Just a question for all Free Software Users from a Student
I know but I was hopping to use it only in server mode :S One more dream broken xD I will see Rhombus Tech (never heard of it).
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On 19/09/12 00:54, name at domain wrote:
> I know but I was hopping to use it only in server mode :S One more dream
> broken xD I will see Rhombus Tech (never heard of it).
Similar story at many other universities. I currently go to university and I'm studying IT.
The programming course which I'm doing does C# development. I have been using Mono, which is okay because it is entirely Free Software (but it could be a patent trap for anyone who implements or distributes it). However, we are moving on to Windows Forms now, which will be a problem.
I don't object to using their computers at the university, as long as I let people know about my stance on Free Software. I also leave my computer logged in so other people can use my account, and I expect that they would be spying on me (like my high school did). I already know they keep a record of all internet history.
It's not all bad, because some subjects teach Python and Java.
I find it sad that the university uses, distributes proprietary software (via Microsoft "DreamSpark") and only encourages users to use Microsoft Office (even though a significant number of users use OpenOffice.org and LibreOffice). They also pretend that the only way of getting into business is by using Microsoft and Apple's development software.
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Can you take it to someone else and have them submit it for you? I would also recommend complaining. Write to the government or electors about this issue.
This isn't true. Businesses use a variety of tools. While the majority of jobs in many fields require the use of Microsoft Windows and proprietary software there are lots of jobs for free software users. More than can be filled.
There is a lack of talent when it comes to those using only free software. Particularly locally. If you are willing to move or work for someone from home there are plenty of job opportunities.
Things like this make me want to create my own enterprise that works around Free Software (which is not a really bad idea when I think about it...).
At the end of each semester students are able to provide feedback to the university. I will most certainly provide some feedback then!
Unfortunately the university has links to Cisco and Microsoft and so I doubt that they would change their stance without major opposition from students.
I will ask why the university promotes proprietary software so much. I would almost think that Free Software would be an academic thing because it encourages sharing and learning.
If you allow me I will tell you a "funny" story that happen to me when I was in France...
When I was young I was in a school (in the 78 department for those who know), that had old computers running Windows 95 (and we where in 2006). So I started an action (I was very young at that time xD I have 21years old now just to make you see) in order to install Ubuntu in all the machines to make a better use of the Hardware without using old software.
And I archived to do so, a young Portuguese student in France made all the computers (more than 200) going from an old Windows 95 to Ubuntu. This made the local newspaper news as the first public school in the department to switch to only Gnu/Linux after a student proposition.
Only 2 weeks after that, I came to the school and saw someone talking to the responsible of the school... I had a bad feeling at that time. And I was right. Only 2-3 weeks after that all the computers where switched by new computers with Windows XP, all of this financed by Microsoft... the school didn't have to pay a cent !
Now they are again in the same situation with they Windows XP and their single core CPU's, 1GB of Ram etc... But I can't do anything know...
So yes, if those enterprises continue with the big money for public schools then those schools will do nothing since they don't have any moral, just money on the head of the responsible of the school in question.
Wow, that's a GREAT story with a bad ending. :(
It shows that Microsoft doesn't mind giving things if it means locking people in for the long term.
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Don't ask questions you don't know the answers to. You won't like the response and it'll have no benefits. Ask questions that make them uncomfortable about the relationships instead. Phrase questions such that the response puts the universities in a low light.
What I mean by that is they are going to say it is a "free" program and that if you don't like it you don't have to participate.
Posing it as a question of academic importance will put the university in a bad light.
For instance "why does the university promote relationships which are against the students academic interests? ie Cisco, Microsoft, Adobe, etc?" These companies stifle learning and lock students into tools when universities should be teaching concepts.
Thanks for the advice Chris. That's definitely a good point about teaching concepts. I'll speak to a few of my lecturers and see if I get somewhere.
I can't say I'm expecting great results, but at least if I can make a good point it could make people think about it.
aliasbody -
You are benefiting from having these at your fingertips:
- Options to use free/open software on top of open hardware like ThinkPenguin
- Choice in programming languages that are open and well documented
- Ways to learn those programming languages without setting foot in school
- Run languages like Java on a VM supported on a majority of systems
- Established and royalty free file formats that are standardized or will soon
There are still some things rough around the edges like Microsoft's grasp on the educational market and universities getting students locked into Windows and Office programs and internal sites requiring a non-free plugin like Adobe Flash or Silverlight. Of course Apple is a big issue in general with their walled gardens and total control.
What is my ideal world? The important establishments like government, schools and libraries would be utilizing open hardware running a totally free operating system like Trisquel and the software that comes with it saves in open and standardized formats. Users should be taught how to use the fundamentals of a word processor or spreadsheet instead of just learning the Microsoft products. On top of that, only buying accessories that are free software compatible and easily portable.
Biggest of all? Piece of mind that content created with a computer or mobile device is able to be opened many years from now with little to no issues. There's never been a guarantee of that with Microsoft in the past with their binary .doc, .xls, and .ppt formats, but if you do your papers in OpenDocument, you are taking one step forward in making computing a better place.
Thanks for you reply :D
This is already what I have done, I never give any project or any file (since the beginning of the University) in a close format and I'm really waiting for this to make a difference, even little.
As for the rest, I totally agree with you, I have all the tools I need, and I'm not the only one on this situation, at this point everything is possible, I just need to work and to "hit my feet on the ground" to show my point of view and my way of thinking.
Thanks once again for the advice :D