OESF Portables Forum
General Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: Guest on July 04, 2004, 01:36:06 pm
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I'm interested in buying a Zaurus and I'd like to know how much opensource the Zaurus is.
Are all the kernel patches opensource and well maintained?
Are the applications opensource?
Not being all the applications opensource is what make me think not buying a Zaurus as I only want to support opensource software.
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I'm interested in buying a Zaurus and I'd like to know how much opensource the Zaurus is.
Are all the kernel patches opensource and well maintained?
Are the applications opensource?
Not being all the applications opensource is what make me think not buying a Zaurus as I only want to support opensource software.
Unfortunately, it is not all software open source.
I would advise to buy an open source Pocket-PC!
*ROTFL*
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I'm interested in buying a Zaurus and I'd like to know how much opensource the Zaurus is.
Are all the kernel patches opensource and well maintained?
Are the applications opensource?
Not being all the applications opensource is what make me think not buying a Zaurus as I only want to support opensource software.
Unfortunately, it is not all software open source.
I would advise to buy an open source Pocket-PC!
*ROTFL*
Of course I won't buy software from Microsoft criminals. I surely prefer the Zaurus as they support Linux, but I'd like more cooperation with opensource software so it can be in the default ROM.
Anyway, I was asking for a list of opensource software used in the original Zaurus ROM.
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Most of userland is closed source in the original Sharp ROM.
The kernel source is open source, however _not_ maintained at all. Sharp doesn't cooperate with kernel mainline.
OpenZaurus is an alternative linux distribution for the Zaurus which (apart from two binary-only-modules) only contains open source software.
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And, just to tell, Open Zaurus is just great. Really
Cheers
Philipp
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You need to learn that not everyone is going to be 100% open source.
I just had this discussion with a friend about how NVidia has release new linux drivers, but they're not open source. His whole philosophy is if it's not open source, it's not good. Microsoft are not criminals for keeping their source closed. They're just doing business.
Tell me, if NVidia released their drivers open source, how much edge do you think ATI would have on them then?
Be happy that linux is getting the support it is, and don't trash other companies just because they are not open source. That model does not work for everyone.
And before you call me a Microsoft lover, I've used linux longer than I remember and Windows alongside. I prefer Linux greatly over Windows, but I still recognize Microsoft for who they are. I have 2 5600's and a C750 on the way. I have released my own project (http://www.freshmeat.net/projects/3dfb/) under the GNU/GPL license and do support the open source movement. I also know though when a line has to be drawn.
Everybody bashes Microsoft, but they don't sit back and think what Microsoft has done for the computer industry.
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When you purchase a new Zaurus, you are supporting Open Source in various ways.
You are also helping to support Trolltech, which in turn, gives away code as Open Source.
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I very strongly agree with dz.
Micro$oft did help to turn a whole buch of previously stupid users into wiser users, wise enough to realise it's time to take another turn
In my opinion, M$ also did a lot of bad things, f u c k i n g around with standards and therefore hindering progress in computer sciences, but they did introduce "user friendliness" which made the PC accessible (financially accessible and userfriendly enough for non-techies) to the whole wide world!!!!
For the rest, I hate M$ for the abuse of their power and flaky products (they still are the only company that produces a virus vulnerable OS), but it's true that in the bad things, we also can find some good things!
Closed source in itself is not bad at all, it's just how it is used... It is not the gun that kills, it is the finger that pulls the trigger!
There's a lot of non-Micro$oft closed source which is very good, ORACLE's database to just name one of the many examples. In those cases I do not need to change the programs (so I do not need to have access to the source code). They spent a lot of research (time and money) on develloping such a solid product (while Micro$oft spends those resources on lawyers instead) so it's only normal that they keep their trade secrets to themselves and ask good money for it.
The need for source code to be open or closed depends on more than just a rule of thumb that says that it is bad when the source is not accessible.
I some cases, however, I would indeed say that as the "end" user, I NEED to see the code, for security reasons, but even then, it may perfectly be proprietary code that is not to be released to the public.
A fine example of this need would be the scandal caused by Lotus. Some years ago, Lotus notes had a "back door" in their software, allowing the NSA easy access to encrypted mails sent with Lotus Notes. Given the fact that a lot of European governamental organisations were using Lotus Notes, when somebody found out, this news had the impact of a bomb!!!!
So where security is involved, I would say that the code needs to be made accessible to the user, because we have no reason to trust companies like Micro$oft or SCO...
In the case of drivers, like is the case of NVidia, that's another problem... Just as long as they perform very well and that they include the features we ask, it's okay, even though open sourced drivers would allow for more flexible situations and would allow for more freedom of choice. NVidia is perfectly entitled to keep their trade secrets to keep their edge, but it would be nice if they released details on their specs so that 3rd parties could write drivers without having to resort to backwards engineering. But if the driver comes from Micro$oft, there's no garantee that this driver doesn't spy on my internet browsing habits .
So I'd prefer Open Source, but I do respect closed source!!!!
If you wanna support Open Source even more, give a small donation to the devellopers that made the programs that you like the most!
JM.
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I think the 'f' word is unwarranted here, it's not like we are having a rant at someone's backward prejudices or something. Now, I hate MS completely, utterly, without reservation, justification or apology, I will not use their products, I don't own any of their products nor will I ever want to. I'd rather bite my hands off than use their feculent wares.
I agree with Ipotter and once you've got your Z, you can then decide how much open source software you want. Open source software is good and right, this is how most software should be, but there is room in my world-view for commercial software, Qtopia is a good example. But open source methods have produced some really great software, so IF I ever bought a commercial application, I expect it to be as near to perfect as humanly possible, take note tkc.
Users of the world unite, we have nothing to loose but our product activation codes!