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1. (in rebuttal to myth 6)
<quote>
Free software, which is also called open source software, is software that is free both in a monetary sense (i.e., it can be obtained by anyone at no cost) and with regard to use (i.e., it is permitted to be used by anyone for any purpose, including modifying, copying and distributing).
</quote>
<excerpt>
The Free Software movement and the Open Source movement are today separate movements with different views and goals, although we can and do work together on some practical projects.
</excerpt>
2. In rebuttal to the TCO argument (myth 12), I thought that the author could've pointed out that, aside from being sponsored by Microsoft, the various TCO studies are based on laboratory, not real world, settings. More to the point, getting into a GNU/Linux-vs-Microsoft TCO debate is playing into Microsoft's hands, because they set the criteria for a good OS. I myself don't care if a Free OS cares more in the long term -- the Freedom it gives me is worth far more. After all, there is a price to pay for freedom. Another post on this site (http://www.fsdaily.com/Business/Escaping_From_Vendor_Lock_in_With_FOSS) gives as-yet the intangible benefits of Free Software.
silverlokk
15 years 6 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago
OK but some disappointing statements
1. (in rebuttal to myth 6)
<quote>
Free software, which is also called open source software, is software that is free both in a monetary sense (i.e., it can be obtained by anyone at no cost) and with regard to use (i.e., it is permitted to be used by anyone for any purpose, including modifying, copying and distributing).
</quote>
Not quite, at least as far as the Free Software Foundation is concerned -- from http://www.fsf.org/licensing/essays/free-software-for-freedom.html:
<excerpt>
The Free Software movement and the Open Source movement are today separate movements with different views and goals, although we can and do work together on some practical projects.
</excerpt>
2. In rebuttal to the TCO argument (myth 12), I thought that the author could've pointed out that, aside from being sponsored by Microsoft, the various TCO studies are based on laboratory, not real world, settings. More to the point, getting into a GNU/Linux-vs-Microsoft TCO debate is playing into Microsoft's hands, because they set the criteria for a good OS. I myself don't care if a Free OS cares more in the long term -- the Freedom it gives me is worth far more. After all, there is a price to pay for freedom. Another post on this site (http://www.fsdaily.com/Business/Escaping_From_Vendor_Lock_in_With_FOSS) gives as-yet the intangible benefits of Free Software.