On Mon, 2006-02-20 at 23:41 +0100, David Kastrup wrote:
> fons adriaensen <fons.adriaensen@email-addr-hidden> writes:
>
> > On Mon, Feb 20, 2006 at 11:01:10PM +0100, David Kastrup wrote:
> >
> >> Lee Revell <rlrevell@email-addr-hidden-job.com> writes:
> >>
> >> > By this logic, locking my doors is immoral because it diminishes
> >> > people's freedom to roam around my house.
> >>
> >> Those people have not paid for access to your house. Purchasers of
> >> proprietary software _have_ paid for access to the software.
> >
> > They have paid for a license to use it, and for nothing else.
>
> Well, then they might have some expectation to be able to use it, no?
> Without the ability to adapt the software to different devices or
> applications, or fix errors (or pay someone to do that), the software
> is crippled in its usefulness.
>
> When buying electronic appliances, at one time you could rely on the
> schematics being in the inside. That meant you could make full use of
> the appliance, adapt it to different problems (using a radio as a
> guitar amplifier), repair it and keep it in working order, and you
> could take it to service men of your choice to have it adapted or
> fixed.
>
> That's basically what workmanship is about: offering the best to the
> customer to make use of.
>
> Just 20 years ago, it was customary to provide computer purchasers or
> service people with schematics, BIOS listings and similar stuff
> (partly on request and for payment). Now it is trade secret this,
> closed source that, not for your eyes this.
>
> It is annoying. If I want a Porsche engine in a VW bug, I can buy the
> parts and all relevant service manuals and plans, and put a mechanic
> to work.
>
> If I want Excel running on GNU/Linux, I can just shoot myself. I am
> not paying for such crippled software. If that means that I have to
> do with less sophisticated free software, so be it. It is a price to
> pay, but at least it keeps me in control and power and responsibility.
>
Survey says... BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT! Wrong. You would buy
Crossover Office and then install a perfectly legal, paid for copy of
Micro$oft Orifice. It runs fine on my system.
-- Jan 'Evil Twin' Depner The Fuzzy Dice http://myweb.cableone.net/eviltwin69/fuzzy.html "As we enjoy great advantages from the invention of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours, and this we should do freely and generously." Benjamin Franklin, on declining patents offered by the governor of Pennsylvania for his "Pennsylvania Fireplace", c. 1744Received on Sun Feb 26 20:18:10 2006
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