The following text is exactly how I found it, I have not modified any of it apart from highlighting parts.
I hope these analogies help understand how pathetic is Windows' closed-source behavior. The last one is very long, as it covers many of the commonplace "articulated" arguments: Sorry. Here goes the first one:
A non-Microsoft programmer says, "hey, I liked your platform's GUI, but I found a lot of issues with security. Can I check the source code to see how security is done and tweak it a little? I'll send the fixed problem ASAP so you can evaluate it too."
Microsoft says: "NO!!! It is My Program, and its flaws are My Problem!!! Screw you, you thief!!!!"
Programmer: "Dude, I'm just trying to help. After all, I use it too. Don't you think it's better to cooperate on this? It's not stealing, it's sharing!!
Microsoft says nothing, but puts an authentication program to impede anybody to touch his code. Good response...
Another analogy:
Linux programmer: "Our kernel is the result of numerous contributions by cooperating developers to the codebase. That explains our exponential growth into a stable, secure core for many operating systems."
Microsoft: "HA!!! You call that secure?!!" "EVERYBODY can see the code; EVERYBODY can make a Virus!!! Plus, how can you get people with different ideals to work together?"
Linux programmer: "A virus is caused by somebody exploiting an UNKNOWN flaw in the code. Since ALL Linux code is known, ALL exploits CAN be found, most in time to be stopped. Not to mention we created a security structure and kernel-integrated firewall to stop intruders."
"On the second point, HOW DO YOU make people with different ideals work together? Promising them Billions of $. On the contrary, our community is bound together due to a common goal: to be FREE (GPL) and be better. That unchangeable goal is stronger than simply shooting with cash guns, because it is cemented on friendship rather than coercion."
Microsoft: "HA!!! We'll see about THAT!!!"
(Two months later, Microsoft issues a release candidate for public testing to improve stability and performance)
Last -and longest- one:
User: "Windows 7 sucks!!! I am tired of it!!! I can't believe I paid 300 dollars for it!!!
Microsoft fanboy: "There goes another fanboy and MS-hater. I have absolutely no problem with my computer (insert model). Plus, with all the new features you need to charge a high price because of high demand for it."
"Come on!! Mac is unbearably costly, and Linux, though free, isn't ready for the Mainstream. It has no full driver support, no MS office, plus it's full with instabilities. More than that? You have to USE A COMMAND LINE!!!" "HOW CAN YOU LIVE WITH THAT, AND LEAVE THE CONTROL PANEL?"
"Also, if you didn't want to pay much, you could have bought MS at a discount on store X, or looked for lots of rebates on amazon/ebay (never mind warranty voidness)"
Linux user, to MS fan: "It's his preference. He can hate it whenever he wants, and he does not need to yield it to your OS 'cause you say so. You really should have cared about the user more and let him choose beyond dollars and functions."
"Well, this is biased, but you can check Mandriva One* or Ubuntu if you need a really easy-to-use OS and great documentation for everything, User. You don't have to install them to try either of them, and they are free. Google them around and look for pics."
"MS fan, that YOU do not have problems with Windows does not mean NOBODY has problems with it. I had a Litany of problems with mine, so I switched to another OS. Don't have to happen to you, but do you need to force others to accept your experience as the absolute guide to everything?"
"Price is a measure of scarcity ONLY in FREE COMPETITION. Monopolies (Like MICROSOFT WINDOWS) can set the price to whatever they want. They find the price that gives them the greatest profit, and boom, it's there. At least in Windows, it has LESS than nothing to do with features."
"Funny you should speak about drivers and hardware: we currently support the MOST platforms and architectures of ANY OS in OS history. If you mean Desktop Computers, we have virtually no problem with ~97/100 of them. The ones we Do have problems with is because companies like Yours keep (unfairly) trying to unable us to support them. So if you mean the Desktop Computers Microsoft Specifically paid for so the drivers would be Microsoft-only, THEN you are correct."
"Any OS has instabilities depending on the hardware. Linux, however, can fix them easily through tweaks in the kernel and fixing source codes. Linux has a great community that helps Anyone fix their users' problems. These fixes are 99.9% of the time included in the next release, which is in 3-6 month cycles." I had a problem with Windows and guess what, I had to contact Customer Support for help. I got a response 1 month later, to tell me they could do nothing."
"Since when is M$ Office needed to have a good office program? Openoffice does 99% of the jobs, and the community is expanding it every day so it's 120% what MS's is. The only program without a true equivalent is Publisher, and that situation is changing with Scribus's Quark Express Likeness." Plus, there are ways to run MS Office on Linux in case you absolutely need Publisher."
"Command Lines? In what year are you in? Do you know GNOME, KDE, or XFCE by the way? GNOME control center beats the hell out of stupid control panel, KDE3's Kcontrol, by far. And Yast/MCC will make it go home to daddy Gates and never come out again in the discourse!"
"As for the last one, most Linux distributions are free in both senses, so... I rest my case."
(The Microsoft Fanboy goes and says: "BULL$...!!!" and patiently waits for his Ant-virus to finish checking his recycle bin in case of viruses)
User: "I think I'll try Linux. After all, I got nothing to lose, right?"
Linux User: "You betcha. Don't like, toss it out! You'll need to get used to it a lot, though. But thankfully, googling for answers will help you a lot in your way to freedom. Check for each distro's wiki, too. Safe voyage into a new computer!!"
(User tries Ubuntu and Mandriva, and falls so much in love with them that he erases Windows and double-boots Mand and Ubu)
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