tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374062033512451668.post1068435794646132789..comments2024-03-20T01:17:32.689-07:00Comments on Computers for Charity: What New Windows?Jeffrey Killhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713235699763710550noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374062033512451668.post-9065354601114758822009-09-27T08:57:47.438-07:002009-09-27T08:57:47.438-07:00I just got back form Linux Fest In Columbus , Ohio...I just got back form Linux Fest In Columbus , Ohio and it was so encouraging. <br /><br />It's amazing that most of these operating systems are developed by a worldwide community of volunteers who offer their code to be freely distributed and improved upon by others.<br /><br />Microsoft is doing what i can by lobbying foreign governments to 'ban' Linux as well as filing software patents like mad in the United states to try and stop the development of open source alternatives to their products.<br /><br />When I talked to the KDE development team about how Windows 7 looked very similar to KDE 4.0 they took it in stride and said "That's the idea of Open Source. We put our ideas out for others to use and improve on." <br /><br />It was cool that they had such a great attitude about it but I fear that type of optimism may be naive. Microsoft has not been interested in open source and certainly not in sharing the ideas it borrowed form others with anyone else. <br /><br />There are signs this may be changing though. See http://www.microsoft.com/opensource/Jeffrey Killhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16713235699763710550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374062033512451668.post-58181976873991640772009-09-27T00:43:16.488-07:002009-09-27T00:43:16.488-07:00Hi Jeff. You raised some very simple but valid poi...Hi Jeff. You raised some very simple but valid points there. I have also wondered a lot why all the buzz about Win 7 when it actually is just an updated version of Vista. I think we need to do more to let people know that for most users, Linux is a viable alternative at a fraction of the cost of Windows. Why cough up so much money in an economic downturn when you can easily breath life into your hardware thanks to Linux and Foss?Seeraj Muneerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03417289576442689191noreply@blogger.com