>From Vimal Joseph on Wednesday, 2006-04-19 at 12:10:01 +0530: > On 4/6/06, Conrad Newton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Like most live CDs, Bestix is a promotional tool for Free Software. > > Dear Friend please don't use a Non free tool like Skype in a free > software promotional live CD. > > > Since there are many people outside of the community who have no idea > > what free software is all about, there is clearly room for such a tool. > > Yes it is. But if the CD itself contain a non free tool, How can it be > used to tell what free software is?
I know people have differing opinions on this matter, and I don't want to start a flame fest, but I can briefly describe my point of view. I am not against the idea of commercial software, even non-GPL commercial software. The main issue for me is the platform, which I believe should be free, so that the essential conditions for building software are equal for everyone -- no matter what kind of software they create. I prefer free software when given the choice between two programs that in all other respects are identical. In my view, the existence of non-GPL commercial software running on a free platform should be considered a benefit. It means that software makers such as Opera and Skype take Linux seriously as a platform. We can only hope that users who are considering the use of free software as a platform will also take that platform more seriously. Put briefly, all software that runs on Linux increases the value of Linux as a platform. If you accept the argument I have outlined, it means that everyone who builds for the free software platform will benefit from the existence of non-GPL software on Linux, including those who make non-commercial GPL software. The existence of skype on the CD is a small wink to people who for some reason believe that by adopting Linux as a platform they are leaving their cozy home and moving into a slum. So far as I can tell there is not yet a GPL program that is functionally equivalent -- when there is, skype will be replaced. Unlike MS Office, Skype does not leave a document trail, so we are not tied to it. We can abandon it whenever it suits us. Conrad -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
