Kai Ponte wrote:
Per Inge Oestmoen wrote:
and more compelling reasons why we should use Linux. Namely, Product Activation. Who in his or her right mind would entrust his/her personal files and data to a computer whose software cannot be installed without "permission" from a software company and permanent dependence on the availability of a specific activation service to be able to access one's files?
Actually, most software vendors require this. Autodesk, Kofax, IBM/FileNet, EMC all come to mind.
I use Cinepaint, Bibble Pro, Open Office, Audacity for my production. None of these programs have ever been activation crippled or phoned home. For those software programs that are so crippled, all people have to do is to say no to the nonsense. Software that cannot be run independent of its manufacturer is defect, and should be treated accordingly. Servility and cowardice are two serious scourges of humanity, and we would have a better world (albeit a less 'peaceful' one) if people could stop respecting false authorities and thus cease to believe in the rightfulness of institutions and persons that are perceived to be mighty in one way or another. Without a doubt, the main problem lies with the tendency to give up liberty for peace and freedom for the safety that lies in letting someone considered stronger to "protect" yourself. Only self-empowerment and the end of irrational respect for those who are viewed as stronger than oneself can remedy that situation.
Even with Linux versions, you still often have to possess a licence key that either phones home or has some local activation.
This has never been the case with (open) SuSE, Fedora or Kubuntu. If "local activation" means the typing in of a serial number it cannot be compared to Product Activation, even if it is still an unnecessary nuisance. But any program that phones home has to be rejected without fail. Since laws can be bought and are also bought, software companies have purchased laws that defend themselves against their customers. It is up to these customers to put an end to that. It is we who use the programs who should define the premises for their use. Per Inge Oestmoen -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org