Comments on: How come OS X is acceptable?

By: JanC

JanC — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 20:25:01 +0000

Of course "open source" doesn’t always mean automaticly "an open source OS"–before I started using Ubuntu on my desktop full-time, I used Apache, Python, OOo, Firefox, etc. on Windows.

Before the linux kernel existed, even RMS had to run a (partially) non-free OS.

Currently I use Ubuntu on my desktop & laptop, but I use some closed source applications/drivers on it… (but only where I can save my data in open formats, where that’s applicable).

By: Christophe Vandeplas

Christophe Vandeplas — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 20:08:22 +0000

Serge,

I do understand what you try to tell. I have migrated for 7 months now to Mac OS X as main platform (laptop). On my desktop I run Ubuntu and on servers other linux distro’s. Like you were obliged in the past I have to run Windows on my work laptop.

I am also convinced that you can’t sell OpenSource without using it. But my question is: "How far do we want to go?". Are we trying to promote a world without any proprietary software? You are telling it yourself, you still use proprietary software for some applications.

Personally I am first of all advocating for a "Free World". A place where the user has the freedom to choose his product. This kind of approach is only possible using open standards.
I am also promoting Open Source because of the many advantages, both for the users and for the developers. Open Source also helps to work toward such a free world.
I don’t think I’m discarding these ideas by using (a partially proprietary) Mac OS X combined with many many FLOSS software for daily usage.

By: Amedee Van Gasse

Amedee Van Gasse — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 12:36:26 +0000

My first impression on FOSDEM: 33% *buntu, 33% OS X, 33% everything else.

Dries Buytaert, from Drupal: uses OS X.
50% of the people who attended the free Drupal training (http://develoop.be/free_training): used OS X.
I half-seriously asked if running OS X was a requirement to be a Drupal hacker.