Re: [OT] Re: Toner refill
>
>
>
>---- Original Message ----
>From: noelamac@gmail.com
>To: debian-user@lists.debian.org
>Subject: Re: [OT] Re: Toner refill
>Date: Fri, 29 Oct 2010 10:29:03 +0000 (UTC)
>
>>On Fri, 29 Oct 2010 04:50:50 -0500, Stan Hoeppner wrote:
>>
>>>>> One of the tenets of FOSS is a free or low cost alternative to
>>>>> commercial software.
>>>>
>>>> Free Software has *never* been about cost.
>>>
>>> Not for the developers, but it certainly has been for many users
>of it.
>>
>>I really hope "cost" is not the only thing users take as their own
>scale
>>for going FLOSS. I would also expect "quality" word appears as one
>one of
>>the most valuated items FLOSS software can provide.
>>
>>> My comments related to the reasons users choose FOSS. One of
>them
>>> certainly is cost. My analogy was that of "Why pay Microsoft $495
>for
>>> Office when Open Office is just as good for most users and is
>free". By
>>> that logic, why pay $75 for a Lexmark toner cartridge when you can
>get a
>>> "compatible" cartridge for $28 that functions identically?
>>
>>That's a very wrong approach, IMO.
>>
>>Here in Spain, MS is reaching agreements with schools and public
>>institutions in order to provide almost at free of cost (just a
>symbolic
>>fee) their products (Windows, MS Office...). And the agreement also
>>includes staff training and tech support on their side. Turn-key
>>solution. All included. No FLOSS company can compete nor provide
>that
>>conditions.
>>
>>Kids will learn how to use MS products and so all government
>workers.
>>
>>Do you still think in this case MS products are better becasue they
>cost
>>"nothing"? I don't think so, unless you understimate your freedom
>:-(
>>
>>Greetings,
>>
>>--
>>Camaleón
>>
>>
I fear this has gone a bit OT but, at least in Engineering Schools,
companies often provide their very expensive analysis and design
software to the Universities for "free". This isn't altruism this is
good business. The companies feel that when the students graduate
and enter industry they will recommend the purchase of the very same
software, thereby increasing the company's market share. Apple does
much the same to the lower division schools.
Larry
>>--
>>To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-REQUEST@lists.debian.org
>>with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact
>listmaster@lists.debian.org
>>Archive: [🔎] pan.2010.10.29.10.29.03@gmail.com">http://lists.debian.org/[🔎] pan.2010.10.29.10.29.03@gmail.com
>>
>>
Reply to: