Re: [school-discuss] Britannica

[William Abernathy <william@inch.com>]

I think it's clear that we're grinding into the old open-source-vs.-free 
software debate. Before this gets out of hand, we should recognize people's 
ability to disagree on this one, and their ultimate ability to vote with their 
feet.

If you and/or your organization believe supporting Brittanica on Linux is a 
sellout of free software ideals, and would not have your time spent filling the 
coffers of un-free Brittanica, then don't work on it. If you want open source 
penetration of the educational market even if it comes at the cost of advancing 
an un-free information resource, you should contemplate supporting the proposed 
project.

Both sides have worthwhile ideals and a point. The virtue of Schoolforge's 
coalition structure is that Schoolforge itself need not opine decisively or 
finally on this matter for both a point to be made and work to be done.

--William

tom poe wrote:

> Hi:  Linux isn't about proprietary software.
> thanks,
> Tom Poe
> Reno, NV
> http://www.studioforrecording.org/
> http://www.ibiblio.org/studioforrecording/
> http://renotahoe.pm.org/
> 
> 
> On Tuesday 28 May 2002 11:03, Doug Loss wrote:
> 
>>Bruno Coudoin wrote:
>>
>>>I am sorry, but I don't see why the free software community should help
>>>porting proprietary software to Linux.
>>>You will port this app for them and then you still have to pay them to
>>>get it. Later if they decide that's a too small market they will stop
>>>their support and we will have nothing at all.
>>>
>>>For sure won't spent a second helping them.
>>>
>>I disagree.  If the lack of a CD-ROM encyclopedia that can be accessed from
>>Linux is keeping Linux from consideration as an alternative to Windows in
>>some schools, then having this software available for Linux can help Linux
>>and free software in general to gain entry to the schools.  Once Linux is
>>in place, efforts can be made to move them to something like Nupedia.  Even
>>if Britannica should decide to withdraw from Linux support, we wouldn't end
>>up with nothing at all--we'd have Linux installed in the schools.
>>
>>--
>>Doug Loss                 All I want is a warm bed
>>Data Network Coordinator  and a kind word and
>>Bloomsburg University     unlimited power.
>>dloss@bloomu.edu                Ashleigh Brilliant
>>
> 
>