Comment Re: History will probably repeat itself (Score 1) 570
You're right, quality differences between open source and proprietary code are often negligable -- particularly when you find out HOW some commercial software is constructed.
I think his perspective is legitimate, from where he stands. But that's from a commercial vantage.
I don't think anyone is seduced by the ease of use features of FreeNix (Linux/FreeBSD/Hurd/Whatever), as they are with MS-Windows. Therefore these issues are not important right now.
Linux is popular because technically-minded people end up liking it for other reasons, like versatility, network culture (yes, an OS with culture), intellectual engagement, and economics.
These are the same reasons geeks and hackers were choosing DOS in the early 1990's over Apple for recreational, technically-indulgent home computing. Remember the BBS?
DOS and 386 hardware was cheap, bulletin boards were easy to find, and whopping piles of hackish software accompanied a giant online messaging culture.
(Oh yeah, and there was the reactionary anti-Apple Corporation sentiment. e.g. The smug sensation that this dubious, console-based technology would one day break Apple's market dominance.)
I think the same thing is happening today with Linux, FreeBSD, and all the free Unix variants.
Bright, self-taught, technically-minded people have been attracted to the complexity, culture, and cost of these systems. Anti-Microsoft sentiment seems to be lingering.
History will probably repeat itself.
I think his perspective is legitimate, from where he stands. But that's from a commercial vantage.
I don't think anyone is seduced by the ease of use features of FreeNix (Linux/FreeBSD/Hurd/Whatever), as they are with MS-Windows. Therefore these issues are not important right now.
Linux is popular because technically-minded people end up liking it for other reasons, like versatility, network culture (yes, an OS with culture), intellectual engagement, and economics.
These are the same reasons geeks and hackers were choosing DOS in the early 1990's over Apple for recreational, technically-indulgent home computing. Remember the BBS?
DOS and 386 hardware was cheap, bulletin boards were easy to find, and whopping piles of hackish software accompanied a giant online messaging culture.
(Oh yeah, and there was the reactionary anti-Apple Corporation sentiment. e.g. The smug sensation that this dubious, console-based technology would one day break Apple's market dominance.)
I think the same thing is happening today with Linux, FreeBSD, and all the free Unix variants.
Bright, self-taught, technically-minded people have been attracted to the complexity, culture, and cost of these systems. Anti-Microsoft sentiment seems to be lingering.
History will probably repeat itself.
