Comments on: Open Source Optional http://nullisnotanobject.com/2008/07/open-source-optional/ Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:52:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Dave Johnson http://nullisnotanobject.com/2008/07/open-source-optional/#comment-642 Dave Johnson Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:00:53 +0000 http://blogs.nitobi.com/dave/?p=347#comment-642 Important yes. However, from my experience people are willing to go through a lot of pain just to get some FOSS software working or put up with shit software so that they don't have to use the latest offering from Microsoft. While I am sure there would be many arguments about security, performance etc, the fact is there are A LOT of people out there using technologies like ASP.NET because it is actually better (and not just because I am doing a .NET project right now ;) in terms of performance and productivity. Or consider Drupal - it is complete shit and people _love_ despite there being other, better non FOSS solutions. Those Drupal zealots are exactly the type of people that will be getting (or have) IPhones too. Important yes. However, from my experience people are willing to go through a lot of pain just to get some FOSS software working or put up with shit software so that they don’t have to use the latest offering from Microsoft. While I am sure there would be many arguments about security, performance etc, the fact is there are A LOT of people out there using technologies like ASP.NET because it is actually better (and not just because I am doing a .NET project right now ;) in terms of performance and productivity. Or consider Drupal - it is complete shit and people _love_ despite there being other, better non FOSS solutions. Those Drupal zealots are exactly the type of people that will be getting (or have) IPhones too.

]]> By: Brian LeRoux http://nullisnotanobject.com/2008/07/open-source-optional/#comment-640 Brian LeRoux Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:24:32 +0000 http://blogs.nitobi.com/dave/?p=347#comment-640 Joe's point is totally important: the key is useful and usable product. More people care about the utility of their tools than the ethics behind them. Joe’s point is totally important: the key is useful and usable product. More people care about the utility of their tools than the ethics behind them.

]]> By: JoeB http://nullisnotanobject.com/2008/07/open-source-optional/#comment-641 JoeB Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:41:09 +0000 http://blogs.nitobi.com/dave/?p=347#comment-641 The biggest question is this: Can it make a phone call? All the other features are absolutely meaningless if it can't do this simple function. The first generation OpenMoko couldn't, and that is the main reason why I stayed away. The iPhone appears to be able to do this. The hardcore F/OSS people will use this, but I don't think anyone is going to abandon a working phone for something that is a work in progress. I don't give a crap about all the other features if it can't make and receive phone calls. That includes openness. A rock is very open, but it's just a damn rock! The biggest question is this:

Can it make a phone call?

All the other features are absolutely meaningless if it can’t do this simple function. The first generation OpenMoko couldn’t, and that is the main reason why I stayed away. The iPhone appears to be able to do this. The hardcore F/OSS people will use this, but I don’t think anyone is going to abandon a working phone for something that is a work in progress.

I don’t give a crap about all the other features if it can’t make and receive phone calls. That includes openness. A rock is very open, but it’s just a damn rock!

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