[Office-commits] r10063 - trunk/campaigns

[sysadmin]

Author: www-data
Date: Thu Oct  8 10:30:10 2009
New Revision: 10063

Log:
web commit by holmes

Modified:
   trunk/campaigns/osfreewhy.mdwn

Modified: trunk/campaigns/osfreewhy.mdwn
==============================================================================
--- trunk/campaigns/osfreewhy.mdwn      Thu Oct  8 10:15:35 2009        (r10062)
+++ trunk/campaigns/osfreewhy.mdwn      Thu Oct  8 10:30:10 2009        (r10063)
@@ -1,8 +1,16 @@
+HW COMMENT-- You might need to rework this, or you might be able to get away 
with just adding the bits and pieces I'm recommending.  
+
 An Operating System is a very large piece of software on your computer that 
allows you to run other programs.  Some common operating systems are Windows 7, 
Windows Vista, Windows XP, MacOS X, and GNU/Linux.  
 
-The operating system is not built in to the computer (hardware).  A user can 
change their operating system to something that is easier to use, or more well 
suited to their needs.  Most computers in the world run some version of 
Windows.  This is not an inherent problem.  But because Microsoft does not 
respect the users' freedoms, it is a cause for concern.
+The operating system is not built-in to the computer.  A user can change their 
operating system to something that is easier to use, or more well suited to 
their needs.  Most computers in the world run some version of Windows.  This is 
not an inherent problem.  But because Microsoft does not respect the users' 
freedoms, it is a cause for concern.
+
+HW COMMENT-- Talk more about what an operating system does.  When you start up 
your computer and see a logo or hear a sound play, that's the operating system. 
 When your laptop goes into hibernate mode, that's the operating system.  When 
you connect a new piece of hardware (like a USB stick or a camera) its the 
operating system that allows the programs you're running to talk to that 
device.  The web browser you use to read the news, or check the weather is not 
an operating system: most operating systems have many different web browsers 
available, even if only one comes pre-installed.  But when you start your web 
browser (or any other program) it's the operating system that starts that 
process.
+
+HW COMMENT-- FSF's position is that non-free software and the widespread use 
of it is an inherent problem.  You could say, "While which operating system is 
technically superior is the subject much debate, the main issue is whether it 
respects your freedom".  But Windows is a problem.  Also, I think we're 
currently making a bunch of arguments why windows is technically inferior on 
windows7sins.  
+
+HW COMMENT-- Also make the case why operating systems are so *important*.  The 
operating system determines in part what people who write programs for your 
computer can do.  If an operating system wants to make it impossible for 
programs to access the DVD or Blu-ray disk in certain ways, it can do that.  If 
the maker of the operating system wanted to control what applications you were 
allowed to run (as Apple does on the iPhone) they can do this too.
 
-If Microsoft (the maker of Windows) respected its users' freedoms, Windows 
could be great.  The same is true for MacOS(and Apple).  What does it mean to 
respect a user's freedoms?  Free Software is software that respects a user's 
freedoms. It is free as in freedom (libre in Spanish), not free as in 
without-charge (gratis in Spanish).  For this reason Free Software is often 
known as Software Libre.  The Free Software Foundation maintains a definition 
of what it means for software to be free.  These freedoms are: 
+If Microsoft (the maker of Windows) respected its users' freedoms, Windows 
could be great.  The same is true for MacOS (and Apple).  What does it mean to 
respect a user's freedoms?  Free Software is software that respects a user's 
freedoms. It is free as in freedom (libre in Spanish), not free as in 
without-charge (gratis in Spanish).  For this reason Free Software is often 
known as Software Libre.  The Free Software Foundation maintains a definition 
of what it means for software to be free.  These freedoms are: 
 
 * The freedom to run the program, for any purpose