On Thu, Oct 05, 2006 at 03:54:47PM -0600, Jack J. Woehr wrote: > > Free and open software is a means to an end, rather than the > > sole end unto itself for OLPC. > > > > I was totally stunned by this admission. "morally bankrupt", as Bob > > says, is exactly what is going on. > > Hmm, sounds like you are saying that abstract goal of unlimited > software freedom is > a higher goal than providing access to modern technology to > disadvantaged children in > 3rd-world countries. I don't wish to argue that point, but it is > certainly a point > that could be debated.
I think the major issue is they're claiming to be so open source to get this feel-good feeling, when really they don't care about open source ideals. Look at what Mike Evans, Red Hat representative on OLPC board, says: "We are a key part of the software team because of our experience and leadership in the open source development model and community dynamics." [ http://www.redhat.com/magazine/014dec05/features/olpc/ ] Does Red Hat making under-the-table deals with closed-source vendors to give them special access to hardware docs - which gives the open source community in general nothing - make them leaders in open source development and community dynamics? I don't think so. Why *would* the OLPC people wish to get their > dicks caught > in the struggle between the free-and-open software community and the > greedheads? > > -- > Jack J. Woehr > Director of Development > Absolute Performance, Inc. > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > 303-443-7000 ext. 527
