A newbie speaks out for Linux and open source

[Tango12xray]

I know I'm probablyl preaching to the choir but I'm a complete Linux newbie so I feel a need tell my story. I only have slightly higher than average knowledge about computers . If Linux is going to replace MS, it will have to appeal to people like me. So far it certainly has. I along with another office colleague decided to do the "switch" together and we are both happy with our choice. We have been running SUSE 9.1 for the past month now and we are thoroughly impressed. Granted, we aren't demanding computer users either. But what switching to linux has done was awaken a curiosity for computers that didn't exist in me before. Suddenly I want to learn Linux code! Already I wantlike to try out other distros in the near future so I joined this user group for insight.

Open source has been a complete revelation to me. At the office I have been preaching the virtues of Firefox and OpenOffice to anyone who will listen. As a law student, I am interested in the much needed challenge that open source poses to traditional doctrines in intellectual property law. As a former political science student, I am fascinated by the success of open source. I see it as a role model for more democratic forms of organization. I am heartened by the fact open source is becoming quite big in less developed countries where scarce resources have forced people to seek alternatives to MS. Let's hope this development model will continue to spread. Cheers!

[venson]

Cheers, mate! :)

[Jman]

Fantastic! It's great that even though you're new to this you still get involved. And the process is open so you can.

The reports of goverments evaluating open source show how it is a contender. And if you do become a lawyer you can actually claim to be one in an online discussion! (When law issues come up the standard disclaimer is IANAL: I am not a lawyer.)

Glad that it worked for you.

[Shadow Skill]

Welcome aboard.

[Chas.H]

I tried spreading the word about Firefox where I work. It was catching on as well until someone had to use a poorly written shipping app on the company intranet. The thing only worked on IE. :eek: One of the supervisors advised them (or made them) uninstall it before I could install a workaround. I was told that the reason was in case they had to call the helpDesk, not wanting them to see *unapproved* software.

:confused:
Call the helpDesk? Sod the helpDesk! if you ask me! Our company just outsourced the helpDesk to another company who has no idea what we do with our system. They send M$ certified people down to muck it up worse, we dont need them. When they come down I make sure they see my Linux/penguin wallpaper even though my box there is windoze 2000. I won't let them touch it.

I use Firefox, Mozilla, Open Office, and Gimp. :cool:

Holy diatribe! Batman!

I guess I got a bit on edge just then. ;)

[Shadow Skill]

:( They made you uninstall it, that is really too bad. I think I managed to get my mom into using firefox on her dell. :D I haven't seen the tell tale signs of M$ crapware IE lately when she brings it down to me for troubleshooting purposes.

[Tango12xray]

Thanks for the friendly welcome and feed back. I certainly wouldn't mind becoming an advocate for legal reform so that the open source software development model is protected and encouraged.

[Jman]

There is plenty to do with issues like intellectual property and software patents.

An organization like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (http://eff.org/) is an ideal place to get involved with technology issues.