I think this sums up using computers in my experience. Thanks to Martin Seekatz for the Windows / Unix lines. I made up the Linux one my self.
Microsoft makes the easy stuff easy, and the rest impossible. Unix makes everything possible, but nothing too easy. Linux make some stuff easy, and everything possible.
What’s your experience?
Maybe you’ve heard us talk about free or open source software. What’s the big deal? If it’s free of cost, then it seems more people are interested. But, this article delves into some really good issues to think about with regards to computers and software.
Protecting user freedoms and the hard work of software developers are the core principles of Free Software. In a world where a typical commercial EULA springs from a rather customer-unfriendly perspective, because it disavows the vendor of all responsibility, carries no warranty, and dictates how you can use the software…
Sound familiar? Read the license for any software you pay for. Read on for all of Carla’s points: Free Software: Who’s Looking Out for You?
Ever wonder why we throw so much stuff out? When we don’t have to pay the full cost of waste, throw away products are cheaper than those that last.
But, there is more to it than that. Issues of culture, history and economy all play a part. You can read more about it in an article by Elizabeth Grossman. The most heartening part of the article for me is that planned obsolescence is an American invention and that other countries do not have to follow their lead. In fact, Germany as begun to pass legislation to combat planned obsolescence.
We need to wake up! An economy built on making more products because they wear out fast and need to be replaced is not a good long term strategy. Start exercising your consumer choice and buy well built items and look after them.