On 2008-09-16, Moshe Goldfarb. <brick.n.straw@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:53:27 -0400, Linonut wrote:
>
>> * Moshe Goldfarb. peremptorily fired off this memo:
>>
>>>> http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9114734&intsrc=news_ts_head
>>>
>>> Good....
>>> That should eliminate many of the threads in the Ubuntu forums where noobs
>>> trash Ubuntu because they can't figure out how to make it play their media.
>>>
>>> This is a good thing.
>>> Most people are not on some religious pilgrimage for Linux but instead just
>>> want to USE the operating system and associated programs.
>>
>> It's not a religious pilgrimage so much as a matter of practicality.
>> When you use binary code, you're now beholden to the owner of that code
>> in some sense, and they can change the terms of the (implicit) deal at
>> any time. Looked what happened with MP3, for example.
>>
>> That's why the guys at mplayer.hu are so busy, for example.
>>
>> I'm personally not opposed to using binary code in general, but all too
>> often you can get painted into a corner.
>
> Given the choice of a FOSS CODEC pack and a proprietary one and assuming
> they both worked equally, I would go for the FoSS one every time.
> The problem is that is usually not the case.
...well then isn't it funny that if you try to open an h264 AVI
file up on a pristine vendor installed copy of Vista you will
be directed to a crude download of ffmpeg.
Ubuntu is a LOT easier to deal with in this respect than any
version of Windows. A vendor installed copy might have all the
bells and whistles already put in place and paid for. That's a
benefit of buying an HP or Dell and really doesn't have much
to do with the fact that it's Windows.
> I hate being locked in and I hate being on some sort of mandatory upgrade
> mill like VCR/DVD/Blueray etc.
>
> For a lot of these people I wonder how much of the venom directed at
> proprietary solutions is more of a hate of the concept vs the actual
> benefits to THEM of using FOSS solutions.
--
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