__/ [ Mark Kent ] on Tuesday 25 July 2006 18:02 \__
> begin oe_protect.scr
> Oliver Wong <owong@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> espoused:
>>
>> "7" <website_has_email@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> news:ljbxg.106889$wl.79501@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> Roy Schestowitz wrote:
>>>
>>>> PanAfrica: Donor Support in Eastern Cape e-Learning Programme Encouraged
>>>>
>>>> ,----[ Quote ]
>>>> | For example, Microsoft have donated software such as the Windows XP
>>>> | (Professional), as well as its word processing package, MS Office
>>>> | Suite (2003) and the indexing software, Encarta, for school libraries
>>>> | in the Province.
>>>
>>> The free software movement has donated tons more software to Africa
>>> than micoshaft.
>>
>> How do you measure "amounts of software"?
>
> How about by whether you're allowed to make an infinite number of
> copies? That's what the GPL allows.
As opposed to duplicating software, granting no ownership (no Freedom) and
requiring a licence for each box that uses the software (no freedom, as in
beer).
>>> Websites like
>>> http://www.livecdlist.com
>>> http://www.distrowatch.com
>>> do the donating of software all day and every day long before
>>> micoshaft ever thought they needed to donate their software
>>> to Africa's poor.
>>>
>>> At best this gesture is a lurid attempt to
>>> hide micoshaft's sick abuse of profits.
>>> They plan to buy some 20 billion dollars in their own
>>> shares (which they don't need to do) instead of
>>> donating that 20 billion dollars to charity.
>>
>> It's an interesting question: If someone does something which is
>> "good",
>> but for motives which are "bad", is this a good thing, or a bad thing?
>>
>
> Surely you're not that naive? Microsoft hand out software, and
> generously "allow" it to be used at home in order to lock a new
> generation of poor children and their teachers into the Microsoft
> product. They absolutely do /not/ want anyone learning about OSS,
> because they know that when it comes to spending money, people would
> realise that they didn't need Microsoft at all - free software would do
> just as well.
Precisely. It's as simple as that.
Best wishes,
Roy
--
Roy S. Schestowitz | FreeBSD - sidling with a little devil
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