(long and repetitive) Re: [Fsf-india] Freedom, affordable costs...

[Ranjit Babu]

On Thu, 11 Apr 2002, Pappu wrote:

>
> All other  factors being same (free  software may be in  a worse state
> in some cases) Freedom IS the ONLY advantage that can get free software
> any where, in a any kind of market (rich or poor).
>

When we talk of freedom, we primarily mean the freedom to modify code and
use it without being policed. What significance does this freedom hold for
a user who cannot understand code or modify it? Let's say we have a Bio
professor who wants to create a question bank for quizzes. He has zilch
knowledge about programming. His aim - open up a screen, type in
questions, click a few buttons and get his questin paper. Provided he has
the option of choosing between a proprietary product and a free software
release. Assume cost is of zero significance cos his university will spend
all the money he requires. If both competing software products boast of
equally good functionality, would *freedom* be the reason he chooses free
software?
The freedom we talk of will allow a programmer somewhere to modify the
existing software and improve its functionality; someday, these _may_ beat
the propretary product in performance. But product usage will always be
the end-user's priority- is there a broader meaning to software freedom
or am I short on vital information here?

+ Ranjit