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- BoomWav, on 08/27/2009, -1/+3Free Software 7 Sins: The case about Linux and free software
All the thousands of different distributions of Linux has the same problems that previous version had -- it's free software. The users are not offered the chance to use an OS as user friendly as other proprietary software like Windows. Further more, users without necessary skills are not offered training to share or modify the Linux OS or to examine how it works inside.
The fact that Linux is free software means that the users has no help to choose which distribution he should use and must rely on the other users to help them. I have a list, here, or 7 examples of things you must remember if you decide to use Linux.
1. False propaganda:
Today, most students whose high education involves computers are being told that to use Linux is the right way to go. They claim that Linux offer a free alternative to Microsoft's Windows that feature the same functionalities, without the problems. Some distributions of Linux became really popular this way like Ubuntu. However, it's never mentioned that using a Linux distribution will greatly reduce your freedom as a student. You don't have the choice to install some proprietary software like Microsoft's Office Suite. You'll have to rely on free alternative that lack features and it can really become difficult when you need to work with people using the most popular softwares or if you have to use some libraries like .NET Framework that is highly used in the software industry.
2. Difficult of use: Linux uses terms like user friendly in a lot of distributions overview. While some distributions of Linux does feature some functionalities to help its users, it's never mentioned that as soon as you encounter a problem that is not mainstream, you will always be faced to the impossible. You will have to rely on the other users good will to help you out and every solutions usually require high technical skills. Professional support usually cost money. That mean some distribution of Linux carelessly let bugs infiltrate in order to take more money from its users pocket. The idea is generally to make the bug deep enough so that it takes the technically advanced user more time to figure out.
3. Non-access to a lot of software: People usually use a computer to get things done. Image editing with Photoshop, Video editing with Sony Vegas Studio, music creation with Ableton Live. All that are applications that are not available for Linux. You usually have to run them in virtualization software like Wine but it don't always work and again you will have to put a lot of time asking other users for help instead of actually getting work done. Of course there are free alternative that gives you a fraction of the features. If it's not what you use at work, you'll also have to learn a new lesser application to do the exact same thing. You also have to forget about gaming. Linux offer a very limited range of games. There's a very limited support for DirectX 9 and support is inexistent for DirectX 10 or the soon to be released DirectX 11. You can also throw away your controllers because there's probably no drivers available for them. Of course, you can buy a console and play in your living room. In that case, you'll need to invest a lot of money to make it as worthwhile.
4. Drivers: Linux users are usually forced to buy specific hardware to make the OS works. Drivers availability is limited and are often release after the proprietary OS's releases. The quality of those drivers are often criticized as well because they're usually buggy and has less features than the others. Linux thus prevent its users from using its hardware to its full potentials.
5. Forcing the user to choose: It was claimed earlier than Linux feature more than a thousand distributions. Before you install one, you must make sure it's what you need. You have to make trade-offs in order to get the distribution that is the most convenient for you. If you don't choose the right one, you might not receive updates that other people receive and be forced to reinstall a new OS to get them.
6. Not Enforcing Digital Restriction Management (DRM): Whatever the media player you are offered to use in your Linux distribution, it won't work with media offered by the big media companies that offer content protected by DRMs. This mean you can't play content protected against copying. For example, Linux thus prevent you from watching NBC television shows, even if you want to.
7. Trying to infiltrate into the user's house without him knowing the implications: Lately, Linux distribution used propagonda to infiltrate itself into the netbook field. Users were often told by vendor that the Linux version was superior to Windows and a lot of them choose to try it even if they weren't aware of all the consequences. Some study shows that netbooks using Linux were returned massively after a few weeks because of the other sins mentioned before. The inability of the Linux distributors to properly warns its consumer of the vast number of implications in using their OS is inexcusable.
Free software operating systems like GNU/Linux claim to be able to do the same jobs as Windows, but they fail to inform its users of the implications of such a change. This makes using a proprietary operating system the best way to get work done more quickly and in a effortless way. This way, you will have more time to pass with your family and less fiddling with your computer. If you ever encounter a problem, you can always contact the professional consumer support or contact any IT professional to help you.
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I was about to continue with the other craps but seriously, the NT claims are so pointless that I just can't. Seriously. You have to pay MORE to get MORE stuff? Welcome in real life.
