[NTLUG:Discuss] Open Source

[Kisner, Thomas]

>I believe that the best way to "Spread the Word" is through education.
>Most people don't know what Open Source Software is or how it works.
>Ask the general non technical public and a large percentage have never
>even heard the term.  Most people know about Mozilla and some know
about
>Firefox and Thunderbird.  Linux is a term that might be familiar to 20%
>of the general user base.
>
>The approach that this OSI (Open Source Initiative) will be taking is a
>neutral position on advocacy and a positive position towards the truth.
>Tell people the truth and let them decide if it's for them or not.
Just
>the facts, and nothing but the facts.


Personally, I know some Linux zealots that think every single Windows
user could and should be running Linux.  Even though there are distros
that try to be direct replacements for Windows, it something that is
still beyond reach for now (especially if something goes wrong or if
someone wants to add new hardware to an existing installation).  It is
still best for someone who is at least a semi-advanced user that wants
to have more control over the OS and the apps they run...So it depends
on the user and what they want to do (i.e. be able to go to the store
and buy a game for their PC) as to whether or not I give them the Linux
"pitch".  If I had my way, every PC that runs in my office would run
Linux, because I can't think of anything a work PC needs to do that a
good Linux distro couldn't do.  But then I'd have to look at hardware
compatibility of the machines we have around here...Oh yea and we sell
Windows apps...OK those guys need windows...

As for the F/OSS movement, over the last couple of years I've seen as
many new (and quality) WINDOWS open source projects emerge as there are
for Linux...I don't think you can really say FOSS and just mean Linux
(or BSD) anymore.

I drink the Linux Kool-Aid, but I'm a realistic too.