B
Bill Yanaire
The idea of choice is part of the bedrock of open source. But open source
also wants to replace Microsoft on the desktop, or at least make a serious
dent in Microsoft's hegemony. To do that, the open source community must
recognize that its primary goals: freedom of choice, freedom of source code,
and freedom to alter applications, are not the goals of the average user.
Choice, to most users, is the ability to choose any program they wish, and
have it install and run seamlessly, without affecting any other application
already installed; without requiring them to know which GUI they're running
(or even that they're running a GUI); without altering path statements;
without editing configuration files; without facing a command prompt; and
without having to compile any source code; create any makefiles, or any
other programming task that only developers are fond of.
They don't care that they can't see or change the source code to their
current programs. They don't care that they don't actually own the software,
as long as they only have to pay for it once. They don't care that most of
their software comes from a single source. In short, they don't care about
the fundamental issues behind open source software at all. But they do care
about price, quality, availability, security, simplicity, and
interoperability. Supply these, and open source will be the software choice.
So far, the open source community has been highly sensitive to the needs of
power users, hobbyists, and centralized IT departments, but highly
insensitive to the needs of average, technically (and sometimes literally)
illiterate users. Many people will argue that the public should be educated
to value software choice and to see Microsoft's impositions and removal of
choice for what it is. But it is a grave mistake to stake Linux' future on
the hope that millions of people will be inspired to software activism, that
they will take the ideological high road when all they want is to buy a
piece of software that works with a piece of electronics.
It looks like Windows and Microsoft will be the dominant force for many
years to come.
also wants to replace Microsoft on the desktop, or at least make a serious
dent in Microsoft's hegemony. To do that, the open source community must
recognize that its primary goals: freedom of choice, freedom of source code,
and freedom to alter applications, are not the goals of the average user.
Choice, to most users, is the ability to choose any program they wish, and
have it install and run seamlessly, without affecting any other application
already installed; without requiring them to know which GUI they're running
(or even that they're running a GUI); without altering path statements;
without editing configuration files; without facing a command prompt; and
without having to compile any source code; create any makefiles, or any
other programming task that only developers are fond of.
They don't care that they can't see or change the source code to their
current programs. They don't care that they don't actually own the software,
as long as they only have to pay for it once. They don't care that most of
their software comes from a single source. In short, they don't care about
the fundamental issues behind open source software at all. But they do care
about price, quality, availability, security, simplicity, and
interoperability. Supply these, and open source will be the software choice.
So far, the open source community has been highly sensitive to the needs of
power users, hobbyists, and centralized IT departments, but highly
insensitive to the needs of average, technically (and sometimes literally)
illiterate users. Many people will argue that the public should be educated
to value software choice and to see Microsoft's impositions and removal of
choice for what it is. But it is a grave mistake to stake Linux' future on
the hope that millions of people will be inspired to software activism, that
they will take the ideological high road when all they want is to buy a
piece of software that works with a piece of electronics.
It looks like Windows and Microsoft will be the dominant force for many
years to come.