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From: Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid>
Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-11,comp.os.linux.advocacy
Subject: Re: [OT] Re: The problem with not owning the software
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 2025 06:47:34 -0000 (UTC)
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On Sun, 5 Jan 2025 03:25:55 +0000, Sn!pe wrote:

> Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> wrote:
> 
>> On Sun, 5 Jan 2025 01:50:21 +0000, Sn!pe wrote:
>> 
>>> There is far more to computing for the vast majority of users than
>>> the ability to run open-source.  Get real!
>>>
>> The reality is, just about the entire computing ecosystem nowadays is
>> crucially dependent on open source at some point. There is no longer
>> any getting away from it. It underlies everything.
>>
> Maybe so, but ... the users (those 99% of
> people who use their computers as tools not toys) neither need to know
> that nor do they care about it.

Open Source is like the car with a bonnet you can open. Most users never 
look under the bonnet of their car. So why not sell cars with sealed 
bonnets?

Because a car with a bonnet that can be opened can be serviced by any 
competent mechanic -- you don’t have to take your car back to the 
manufacturer for everything. Imagine how expensive car maintenance would 
be if the original manufacturer had a monopoly on it--and how much more 
likely they would be to tell you that it is unfixable and must be 
replaced, just because they would rather sell you a new model. It is free-
market competition that keeps prices down, and gives you such a choice of 
market products.

Open Source brings free-market competition to the software industry.