COLLOQUY Responses
|
|
COLLOQUY Responses
|
 Microsoft shouldn't only be compared to other companies. Historically universities have supported what's now called "free" or "open source" software (cf. www.opensource.org), leading to free software programs like Apache and sendmail, now respectively the most popular Web server and email agent on the internet. Free software's ability to work reliably, forge common standards, and promote research is the reason the Internet works today. There are already many free software operating systems, the most popular is called Linux. It's a wonderful small server OS, and a fine workstation for advanced users. It's incredibly popular on college campuses, though officially unsupported. According to the Gartner Group, it's gained a foothold in 14% of companies they surveyed. Within a few years it will likely be usable for larger servers, and a usable workstation for novice users. A relatively small amount of support from educational institutions could accelerate the development process dramatically, making Linux viable for novice users within the next year or two at most. This would mean an operating system and applications freely available at no cost. What's more, the system would not be tied to a particular support vendor. Anyone can support free software -- the company of one's choice, or in-house experts. This avoids the dangers of dependency on a single vendor like Microsoft. Free software is about diversity, sharing of ideas, and equal opportunity. These are the same things educational institutions should be about.
|
IN THIS DEBATE: The question Background Responses Join the debate IN THIS SECTION: Colloquy Letters to the editor Write to us Help |
|||
|
||||
previous response