On Monday 03 December 2001 09:21, Robert J Gautier wrote:
On Mon, 3 Dec 2001 RLH@hhc.ac.uk wrote:
I agree with the sentiments expressed below and will also unsubscribe if the list does not return to its prime puropse.
The subject matter seems entirely appropriate to me. I for one would much rather see discussions about events that might make a real difference to use of Open Source Software than about the best choice of Ethernet card.
Call me a late starter if you like, but I'm planning to spend the morning composing a letter to my MP to draw his attention to this topic.
Interestingly, as I have travelled around the country and talked to lay IT users about the issue they are mostly horrified. They don't understand how licensing works and have never thought about it. I would have thought that
If people don't undrestand any software licencing how can they understand the idea of an open source licence?
the purpose of this list was to discuss issues relevant to Open Source software - at least that was why I joined. Freedom of speesch is about improving the level of understanding of issues through debate. Some of the discussions about obscure technical things are of no interest to me but it doesn't induce me to want to unsubscribe. If Open Source is to take off at the desktop, it will not be purely on technical merit - MS have shown that
Indeed it isn't about technical merit *now*. As evidenced by things such as exam EDI (and certain RBCs, check out http://support.swgfl.org.uk/) demanding the use of specific software (typically MSIE) for no good (technical) reason what so ever. Indeed using a web browser for sending files makes no sense *at all* from a systems analysis/software engineering POV.
with DOS. Its all about confidence, politics and marketing. So is the list
Also that competition is very difficult in an environment where someone does not play by the rules, indeed rewrites the rules and sidesteps them. Similar rules as supposedly apply to the NHS also supposedly apply to state schools and LEA's (Possibly also to private schools and universities.) Problem is that when it comes to computers the normal decision making process is sometimes completly ignored.
only about technical issues or about topical discussion on things related to
Some of the things which have originated from the civil service (in this matter) are at least as "technical" as any hardware or software issue....
Open Source? If the former it will become a nurds forum, if the latter it ^^^^^^^^^^^ They could try http://slashdot.org :)
should have far wider appeal.
-- Mark Evans St. Peter's CofE High School Phone: +44 1392 204764 X109 Fax: +44 1392 204763