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CNet Promotes Essential Open-Source Software to Joe Public

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the self-selecting-group dept.

Zool writes "A feature is currently running on CNet explicitly promoting open-source software alternatives for typical home users, with programs rated and compared to commercial offerings. Although there's no mention of the Linux advantages to home users, the list is extensive and certainly written with the intention of snagging wider open-source adoption and understanding in the mainstream. 'Why should you care about open source? You should care because the vast majority of common applications, even complex commercial stuff like Adobe Photoshop, Windows Media Player and Microsoft Office, have free, open-source alternatives. And this point is worth reiterating: open-source software is free. No cost. Zero. Zilch.'"

5 of 227 comments (clear)

  1. Free as in Beer then Free as in Freedom by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "And this point is worth reiterating: open-source software is free. No cost. Zero. Zilch."

    I find this may be the better approach in introducing people to free[dom]/open source software. People don't understand at first the implications of free[dom] software.

    After the hook of 'free', then people can learn about the freedom aspects. Of course if they clue in right away the importance of freedom, all the better.

  2. Be careful with the free statement by PinternetGroper · · Score: 5, Insightful

    And this point is worth reiterating: open-source software is free. No cost. Zero. Zilch.'"
    Be careful with this statement. Some people consider software that costs nothing to be of lesser quality or to have something wrong with it. A coworker went to Staples and purchased a version of McAfee for home, even after I told her AVG would do everything she wanted it to, and for free. I got the impression that she didn't think something that didn't cost anything would be able to do what she wanted...
  3. Hard drive on grass photo by digitaldc · · Score: 5, Funny

    Actually, it is quite appropriate.
    It has been an long, hard drive to for the developers to get the software out in the open - and they did it all while on grass.

    --
    He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
  4. Rather Free AND Legal! by mdm42 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Free (as in beer) doesn't really represent a value proposition if you've "pirated" your non-Free software anyway.

    The message that needs to be gotten across is "Free AND Legal". I've had people express complete disbelief in my claim that they can have Legal Copies of software for free (beer) -- to the point where they were pretty sure I was lying or making it up.

    --
    New mod option wanted: -1 DrunkenRambling
    1. Re:Rather Free AND Legal! by Tatsh · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Completely agree. The Windows-world is full of users who would just pirate any commercial software they need (no matter what purpose). Many also end up trying to use at least one open source app at some point, but it in some way fails (eg GIMP has a weird window layout that is a little bit hard to get used to, and on Windows there's no built-in "force windows to stay on top" function). They get rid of it, go back to the commercial software (pirated), and decide to never use free and open source software again.

      It is unfortunate. I think this is one of the more overlooked problems in trying to gain widespread adoption of open source alternatives, even if it is on Winblows.

      I am in university, and the attitude from many first-year CS students I have spoken with is that "Linux sucks", even if they have only used PuTTY on their Winblows boxes to program their small C apps to the server with GCC. And they are all asking "Why not Visual Studio?", which they all have pirated of course. It is ridiculous. They do not believe me about the crappiness of proprietary software, and some even choose to use Vista just because it is the "latest".