructor-led classes with someone that knows the
> product and can answer their questions on the spot.  Some people can
> learn better on their own or with CBTs.  Offering the classes for free
> may give people more incentive to better themselves and not have to
> shell out their own $$, which they may not have available to pay for on
> their own.  Many local CCs offer courses on Linux, and there are often
> fees associated with them (sometimes not, but often there are).
>
> > Now think of this...you want to setup Server 2008, Windows 7,
> > Exchange,
> > MSSQL...etc.
> >
> > Take total costs of licensing (let's say serious discount of
> > $50/each)...that's $200.00.
> >
> > Multiply by 2,000,000 people...I just generated $400,000,000!
> > Good marketing goes a long way.
>
> Microsoft VirtualPC 2007 SP1 download:
>
>
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=28C97D22-6EB8-4A09-A7F7-F6C7A1F000B5&displaylang=en
> Cost:  $0
>
> Windows Server 2008 R2 Beta download:
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/R2-Beta.aspx
> 30-day limit after install, can be extended to August 1, 2009 with
> product code on the download page
> Cost: $0
>
> Exchange Server 2007 SP1 download:
> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/bb736128.aspx
> 120-day trial
> Cost: $0
>
> SQL Server 2008 download:
> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/bb851664.aspx
> 180-day trial
> Cost: $0
>
> Windows 7 Beta download:
> Ok, the Win7 beta download isn't available from Microsoft any longer,
> but you could probably find a torrent..:S
> Cost: $0
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 12:29 PM , Jason wrote:
>
> > On Mon, 2009-02-23 at 09:59 -0700, James Finstrom wrote:
> >> Microsoft plans to boost the(ir) economy by offering free tech
> >> training to 2 million people over the next 2 years via training
> >> centers and WBT. They wish to train (indoctrinate) 2 million people
> >> to
> >> bring up the "technical standings" in the US.
> >> http://www.crn.com/it-channel/214502376
> >>
> >> What will be the Free Software response to this?
> >>
> >
> > The free software response to this is that you don't have to pay a
> > dime
> > to learn how to use it. That is the very basis of the FOSS community.
> > While MS will *teach* people, will they be providing all the necessary
> > tools to teach with?
> >
> > For example, will MS give everybody a fully functional, non-expiring,
> > full-featured application suite for every situation they will be
> > teaching?
> >
> > Of is their goal to give the training (via CBT) for free while
> > charging
> > the people for the resources, at reduced pricing of course?
> >
> > Think of it this way...I am MS...I want to increase revenue. I already
> > dumped my money into R&D...how do I recoup?
> >
> > I setup a training camp with tons of CBT's that I use internally for
> > my
> > people. Then I tell people I will give them those CBT's. However, in
> > order to effectively use those CBT's, those people need to buy
> > licenses.
> >
> > Now think of this...you want to setup Server 2008, Windows 7,
> > Exchange,
> > MSSQL...etc.
> >
> > Take total costs of licensing (let's say serious discount of
> > $50/each)...that's $200.00.
> >
> > Multiply by 2,000,000 people...I just generated $400,000,000!
> > Good marketing goes a long way.
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