Stallman visits Chennai

AnanthaP · 02-07-2012, 07:15 PM

It's no ‘free laptop' as long as it has proprietary software

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper...cle2864253.ece

Worse, the government has actually said (about a month back) that it is an extra cost to load linux (boss) since IBM - who won the contract for supplying the laptops, wanted to charge extra for this. (Rs.100/= per piece ~ $2).

As such, citing cost consciousness, the government has opted to go exclusively with the pre loaded OS (windoze).

This article also shows that the organisers of most FSF, FOSS events don't keep up with news. Agendas for these events are decided well in advance and its clear that Mr. Stallman hasn't got himself briefed about the latest news in what he is going to talk about.

Too bad.

OK

Cedrik · 02-07-2012, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Dismissing claims that a network of service centres provided free by proprietary software companies would be of benefit to students, he said it would only increase the dependence of the user on them.

“Proprietary software companies see it as a scheme to encourage dependence on them. They would definitely put money on it,” he said.

I agree totally, those companies act like the basic street drug dealer!

Quote:

Social networking websites, including Facebook, were surveillance mechanisms that monitored the user's Internet behaviour, which is an infringement on his privacy, Dr. Stallman said. He was also critical of the many executables available on Android phones that allowed users to make changes to existing programs but would not execute them.

“That is just freedom in the theoretical sense,” he added.

Well said, we need more conscious speech from people who do know