We all know there are different kinds of free. The Open Source gang loves to point out that there is free as in beer (no cost) but even better is free as in freedom (the freedom to view, edit and modify the source code of an application). I think it is reasonable to say there is more free than just beer and freedom.
Something I’ve brought up several times is the power of platform independence. That is, the most powerful solution to bring about an end to Windows dominance (an unstated goal of much of the Open Source movement) isn’t to replace it, but to render it irrelevant.
By exterminating the difference between platforms, you give people no reason to pay for Windows. What’s more, you give a new freedom to users with investments in any platform (be it in experience, purchased softare or hardware). This is where the new free somes in.
It is one thing to burn your Windows EULA in effigy, but if you truly want a cause worth winning, why not make it universal access to software regardless of platform? Surely there are plenty of users incapable or uninclined to change operating systems that deserve access to software.
Thus, we really have three kinds of “free” softwares:
And to support my case, you’ll find that the best Open Source software is Platform Universal: Firefox, Gimp, Open Office. Even Linux (the largest distros) is hardware universal. Of course, for practicallity’s sake I’m only looking at Mac/Lin/Win compatibilty.
Most of the benefits of free as in freedom software resides with the developers and power users. To reach everyone, platform independence is the way to go. Maybe it’s better called Free for All.
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September 26th, 2005 at 1:22 am
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