Free Software

Like nearly everyone else these days, I use computers to write, read email, browse the web, store music and photos, and generally organize my life. Unlike most people, I'm using a free operating system, rather than Microsoft's Windows/Vista, or Apple's Mac OS. Specifically, I'm using Ubuntu, a popular distribution of GNU/Linux.

Ubuntu is but one of many free software distributions. Distrowatch lists 10 major and more than 100 minor Linux and free BSD distributions, many of which are minor remixes of a handful of the major distributions.

I would encourage others to think about migrating to Linux. It's now possible to buy laptops from Dell with Ubuntu pre-installed, or to install Linux on one of your computers, either as the sole operating system, or as one that co-exists with Windows or the Mac OS.

Why would anyone try Linux? Well, it does put some fun back into computing, and the newer distributions are both powerful and elegant, with eye candy, cool programs, a very good usability. There's more, however. Linux is truly a "free" operating system, with an emphasis on freedom. It is created by and for users, and as a platform, it creates a different relationship between the users and the Internet than do the Microsoft or Apple commercial alternatives. It's also an important experiment in how information technologies are created and managed, and the success of the experiment depends somewhat on the ability to attract users.

It's hard to explain the experience without trying it. Using any Debian type Linux distribution (such as Ubuntu), it is very easy to find, install and update software. Pretty much everything I use is available at a zero price. Linux isn't a program, but rather a collection of thousands of programs that work together, each maintained by different communities. Most share the source code they develop, allowing others to copy, modify and incorporate code into new and even competing programs.

The most popular office productivity software is now from OpenOffice.Org, a project supported by Sun, IBM and many individuals and small firms. Version 1 of Open Office was lousy. Version 2 was much better, and I'm looking forward to Version 3, which will be released soon. Firefox is the most important of more than a dozen web browers that run on Linux. An increasing number of commercial products work on Linux, such as Google Earth, Google' Picasa, Adobe's Acrobat Reader and Flash. Most of what people expect on a laptop already works well on Linux, but that is not really the main point. Linux is a possible future, one that isn't controlled by Microsoft or Apple, and one that responds to a different set of values. Ubuntu is so good that it now seems plausible to anticipate a significant shift from Apple and Microsoft to Linux. This would be no small thing, increasing the odds that the Internet will continue to develop in ways that empowers users. Linux provides a powerful counterweight to companies or governments that undermine innovation, privacy and freedom, benefits that should not be taken for granted or undervalued.

Both Microsoft and Apple want Linux to fail as a "client" operating system. Apple has yet to support the open document format (ODF), or make its popular iTunes or Safari programs available for Linux. Microsoft has not released its widely used Microsoft Office program for Linux, and is pushing for a series of proprietary or Microsoft controlled file formats that are not fully implemented on the Linux platform. Governments can help by using procurement policies to ensure that data formats can be implemented by more than one software program in at least the three leading operating systems, something that will be explored in some global forums.

In general however, it will be important for individuals to switch to Linux, not only from Microsoft, but also from Apple. Today many free software proponents don't use free software themselves. Because of this, they often don't fully understand or appreciate the ways the platform works, the policies (by individuals, organizations, regulators or governments) that would make it work better, or the interesting ways that innovation is created and managed in an environment where knowledge becomes community property. I'd like to use analogies to better explain the difference between talking about free software and using free software, and I'm sure there are plenty -- is reading about sex the same as having sex? Can you really understand foreign policy without visiting foreign countries?

Today there are enormous pressures to monopolize data formats, control multimedia content delivery to users, introduce deep systems of surveillance into the networks, and other disturbing trends. There are also very powerful examples of the benefits of more openness, freedom, competition and collaboration. There is, I believe, an increasingly important social aspect of personally embracing the use of free software. There are of course some challenges, rough edges here and there -- nothing like even a few years ago, but they do exist. But they are manageable for many users.

Because of the stakes, people should increasingly be thinking of free software as a social movement. It is not only about a small number of programmers and engineers. It is about everyone who cares about the future of knowledge ecosystems.

Follow James Love on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jamie_love

Comments

[recless]

Gotta give MS credit. Most PCs are so over-powered simply so they can run the OS. Look at what most users use them for, and the biggest and hogish program on the system is the OS. Still, the one huge advantage of Windows is it allows users to stay... um... how to say this... ah.... dumb? If these Linux distributions can get to the point where they install and run reasonably as well as Windows, then and only then will people change over. I think they like staying dumb.

In any case, there is a big market where Linux will have a real advantage coming down the pike. When you need an OS for a refrigerator, your lawn mower, or your Asimo robot, are you going to use something that can be easily configured and won't use up much space, or use Windows Powered.

[James Love - Huffpost Blogger]

Most people don't install the operating system themselves -- it comes pre-installed when they buy a computer. Today Ubuntu is actually easier to install than the Microsoft OS, assuming that Ubuntu finds your video, sound, WiFi, bluetooth and web cam devices (which is often does these days).

The Linux based Asus eepcs, the Dell Mini 9, and other "netbooks" are popular, and easy to use. To install new software designed for the Ubuntu/Debian platform, you just need to bring up "package manager," and search for the program names and mark them for installation. The program then finds them on the Internet, downloads and installs them, including menu links. It is that easy to remove them too.

Linux is already used as the operating system for most wireless WiFi routers and many mobile phones.

