HEY WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT FLUNKING?
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TWENTY-TWO PERCENT. *COMEONNNN*
Yeah but I decimated the Japanese grammar test, but lets not go there.
Linux. Get it. I've made a big speech for english and here it is:
Mornin’, Afternewn gents. (Hale = Boys only)
I am going to be convincing you that the current close-source commercial operating systems and applications that we use on computers today are substandard, unethical and unjust compared to their open-source counterparts, and that we should seriously reconsider our reliance on our current software.
Put more simply: Companies like Microsoft and Apple that sell software like Windows, Office and OS X should not be used, because a free and better alternative, namely Linux or BSD exists.
What makes open-source software better is going to be my main topic of discussion.
Please allow me to clarify further: The word closed-source means that data for a certain computer project is not freely available to anyone, only upon ‘authorisation’ or ‘invitation’. Open-source however, is the complete opposite. Anyone and everyone may view, edit, change, redistribute and more importantly improve an open-source computer project. This is the difference between Windows and Linux.
Linux is distributed the GPL – the General Public License, which guarantees recipients of any GPL computer program the right to use, edit and redistrobute it freely.
Linux is fast emerging as a competitor to Microsoft and Apple. Thousands of tailored distributions exist readily available on the internet for download. The communities for Linux also have a free CD-ROM mailing service available, if downloading such a hefty file is unappealing, or unpractical.
Windows, however, is only available preinstalled onto new computers, in ‘leading’ retail stores. The reason why Linux remains unused by the vast majority of consumers today is because of Microsoft’s business deals with Original Equipment Manufacturers. Consumers usually have no choice over what operating system is preinstalled on their computer! Business deals with computer manufacturing and assembling companies that Microsoft makes is driven by the concept of vendor lock-in. Because Windows is preinstalled onto most new purchasable computers, the consumer has no choice but to use Windows, because Linux hasn’t even been considered, due to its absence of marketing, which Microsoft so actively employs. So the consumer becomes used to Windows, and continues to use Windows as their operating system of choice because Microsoft has manipulated the computer industry.
This is because Microsoft is a business – a company – an empire. Microsoft is driven by profit. Sir Bill Gates himself stated that the whole purpose of Microsoft was to make money. Microsoft isn’t in it to satisfy the customer, it’s the money they’re after. A classic example of this Microsoft’s notorious ‘embrace, extend and extinguish’ tactics, where the company will implement features into Windows that are compatible with competitor’s software, and as a result flatten their competition due to their enormous presence in the computer industry. This activity hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 1998; Microsoft was sued by the US federal Justice Department, supported by 19 US states for attempting to neutralise the competitor web browser Netscape with their own web browser Internet Explorer, and for their business deals with Original Equipment Manufacturers. Microsoft was violating US anti-trust laws.
Linux is, and has always been centred on communities, be they on or offline. What these communities have established is tremendous. Databases of open-source software that these communities maintain are readily accessible, facilitating every computing need: Multimedia, Word Processing, Internet duties and countless other applications. These communities operate internet forums for software support, feedback and suggestions so they can improve Linux and the experience it brings. Linux communities have enabled Linux to run on virtually any type of computer available. iPods, Xboxes, Gameboys, mobile phones, you name it, you’ll be able to obtain a version of Linux for that architecture, and gain more functionality from that device. Linux is even capable of running Windows programs, through the efforts of community development teams. Even if you’re not a hardcore computer programmer, these communities exist to aid you.
The only business aspect of Linux is that some communities charge money for their software support. Other communities seek funding from companies, or advocate donation. This money goes straight back into software development. There are no anti-competitive business deals and theft of software in Linux development, open-source software allows ideas and techniques to be freely shared among communities, resulting in software that is developed with the user in mind.
Final versions of Windows are decided by the investors: They want to make sure they're going to get their money's worth, and its the investors that decide how much of their money is spent on development. A version of Windows might only be half-way through development before being pushed for release! Programmers for Linux have little or no time restraints to release new versions of Linux, and do so little bits at a time – patches and updates for your computer arrive daily – rather than forcing you to make a hefty download or order a CD-ROM in the mail.
Linux's flexible development rewards it with the operating stability it has been world-renowned for. Microsoft's Windows however, is world-renowned for its fatal 'blue screen of death' which would haunt users who dared to stretch a Window's computers limits. Windows is also targettable by various flavours of malicious and intrusive programs known as viruses. A Linux virus has yet to reported. Security is a feature of Linux that has definitely not been rushed.
Programmers are the artists that paint or weave or sculpt the computer software we use today. Microsoft uses these artists and sells their work in a fashion they see is fit, with their exhibition right up the front of the gallery. But we all know, the best stuff is right up back.
Other examples of crushed competition include: WordPerfect and Lotus 1-2-3.
I rest my case.
I have to wear my summer uniform. Fuck. These. Socks. They go up to your knees, and I'm pretty sure if Bishop Hale (God rest his Anglican soul) had his way, they'd keep going. Well as soon as that exam's over I'm outta there.
