Resisting the binary blob [LWN.net]

Resisting the binary blob

Posted Nov 15, 2006 1:10 UTC (Wed) by grouch (guest, #27289)
In reply to: Resisting the binary blob by pbardet
Parent article: Resisting the binary blob

It's too bad that viewed from the outside world, FC is one of the major linux distributions and that since it's difficult to get anything done with it, "it must be the same with any other Linux distro".

That's an assumption and a blanket accusation with nothing to back it up.

Some other distros seem to have found a way to simplify user's life by making non free packages accessible, even though they're not part of the standard install.

Most complaints I've heard from people who tried FC and moved on to other distributions focused on the rate of change, not on non-free packages. (Note that this is just as anecdotal, rather than analytical, as your assertions). Newbies seem to want stability and predictability in a desktop. Those who want to race along the bleeding edge are generally quite content to deal with the extra work they have to do because of the occasional crumbling of that edge.

If all distributions were alike in their goals, and all drivers and codecs were non-free, we'd end up with MS. Those who promote binary blobs and non-free software as necessities for usability are promoting homogeneity, wherein all operating systems work the same with all combinations of hardware for all users. I've seen the user experience that results from attempting to attain that goal. No thanks.

I'll keep using my Debian and poking fun at FC users for their unending instability, while at the same time cheering them on. They, in turn, will continue poking fun at my "old" packages, while at the same time making good use of them. Free software encourages experimentation and growth in multiple directions, by any individual or group that chooses to try. Non-free software restricts all users.

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