We have a choice! That was the swan song for today.
Microsoft started the process of proprietory software, but Richard Stallman is giving it back to the masses. Basically this topic deals with the fact that we do not have to be tied to the popular operating systems and programs as dictated by Microsoft etc. GNU (Gnu's not Unix) is offering 'free' software that is compatible to other OS's and has the basic functionality that we are all used to. Linux is available and more surprisingly is fully customizable. This is what really got my interest. Having run my own business for many years, and then training and setting up business on both MYOB and QuickBooks I really understand the value of customizable software.
But the deal is that if you do make changes and enhancements then you must share with other and offer the new stuff for free. I think this is really a fair deal.
Some relevant comments:
It is not about the money, it is about the choice.
Free software is a matter of liberty not price.
Not free beer, free speech.
Next topic was Creative Commons. This confirms most of what I was referrinmg to when discussing access to music online. Simply put, Creative Commons relates to any content that you can create. Free content. It allows you to set the level of control you have over it. Public domain is where all the content is free. (limited these days) Copyright is where the creator owns it all. And Creative Commons is the in between. The creator can opt to allow full access to their work, limit access to public not commercial, or put full copyright on it.
We heard from some interesting people including Lawrence Lessig, founder of Creative Commons.
A challenge was issued to our class to investigate some alternative OS's and browsers like Mozilla Firefox. So that's my task for the next week.
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