Recently, I was in to some arguments with Apple/Microsoft
fanboys. As usual, a lone GNU/Linux defender, I was made to fight my own way
out. But just one simple argument brought them down. So, I feel, this
argument is worth sharing so that similarly trapped freedom-freaks can use
it... The argument is none other than FREEDOM and CHOICE!!! ;-)
The points put forward by Apple/Microsoft fanboys include, ease of use, eye-candy, availability of third party apps, more number of games, media, powerful hardware and GUI based tools etc.
Though we can counter the arguments in every front, there is no much room in such arguments when the opposition is deaf to whatever you claim. For example, I quoted that top ten of TOP500 run GNU/Linux (ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOP500). But the problem is they are not aware of TOP500! Likewise, they have many misconceptions like GNU/Linux = bash. They never heard about Gnome, KDE etc. So let us waste no time in explaining them the more technical aspects of our choice for GNU/Linux. Let us attack them for lack of freedom compared to GNU/Linux. Freedom is the cornerstone of the entire GNU/Linux/BSD Free and Open Source Software movement (FOSS). It is not about money or ease of use or anything else.
Consider this example. Once there lived two archers. One of them is better at shooting arrows than the another. But the better one worked for gang of robbers while the other chose to work for the local scout troop. One day the situation made both of them to face each other. The one that was better skilled killed 3 of the men in scout troop, including the lesser skilled archer. But at last, few other men from the scout troop managed to thwart the robbery and killed/chased the gang members. Ultimately, the 3 who sacrificed their life for the public good were celebrated and remembered real heroes, not the one who was able to kill 3 of the opponents within seconds.
Yes! It is more paying to be in the gang of robbers. And there are some cult like following for evil people like Hitler or Osama, while good people who dared to sacrifice their life for sake of others left unnoticed. How many of you can tell the name of American soldier who shot Osama without Googling? Strictly speaking the one who had more talent ended up in the apt place where his skills are valued, recognized and can be materialized as monetary gains. Survival of the fittest, right? WRONG! This type of silly arguments can be used to justify anything from petty theft to inhumane crimes like rape or murder. Imagine this "I can beat and tie you up and steal your money! Survival of the fittest!!" Is that acceptable?
Similarly, technical people should also have some sort of ethics and responsibility towards the tech-community at worst and public at best. It is out of moral responsibility that we should be supporting Free software/Open source movements. We should choose to be a scout even if we get paid lesser and get lesser visibility. If a doctor claims to have invented cure for cancer by mixing existing pain killer and vitamins (neither of them is invented by him), but patents the same that, anyone who produces or uses the medicine should lick his boots, won't you protest? The same is happening everywhere in the so called "tech giants". That is the exact same reason why death of Dennis Ritchie, who made C programming language and co-invented Unix, is ignored entirely while Steve Jobs, mixed up existing technologies in to a cotton candy for kids, is canonized as "Patron saint of Technology"!
So, it is very bad to just consider the mere profit or benefits, while ignoring the impact in entirety. The locked nature of Microsoft and Apple is causing more harm than good. How much money is wasted in buying laptops where you are forced to pay for a licence of Windows even if you are NEVER going to use it? What about your inability to replace a battery in iPhone? You can't install what you want even after "buying" both the hardware and software?!? Even if you are selling your freedom, they should be paying you! But where in the world and what type of fool will pay for selling his own freedom! If you don't realize what you are missing in Apple/Microsoft products but you can quickly point out that there is something missing here and there in GNU/Linux or BSD, then you are just like saying "I am content with this prison. It is more safe, guarded by police, and I get food on time without doing any hard labor and the cell is painted in the way I wanted"
The points put forward by Apple/Microsoft fanboys include, ease of use, eye-candy, availability of third party apps, more number of games, media, powerful hardware and GUI based tools etc.
Though we can counter the arguments in every front, there is no much room in such arguments when the opposition is deaf to whatever you claim. For example, I quoted that top ten of TOP500 run GNU/Linux (ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOP500). But the problem is they are not aware of TOP500! Likewise, they have many misconceptions like GNU/Linux = bash. They never heard about Gnome, KDE etc. So let us waste no time in explaining them the more technical aspects of our choice for GNU/Linux. Let us attack them for lack of freedom compared to GNU/Linux. Freedom is the cornerstone of the entire GNU/Linux/BSD Free and Open Source Software movement (FOSS). It is not about money or ease of use or anything else.
Consider this example. Once there lived two archers. One of them is better at shooting arrows than the another. But the better one worked for gang of robbers while the other chose to work for the local scout troop. One day the situation made both of them to face each other. The one that was better skilled killed 3 of the men in scout troop, including the lesser skilled archer. But at last, few other men from the scout troop managed to thwart the robbery and killed/chased the gang members. Ultimately, the 3 who sacrificed their life for the public good were celebrated and remembered real heroes, not the one who was able to kill 3 of the opponents within seconds.
Yes! It is more paying to be in the gang of robbers. And there are some cult like following for evil people like Hitler or Osama, while good people who dared to sacrifice their life for sake of others left unnoticed. How many of you can tell the name of American soldier who shot Osama without Googling? Strictly speaking the one who had more talent ended up in the apt place where his skills are valued, recognized and can be materialized as monetary gains. Survival of the fittest, right? WRONG! This type of silly arguments can be used to justify anything from petty theft to inhumane crimes like rape or murder. Imagine this "I can beat and tie you up and steal your money! Survival of the fittest!!" Is that acceptable?
Similarly, technical people should also have some sort of ethics and responsibility towards the tech-community at worst and public at best. It is out of moral responsibility that we should be supporting Free software/Open source movements. We should choose to be a scout even if we get paid lesser and get lesser visibility. If a doctor claims to have invented cure for cancer by mixing existing pain killer and vitamins (neither of them is invented by him), but patents the same that, anyone who produces or uses the medicine should lick his boots, won't you protest? The same is happening everywhere in the so called "tech giants". That is the exact same reason why death of Dennis Ritchie, who made C programming language and co-invented Unix, is ignored entirely while Steve Jobs, mixed up existing technologies in to a cotton candy for kids, is canonized as "Patron saint of Technology"!
So, it is very bad to just consider the mere profit or benefits, while ignoring the impact in entirety. The locked nature of Microsoft and Apple is causing more harm than good. How much money is wasted in buying laptops where you are forced to pay for a licence of Windows even if you are NEVER going to use it? What about your inability to replace a battery in iPhone? You can't install what you want even after "buying" both the hardware and software?!? Even if you are selling your freedom, they should be paying you! But where in the world and what type of fool will pay for selling his own freedom! If you don't realize what you are missing in Apple/Microsoft products but you can quickly point out that there is something missing here and there in GNU/Linux or BSD, then you are just like saying "I am content with this prison. It is more safe, guarded by police, and I get food on time without doing any hard labor and the cell is painted in the way I wanted"
