At the weekend I spent a bit of time with the family. Normally we don't talk about Linux, Ubuntu and Free Software much, but given my passion it can come up now and then. Sometimes I meet people who don't know about my passion and they (foolishly sometimes) ask about it.
I was a little disappointed at the weekend because when asked why I didn't use Windows someone in the family said "because he hates Bill Gates". This made me sad for a number of reasons.
- The reason I use Linux, Ubuntu and Free Software is because I believe software should be free to use. I believe that I should be able to use my own computer without a software vendor restricting me.
- The person who thought I only run Ubuntu because I "hate Bill Gates" clearly doesn't appreciate why I don't run windows. Maybe a little subtle education is required there.
- I don't hate Bill Gates, I find the business practices of his company distasteful and dislike many of their badly flawed products, but I'm sure he's just a regular guy like everyone else.
There are of course many other reasons I use free and open software, but at a family event I didn't want to beat the drum too much - it can make people feel uneasy.
Why I hate Bill Gates And all others on Microsoft + Balmer
This is because it loozy and badly produced software with alot of bugs and security holes!
I also hates all people that have forced me and others to used Microsoft Programs and Operating Systems with Loozy and bad quality!
The main reason for that I want to spend my time to be productive and not spend alot of time struggle with Microsoft bugs and there strange behavior!
Yes the software is cheap but if the really include the waste of time what the employer spend to find and fins a workaround (or fix (witch is impossible) bugs in the Operating System (Windowx) or Programs (Internet Explorer or Office):
I was an previously happy Wordperfect user and then Microsoft destroyed that dream!
..... I agree with Al.
I actually really like some microsoft products, and Gates seems quite an interesting character despite any greed issues his company might have, but as a recent convert to Ubuntu on my home PC (I've been running it on the laptop for over a year now) I agree with what you said about the working practices of the evil empire and that software should be free and unrestricted.
It's that Steve Ballmer I hate! :-)
Nige......
Haha
You don't know how close I came to adding to the end of this blog entry a bit about hating Ballmer! :D
Just managed to hold myself back :)
Unfortunatly you are not the
Unfortunatly you are not the only person to be tarred with the brush of the slashdot crowd, luckly I see the tide of change coming and its waves already pattering at our feat. Most of the time people i know are more inquisitive and i get to explain my reasons why i am not a fan of microsoft and why i use free software, its only the odd guy who yells something like 'because he hates bill gates' and then i get to prove why infact, i don't hate bill gates and that he should feel ashamed for saying such a stereotype ;)
Yeah
I've heard that a couple of times, although normally it's more "hates Microsoft". Neither of which is true, of course, but it's difficult to explain the depth of disdain for a companies practices without people assuming that you hate the company as a whole.
There is definitely still a huge amount of PR work to be done, sadly. And it's not been helped by the number of FLOSS people who have "jumped ship" and decided that they really are simply anti-Microsoft, and are quite happy to run Mac OSX..... [/rant]
Hi all, I believe the only
Hi all,
I believe the only reason why people hates Microsoft is due to the fact that it is such a giant.
Personally Ubuntu is great. I mean I am not much of a professional guy but the 1st thing I realized after using it was that it didn't allow me to waste time at all. I mean with Ms Windows. Even if I have nothing to do I can always pass time/waste with its interface, file structure. I mean, the Ms approach is to let me find ways to help myself. But Ubuntu is very nice and direct.
Bill Gates is a nice guy. I have never seen any other C.E.O of a major company spend millions of dollars to the helpless, and still people complaints that he is not spending enough.
Now we have many alternatives to Ms. But just imagine The current scenario a world without Ms. Life would be very difficult and complicated.
Just a thought.
When you have that much money
What are you going to do with it other than give it away to charity?
Yes, it's admirable that the Bill and Melinda Foundation are doing good work in Africa to fight Aids. As I understand it the B&MF is predominantly financed by Microsoft. Microsoft are primarily financed by the sales of proprietary operating system software and office productivity suites.
Just because *some* of the massive profit made by Microsoft goes to charity doesn't legitimise their decidedly dodgy - and in some cases illegal business practices.
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