[wplug] OT: Consumer Reports ignores open source

[vze57qmg at verizon.net]

Thanks for taking a stand and possibly showing someone new out there that M.S. isn't the only way to do things.

BTW - Always ask someone to proof read an important letter before sending it off. Read through your original email and you'll see what I mean.
I am not trying to be negative, just helpful.
I have to re-read everything I type several times as I can never seem to get the keyboard to sync with letters and words in my head on the first try.

-Bob


> 
> From: "Scott F. Kiesling" <kiesling at pitt.edu>
> Date: 2004/08/18 Wed AM 12:10:11 EDT
> To: wplug at wplug.org
> Subject: [wplug] OT: Consumer Reports ignores open source
> 
> 
> Hi all-
> 
> I just read the latest computer reviews and virus tips in Consumer
> Reports. They said students "will need" MSOffice, and otherwise ignored
> all that is open source. Here is what I wrote to them, others may wish to
> add their voice so that maybe they will at least mention the possibility
> in the future.
> 
> SFK
> 
> I just read your September 2004, which was enlightening as usual. Glad to 
> see the Suzuki suit was dismissed.
> 
> I was disappointed by some of your computer coverage, however, especially 
> in its overage of software, which missed some very good, mature 
> but inexpensive programs.
> 
> These are "open source" programs, which means they are free. Talk about 
> value for money! I use completely open-source software on my Dell 
> Inspiron. 
> 
> There are two places specifically where I think your readers are losing
> out by your not mentioning these programs. The first is in the email
> software. Many free browsers (such as Opera and Mozilla) have email
> programs which boast robust anti-span software. Mozilla Thunderbird, an
> email client which runs on pretty much any platform, has some great
> anti-spam features (and BTW it's 'sister' browser Firefox has some nice
> security features as well). These are just some of the possibilities that
> readers might be interested in.
> 
> The second problematic claim is on p.22, where you write that students
> will "probably need" a full version of MS Word. This just fuels the
> Microsoft monopoly. There are many alternatives. I use OpenOffice.org,
> which has ALL of the functionality of MS Office (and some better). DO some
> research and you'll see that no one need to buy Office. I am a faculty
> member, and use OpenOffice.org to share documents with other faculty and
> students; compatibility is not a problem. 
> 
> You will likely be worried about support. This is a non-issue. Support
> from commercial software, from what I hear from colleagues, is useless. On
> the other hand, I find most widely used open-source programs like
> OpenOffice.org, the Mozilla suite, and especially Linux to have 
> excellent support, even though (or maybe because) no one is getting paid
> to provide it.  Support is made up of other users and often the developers
> themselves. The only times I have failed to solve a problem is when it is
> an actual bug in the program, and then it is usually fixed in the next
> version (which I do not have to pay for!), because I told the developers
> about the bug directly. Try doing that with Microsoft. You do not have to 
> have a fast internet link to get these -- one can order CDs on the 
> internet for as little as $5!
> 
> Finally, note also that there are many open-source anti-spam and 
> anti-virus programs, although the best solution is to simply use linux, 
> because viruses are not written for Linux (and when they are, an army of 
> coders instantaneously write patches that fix them).
> 
> You might do an entire issue on Linux and open source; you can steer your 
> readers to programs that work well, and Linux distributions which are easy 
> to use and/or allow them to try Linux without losing their windows. Red 
> Hat, Lindows, Knoppix, and Libranet are among those that people might try.
> 
> I believe passionately in open source. It works. And it offers your 
> readers some of the best value for money there is, so you should tell them
> about it. 
> 
> Sincerely 
> Scott Kiesling
> 
> Links:
> 
> www.openoffice.org
> www.mozilla.org
> www.opera.com
> 
> -- 
> Scott F. Kiesling
> 
> Assistant Professor
> Department of Linguistics
> University of Pittsburgh
>     
> 2816 Cathedral of Learning     Phone: 1-412-624-5916
> Pittsburgh, PA 15217 USA       Fax: 1-412-624-6130
> 
> kiesling at pitt.edu
> http://www.pitt.edu/~kiesling/skpage.html
> http://www.linguistics.pitt.edu
> _______________________________________________
> wplug mailing list
> wplug at wplug.org
> http://www.wplug.org/mailman/listinfo/wplug
>