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

[Bryan O'Neal]

Their is a great deal of truth in what you say.  I am all for using closed
source products when applicable, but their is nothing like knowing that you
can really own something.  That if you spend five years building all you
processes around a software product that no mater what happens, if that
product has become so intrinsically valuable to you or your company, that
you can do with it what ever you want, including employing your own code
monkeys to support it.  Though, in all practicality I have never seen this
happen, it is still something to consider and weigh in your decision making
process.  However, as I am tying to explain in another thread, it should not
be the only consideration.
 
Another point is is you are using a product and find documentation lacking.
Once you figure out what you needed to know, document and submit it.  Or try
to help improve existing documentation.

  _____  

From: plug-discuss-bounces at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
[mailto:plug-discuss-bounces at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us] On Behalf Of Mike
Schwartz
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 5:50 PM
To: Main PLUG discussion list
Cc: Dorian A. Monroe, II; Mike L Schwartz
Subject: OT? Free as in "Freedom", *is* different (was: Re: Microsoft to
train 2 million people FREE)


>  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
<http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=28C97D22-6EB8-4A09
-A7F7-F6C7A1F000B5&displaylang=en> &displaylang=en
Cost:  $0

Windows Server 2008 R2 Beta download:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/R2-Beta.aspx
<http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/R2-Beta.aspx30-day> 
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
<http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/bb736128.aspx120-day> 
120-day trial
Cost: $0

SQL Server 2008 download:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/bb851664.aspx
<http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/bb851664.aspx180-day> 
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.
> ---------------------------------------------------

> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings:
> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
---------------------------------------------------
PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings:
http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/pipermail/plug-discuss/attachments/20090224/94ccf04e/attachment.htm