[kwlug-disc] OT: "No I will not fix your computer."

[Bob Jonkman]

CrankyOldBugger wrote:
> corporate world. There are licenses to buy for Linux there.

But the licenses you buy for GNU/Linux are support/maintenance
contracts.  You have to buy those for Windows too, in *addition* to the
licenses you buy just to have the software on the premises.

John Kerr and I were chatting off-list, and I mentioned that I'd like to
see his presentation on "The Economics of Free Software". I missed it at
SFD2012 because of a timing issue (mea culpa). John said "Sounds good",
so I'm hoping the KWLUG Scheduling Committee can fit him in, maybe March
2014?

--Bob.



On 13-11-02 03:35 PM, CrankyOldBugger wrote:
> I read somewhere that the cost of purchasing a Windows PC is only 10% of
> the total cost of ownership.
> 
> However... we must remember that FOSS isn't free as in beer in a corporate
> world.  There are licenses to buy for Linux there.  My rule of thumb is
> that if you use the computer to make money, then you should pay the
> developers.  If it's just your own computer for learning or playing, then
> ok.  But we mustn't think that Linux grows on trees.  Developers need to
> eat too!
> 
> Despite what MS says, Linux is still far far far cheaper to install and
> maintain than Windows.  And it runs a darn sight better!
> 
> 
> 
> On 2 November 2013 14:04, John Kerr <johneddie.kerr at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Hi Rashkae
>>
>> Well everything that you have said confirms what we Penguinistas have been
>> saying about Windows' hidden costs of ownership.
>>
>> I wish that I had the link to a news story about a school system in Great
>> Britain that saved mega bucks (pounds) by switching to Linux. Just the
>> relief of not having to keep track of system disks and licences alone was a
>> substantial savings.
>>
>> I wish people would understand that it is better to pay someone like you
>> to do the work that they would rather not do -- like installing an
>> operating system. Better to pay you, a person in our local economy, up to
>> $100.00 to install Linux than to buy a system with Windows installed but
>> done in some foreign country.
>>
>>
>> Thanks or sharing
>>
>> John
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Nov 1, 2013 at 12:45 PM, Rashkae <rashkae at tigershaunt.com> wrote:
>>
>>> On 13-11-01 12:17 PM, John Kerr wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> So would you agree that repairing a Linux computer would be more time
>>>> efficient?
>>>>
>>>> Restoring email, browsers and data would be the same effort as in Windows
>>>> but at least the applications would be a breeze.
>>>>
>>>>
>>> That can depend.  Absolutely, without question, installing and updating
>>> Linux is *way* faster and more time efficient... Unbelievably faster.
>>>
>>> However, the wealth of options and customizations can be it's own trap.
>>>  I'm not really happy with any of the current Linux desktops as they ship,
>>> and at least on my own system, end up spending way more time tweaking and
>>> customizing to my taste.  I think it's great that Linux offers all these UI
>>> options, and everything works amazingly well together, considering.
>>>  (although, on a side rant, wtf is with the GTK guys... Every new point
>>> release breaks all gtk themes, so now you have to hunt for themes that were
>>> released specifically for the point release of gtk shipped with your
>>> distro?? Insanity)
>>>
>>>
>>> PS.  I don't charge bench time, because if I'm leaving a system
>>> unattended, the process can take 1 or 2 days, since I only get back to it
>>> opportunistically.  OTOH, I charge less for that.  If you have 3 or more
>>> benches, you can do multiple systems at the same time, and get better
>>> efficiency that way.  However, it's relatively rare that I have more than 1
>>> or 2 computers in 'shop' at the same time, since my service business is
>>> mostly mobile, not drop in.


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