FSF Launches "BadVista" Campaign

FrankNFurter writes to note the launch yesterday of the FSF's BadVista campaign against Microsoft's new operating system. BadVista's aim is to inform users about the alleged harms inflicted by Vista on the user and about free software alternatives. Quoting program administrator John Sullivan: "Vista is an upsell masquerading as an upgrade. It is an overall regression when you look at the most important aspect of owning and using a computer: your control over what it does. Obviously MS Windows is already proprietary and very restrictive, and well worth rejecting. But the new 'features' in Vista are a Trojan Horse to smuggle in even more restrictions. We'll be focusing attention on detailing how they work, how to resist them, and why people should care."

Comments

Re:More detail (Re:"Treacherous Computing" "Genuin

[UbuntuDupe]

Are you content to be only a tenant in a system where someone else retains ultimate control?

Actually, yes. A lot of people don't realize you can become financially a lot better off by renting a place instead of buying. Before you rip me a new one, I'll admit there are a number of variables that affect the calculation, and non-monetary considerations, so I agree that claim doesnt hold for everyone. However, too many people assume that if you can afford the mortgage payments and can get someone to lend to you, buying is a no-brainer. They act like renting is "throwing away money". But when you buy, you also throw money away -- it's just called "interest" and "property taxes" instead of "rent". This site has a sample calculation for San Francisco:

Renting:
Rent: $1,800
Monthly Loss: $1,800

Buying:
Property Tax: $486 ($729 per month at 1.25% before deduction, $486 lost after deduction.)
Interest: $2,333 ($3500 per month at 6% before deduction, $2333 lost after deduction.)
Other Costs: $450 (Insurance, maintenance, long commute, etc.)
Principal loss: $1,667 (Modest 3% yearly loss on $700,000. Reality will be much worse.)
Monthly Loss: $4,936

Even if you strike the principle loss, that's still worse. And of course, the monthly expense doesn't cover the mortgage payment going to principle, which, while nominally "coming right back to you" is locked up in a highly illiquid asset that can only be draw on at sale or by borrowing against it at interest. (Or transaction costs.) If you rent and invest the savings in a well-diversified portfolio (e.g. covering large caps, small caps, foreign, and bonds in proportions appropriate for your age), taking advantage of the various tax-advantaged vehicles (Roth, 401k), you can be much better off financially. (Again, *can*. I'm not saying this is right for everyone, just pointing out the considerations.)

I know, this has absolutely nothing to do with Windows. I just wanted to dispel the notion of renters as being necessarily exploited.