No O/S as a right more than ever

[Colin McGregor]

On 4/21/09, I. Khider <contact-uc+NVM1kvX9BDgjK7y7TUQ at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> Hmmm,
>
> Well looks like I am alone in the room here in thinking that the idea of
> pre-installing machines with Windows (or Mac for that matter, equally
> horrid) as a default option in our society is wrong. The fact that
> students have to resort to piracy to get software they need from Mac or
> Windows to develop their education and ideas is pretty toxic in my
> books. That an artist, 2/3d designer has to pirate software to develop
> their ideas--the list goes on. This list states I am taking an extreme
> pro-Linux stance when I am say we need 'choice' is unfair--I am looking
> for balance. I say, resort to civil means if one has to--to re-introduce
> balance and harmony. That opensource options are not being pursued
> because companies have successfuly marginalized them out of existence
> thanks to consumer complacency--especially in Canada.

Having windows pre-installed on a machine sucks. That noted, the
question is where to go from here? The best real world option in my
books would be to:

- Buy the hardware you want.
- Refuse to accept the included MS Windows licence
- Go after the hardware vendor, take them to small claims court if required.

Henry Ford once noted of the Model T automobile "Any customer can have
a car painted any colour that he wants so long as it is black.". Point
was, that for the first year of production the Model T was offered in
6 colours, but then to cut down on costs Ford reduced the colour
options down to just black. Various PC vendors selling with just one
OS is a pain, but unlike the days of Henry Ford, there is the licence
refusal option and legal means that you can use to recover $ from the
vendor...

> We live in a society where proprietary software is the default and to
> implement opensource/free software has to be an uphill battle. Why not
> default to free and then pick proprietary if we want it?
>
> I will tell you why I am not extreme, easily. look around you, Windows
> and Mac/OS is the default--we are already in an extreme position. I am
> saying let us have balance and choice. How is that extreme? think about
> it. Companies dictate our tools, culture, and development--I am saying
> let the consumer have a say because we are part of the same ecosystem as
> the companies. We have the right to ask them to change the policy
> because they are as much a part of society as we are. We owe it to each
> other.
>
> So I am the one whining here? There is a difference between making a
> statement and whining, and I am making a clear statement--these
> companies need to be taken to task. I support these companies, we all
> do--because we nned them and vice versa. If I run a business and my
> clients ask a small reasonable change to make their lives easier (at
> almost no cost to me) you bet I will give it to them! Do unto others as
> you would have done yourself.
>
> In the words of Chuck D, if I can't change the people around me, then I
> change the people around me.
>
> I take my whining, extremist self off this list and good luck to you
> all.
>
> Thanks,
>
> -i-
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