My brain tends to generate a lot of questions all day long. This latest one has me thinking. Should Open-Source software go more on the offensive and point out any of the faults of proprietary software? Should a website be generated that continuously runs ads pointing out that proprietary software is less-customizable, less secure from virus threats, and doesn't want to be shared? Another part of an ad compaign that would be essential is the fact that very little proprietary software programmers interact with the consumer.Too many folks spend a lot of money to purchase software, whether its a game or a piece of utility software only to discover bugs in it and not be able to do anything about it. Maybe those programmers are out there that like to get feedback and immediately help the consumer but I haven't witnessed any yet. On the flip side, I use finance software called wxBanker. This is a simple tool, but effective. It allows me to see where my money is going without too many buttons to push and so on. Point is, I had an issue that was at the time distinctive to my computer and my situation. I emailed the wxBanker programmer and he responded in due time and fixed my issue. Why would he be willing to help out some random soul when he won't gain from it? Could it be the humanity in him? Would proprietary software programmers respond if they had the chance to?
I'm not sure if going on the offense and pointing out the negatives is the answer or if playing defense and always being criticized is the most effective stance to take.
Source of negatives about proprietary software: http://www.kedah.edu.my/sahc/a_portal/portal_tekvok/ict/nota_com_sys/Microsoft%20Word%20-%20les_57.pdf
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
A Best Buy?
This posting isn't exactly about linux, pro or con. It is more of a rant after a recent observation.
First, I admit that I do shop at Best Buy. Yes, this is actually where this posting gained fruition. I was shopping Best Buy for a certain product. Product aside, I am standing there waiting for service - which I could live with waiting for a few minutes - and I overhear a gentleman, who happens to be purchasing a new computer speaking to a salesperson.
This gentleman asks the salesperson if he would need any more parts to transfer his word document files from one hard drive to another. The salesperson cough-graciously-cough-not-really-cough explains that the tech-people they call a geek squad would do that for him for a measly little fee of 99 dollars.
The gentleman then asks if he would need the new Microsoft Office suite. All honesty in play, I did not hear part of the salesperson's answer. I did hear the tail end of the reply which was something like, and we can get that right over here.
OK, so at this point, I am getting mighty close to the two people to overhear their conversation and the sales person kindly acknowledged me and offers that I will be helped in a moment. That is fine. I didn't hear anymore of their conversation. All I saw was this poor elderly man checking out his new computer and MS Office suite.
After all that, I am just pissed off. Why do these ridiculous sales people take advantage of elderly folks or anyone who doesn't know anything about a specific topic?
Why can't the sales people at this store and any other like it suggest, maybe to only the elderly who aren't rich, that there are alternatives out there, such as LibreOffice?
Why can't people just do what is kind and courteous and offer nice suggestions and tips without having a profit at the end?
I know, I know, it is all for profit. If only I could figure out a way to spread the word to the masses that they have options, choices.
First, I admit that I do shop at Best Buy. Yes, this is actually where this posting gained fruition. I was shopping Best Buy for a certain product. Product aside, I am standing there waiting for service - which I could live with waiting for a few minutes - and I overhear a gentleman, who happens to be purchasing a new computer speaking to a salesperson.
This gentleman asks the salesperson if he would need any more parts to transfer his word document files from one hard drive to another. The salesperson cough-graciously-cough-not-really-cough explains that the tech-people they call a geek squad would do that for him for a measly little fee of 99 dollars.
The gentleman then asks if he would need the new Microsoft Office suite. All honesty in play, I did not hear part of the salesperson's answer. I did hear the tail end of the reply which was something like, and we can get that right over here.
OK, so at this point, I am getting mighty close to the two people to overhear their conversation and the sales person kindly acknowledged me and offers that I will be helped in a moment. That is fine. I didn't hear anymore of their conversation. All I saw was this poor elderly man checking out his new computer and MS Office suite.
After all that, I am just pissed off. Why do these ridiculous sales people take advantage of elderly folks or anyone who doesn't know anything about a specific topic?
Why can't the sales people at this store and any other like it suggest, maybe to only the elderly who aren't rich, that there are alternatives out there, such as LibreOffice?
Why can't people just do what is kind and courteous and offer nice suggestions and tips without having a profit at the end?
I know, I know, it is all for profit. If only I could figure out a way to spread the word to the masses that they have options, choices.
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