Trick-or-treat for “8″ at Robert Pogson

“Theres been plenty of talk in the media about whether Windows 8 will be annoying because it has no Start button or because its Internet desktop will make it slow and glitchy. The deeper problem is that it is restrictive and damaging to your freedom as a computer user. We will make sure that, no matter what Microsofts advertising is focused on, computer users still have a chance to learn about the fundamental issues with proprietary operating systems, and about the path to something better.”

see Activists trick-or-treat for free software at Windows 8 launch event — Free Software Foundation — working together for free software.

While I have plenty of issues with M$ one that’s fundamental is the technically unnecessary restrictions M$ puts on OEMs, retailers, and end-users that are designed to perpetuate monopoly rather than to make the world a better place with better products. Really, if M$ were selling licences for it’s desktop OS, why hide the source code or restrict the number of PCs that can communicate using the licence? Isn’t being on almost a billion PCs enough power for M$? Why do they want it all? So, we keep on fighting, standing up for freedom to run, examine, modify and distribute software anywhere. I think every consumer who receives the message about Free Software will have the keys to freedom. I think every consumer who has a choice on retail shelves will as well.

My Mission

My observations and opinions about IT are based on 40 years of use in science and technology and lately, in education. I like IT that is fast, cost-effective and reliable. I do not care whether my solution is the same as yours. I like to think for myself.

My first use of GNU/Linux in 2001 was so remarkably better than what I had been using, I feel it is important work to share GNU/Linux with the world. I have been blessed by working in schools where students and school systems have benefited by good, modular software easily installed in most systems.

I have shown GNU/Linux to thousands of students and hundreds of teachers over the years and will continue in some way doing that until I die in spite of the opposition.

2 Responses to “Trick-or-treat for “8″”

Feed for this Entry

1 eug Oct 27th, 2012 at 6:02 am

http://www.extremetech.com/computing/138816-windows-8-the-desktop-review
2 kozmcrae Oct 27th, 2012 at 9:25 am

Microsoft seems to be caught in a complex snare of its own making. Sure there are forces at work and Microsoft is getting hammered from many directions, but the decisions they made regarding Windows 8 are inviting disaster. That is something almost everyone agrees upon.

Microsoft has drifted too far out of sync with its customers. With Windows 8 they have pulled the plug on their customer base. They have set their customers adrift to choose their own software.