[Aaror]

(part 2)
I mean, heck, it took me 4 days to figure out apt-get,. Then I discover that there was a tab for add/remove programs that did everything apt-get does without the typing.
Guess what, everyone who is reading this who doesn't have Linux is saying "apt-get, what is that?" The Linux users are thinking "How could anyone not know apt-get." That gulf is why Linux doesn't triple it's market share or more.
I mean heck, Vista is Microsoft BEGGING users to switch to anything but windows, now is the time for Linux to change and take advantage of it.

[Aaror]

I kept trying to teach myself Linux (for about 8 years now), but had a dickens of a time understanding it or installing it. I am an old DOS hacker, who lost most of my computer skills that don't involve Excel cause I got a job. I finally bought a Dell with Ubuntu, and I have to say the problem is not (initially) the user, it is the support.
I don't mean that there is not a large, amazing community of folks who will bend over backwards to help a new user, I mean that most of the support assumes you are technically skilled. I am a complete "noob," who has some skills from way back in terms of research and "feel," for computers, so I am getting the hang of it. But it could be a lot easier.
Until it is easier, no amount of pleeding will get the average user to switch, they will find it harder the first few days and give up. If we can put ideas for starting projects to quickly learn the OS on (for example) the Ubuntu main page or forums we may have a chance.

[joebaggadonuts]

Ya, and Ima gwanna make my own moonshine and biodiesel too!

[canadapundit]

As a long time user of Linux I am happy to see more and more people taking notice of the advances in the Linux desktop environment best exemplified by Ubuntu.

However I am always dismayed to see statements such as yours that, "people should increasingly be thinking of free software as a social movement". I believe this attitude causes, or at least excuses, deficiencies in open-source software.

Linux developers need to concentrate on creating better products then their competitors. This "social movement" mentality is frequently used as a shield against those of us who voice concerns about poor documentation, a lack of drivers for new hardware, and a steep learning curve for new users.

We need to get down off the soap-box put our money where our mouths are and work to make sure open-source software is a better product, not just a better ideology.

[James Love - Huffpost Blogger]

Even if one was only interested in getting the best software, there is a significant benefit when more people switch to Linux. As the market share increases, so too will the efforts at improving the platform, and writing drivers or porting programs to run on the platform. As more people use Linux, the easier it will be to find documentation, and friends that can solve some of the annoying problems that one confronts, including the issues that come with the transition to any new operating system where some things are different (or the problems that can be fixed in updated versions of software).

There was a time when the Internet was quite inferior to private networks, such as Compuserve or America Online. But the underlying concepts for the Internet were revolutionary, and a lot of people understood the benefits of the platform succeeding. For a long time, Linux was really a chore for most people, and it was hard to recommend. Things have changed a lot, and Ubuntu in particular is making a good case for Linux as a client OS.

Many technically savvy computer users are using the Apple OS these days. But Apple is increasingly acting badly in areas such as DRM, lack of support for open file formats, and consumer lock-in. I think it is time for people to reassess their commitment to the Apple platform, and to consider Linux. I'm even thinking I made a mistake getting my mother to buy a Mac.

[WASanford]

I tried Ubunto but I had a terrible time trying to set it up. There is a very large list of programs you can use with it, but there's little in the way of describing just what they all do. I bought Solaris from sun, it has a more professional and polished look to it. I'm in the process of getting used to it now and I haven't yet migrated from windows yet. I also have an old machine in our back bedroom what I'm fixing up to try SUSE on.

I couldn't agree with you more about escaping from Microsoft and Apple. After using Microsoft software all the way from DOS to Windows XP I've had it with them. They keep coming out with new versions of their software and drop support for what you have on your machine forcing you to re buy your operating system over and over and over again. As soon as I feel competent with Linix, I dropping them for a change.

[charon]

I love Linux. Excellent, computer runs better, loving not having to deal with all the security issues of Windows. I run Firefox with it, hope to try the new Google browser soon, though.

[radiojunkie]

I checked out the reviews on download.com. 3.5 out of 5 stars. Wubi allows you to keep an existing Windows platform and experience Ubuntu as an application. Sounds like a good way to test drive LInux before making the switch. Lots of positive reviews. The download mirrors listed in the article look like they charge a fee to download.

One of the complaints is that it takes several hours to download with a 1.5 Mbps broadband connection.

[James Love - Huffpost Blogger]

One cool way to try Ubuntu is to download the installation disk, and then copy it to a USB thumb drive, using a program called UNetbootin, which you can download from the Internet. This creates a USB drive that can boot a computer, including a laptop. You may have to change the computer set-up instructions to look for a USB boot device before the hard drive, but once you do it this, it works very well. Not only does it boot up in Ubuntu, but you can install additional software, and keep data on the USB drive, without touching the computer's internal hard drive. If you decide that you like Ubuntu enough, you can at a later point install Ubuntu on the hard drive.

[vippy]

OMG, sounds too technical for me so I better not mess with it, I am always good
in crashing my computers.

[mommadona]

It would help tremendously if instructions and such were in LAYPERSON terms - moving away from geekdom into actual user-friendly environment.

I'm kinda over the "Dungeons and Dragons" mentality.

It should be simple enough for a harried mother of 2 to do on a weekday evening after 10:30pm.

Eh?

[ToonMoene]

You Bet:

/home/user> ssh moene.indiv.nluug.nlug.nl
Linux super 2.6.26-1-amd64 #1 SMP Thu Aug 28 11:13:42 UTC 2008 x86_64

The programs included with the Debian GNU/Linux system are free software;
the exact distribution terms for each program are described in the
individual files in /usr/share/doc/*/copyright.

Debian GNU/Linux comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY, to the extent
permitted by applicable law.
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