Is this about free software?
Posted Dec 16, 2006 1:12 UTC (Sat) by
djabsolut (guest, #12799)
In reply to:
Is this about free software? by vblum
Parent article:
"BadVista.org": FSF launches campaign against Microsoft Vista
... technical superiority was the really important thing; in the end that will promote free software best.
Technical superiority of the Beta video format didn't get it very far in the competition against VHS. From a maket point of view, it's more important to address a specific problem/need/want in a timely manner, with plenty of backing. Whether a particular solution works worse (though not terribly so) than the best solution, is of secondary importance. A relevant example is Sony's Playstation 2: it still steamrolled Xbox 1, not because it was better, but because it was there first.
The same applies to open source software. As much as I like using it because of the freedom it affords (freedom to mix'n'match, freedom to modify, not costing the earth), the Windows "solution" is good enough for 90% of people. It "works" now and has "worked" for a while. It plays DVDs, let's people play games, do word-processing, send emails and browse the web. There is really no compelling reason (though lots of little reasons) for people to switch en masse away from it. Most people don't care about DRM or other issues that are perceived as esoteric and/or philosophical. They just want the bloody thing to work. Case point: open source software needs more than technical superiority.
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