Hi,
El mar, 26-03-2002 a las 00:48, Benedikt Wildenhain escribió:
Marcus, I really think that you undertake the importance that Linux has had in the spread of Free Software ideas.
AFAIK Linux only spread open source ideas.
I don't think so. Most Linux users talk about and understand what Free Software is and means.
I do not believe that. There is a growing number of Linux users who do not know gnu, fsf, lugs or anything like that. Of course, they are more ore less invisible to the community, as they have no contact to us. I know some people who do not know the difference between Linux and a certain Linux distribution. For example, last week my uncle told me that there was only a little Linux booth on the Cebit. After some questions I knew he was referring only to SuSE. I told him there is more than distribution on the world serveral times before. And I am sure there are alread many, too many linux users. Perhaps the FSF Europe should not only try to spread the principles of free software, but also try to encourage the distributors to emphasize (or at least mention) the principles and tell their users about the community.
I think this is interesting, as it means that Linux is reaching "normal" user level. I haven't seen this myself.
I think that Distributors could make a better job as you suggest, but I think some are afraid of publicly promoting free software (the usual free software/open source marketing problem). I think these fears haven't good reasons, but...
They also try to emphasize the product's technical characteristics, and forget license/formal ones.
Regards.