Free and Proprietary Software

[Chops]

This is a pretty good article describing the rabidness of open source advocates (particularly the Free Software Foundation and Richard Stallman). Indeed, Slashdot can be a pretty unwelcome place for market friendly computer folks.

http://mattmaroon.com/?p=400

It’s hard to argue that the man who was the world’s richest for decades could have somehow done better for himself or his shareholders, or the world at large. It’s obvious that up to this point, proprietary software has created a vibrant ecosystem and immense profits that probably would not have existed were all software open source. It’s driven the computer revolution, which is the most significant shift in technology and user behavior in living memory. It may be that the tide is turning, and it’s becoming easier every day to make money from open technologies as well. But Bill totally won round 1.

It's a pretty refreshing article.

[DragonMaci]

It may be that the tide is turning, and it’s becoming easier every day to make money from open technologies as well. But Bill totally won round 1.

It is largely possible because Gates won the first round. He helped largely to make computers so affordable. My current PC is magnitudes more powerful than the one my grandfather had when he was alive yet it was equally less in price. Also, a lot software runs on WIndows, even only Windows in some cases, making them reliant on the propriety software known as Windows to stay such; Windows wouldn't do so well if it was not profit creating.