The Free Software Foundation makes a case against Windows 7 and proprietary software.
The Purpose
It’s no surprise that the FSF is following up Bad Vista with Windows 7 Sins; the former was a very succesful effort at educating and helping users find alternatives to the locked-down and locked-in world of proprietary software, and the FSF would surely like lightning to strike twice.
The 7 Sins
Limiting it to just seven is in itself a bit of a sin, but here’s what the FSF chose:
- Education
- DRM
- Security
- Monopoly
- Standards
- Lock In
- Privacy
Security – not just the direct and native insecurity of Microsoft Windows – but the less commonly realized insecurity of so critically relying on a outside party would be my top pick.
That, or perhaps Monopoly, because if it were not for Microsoft’s unethical and often illegal business practices including court-convicted abuse of monopoly status many of the “lesser” sins would be irrelevant.
They are all good choices, I wish they spelled out something like “SHAZAM!” though – that would have been a nice touch.
The reaction
Now, as I said it is no surprise that the FSF is engaging in this important effort, but what was a bit surprising was some of the reactions to it.
For example, consider Mr. Matt Asay’s column, where he ignores the entire message of the site and chooses instead to try to paint the FSF as hypocritices for using a CC-No Derivatives license, and then has the laughable audacity to call for more code from the FSF – as if the FSF doesn’t already have a project or two out there - code which he hints is not derivable, a truly foolish red herring to wave about.
Mr. Asay has written many critical pieces about the FSF, the GPL, and related matters recently – it’s a shame that he continues to pretend to be a proponent of Open Source, when it is quite clear he is actually some sort of pro-commerical open-core “fauxpen source” evangelist.
This is the same sort of dishonest dismissal we see from non-Open Source supporters like Business Week, right down to using the same language (both articles deem the effort “silly”). In fact, Mr. Asay endorses the juvenille ranting of the Download Squad’s article in his own writing – a truly vacuous rock to build upon, I should think.
The real reaction
Of course, I personally think that if absolute dishonesty is the best rebuttal that can be managed, it speaks quite well for the FSF’s efforts! Reading those critical articles, and then realizing there is not one logical, factual or rational rebuttal is a strange sensation: confused on why someone would bother, but pleased they out themselves!
In any case, as for the Windows 7 Sins campain proper, opening with letter writing and public meeting is a good start, and I hope to see more interesting and engaging methods of getting the word out.
Seriously, think about my “SHAZAM!” idea.
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