Illegal Software...promoted by everyone


I know, lots of you 're going to say, "Oh, not this again....and blah blah blah...", but it's not about the music copyright and all of that..., it's about something we all use and we don't realize: Operating Sistems (OS) and other software...

For those who don't know what I mean:

An operating system, it's the base software (Software, that thing you can only curse XD, hardware, that thing you can burn.. ) all PC needs to be used... I mean, the base for u need to install other software you might need. This "other sofware" need the OS (Operating System) to work...and they 're made for something we need.

Name of some OS you may have heard..



Ok, let's continue..



In the sofware.. they 're two big divisions...

Private Software (Made with private code)



Microsoft Windows, one of the best examples of proprietary software

Free Software (Made with free and open code)



Tux! (I love it!! ), Linux mascot.

Overtime, society and technological advancement, made computers almost essential for actual life, as well as internet
Since the late 80's companies like Microsoft and Apple were the most successful in relation to the PC, actually there 're currently one of the most important software companies in the world.
At same time, free alternatives emerged for those who can't afford a propietary O.S or other propietary software..

One free alternative case, it's Linux O.S



Linux it's the term we use to refeer to the free Unix-like kernel, combined with GNU tools. All the source code of this system, can be used, modified and redistributed freely by anyone, under the GPL terms license (GNU General Public License) and a number of free licenses. [/color]

¿What is GNU?



GNU it's a proyect made in 1984 with the aim of creating a completely free operating system. Its acronym stands for GNU's Not Unix.
The GNU system was born with an free and fully compatible with non-free UNIX systems idea. con la idea de ser total y completamente compatible con sistemas no libres de UNIX, but made with diferents software pieces, all of free distribution.
That's the origin of "GNU/Linux"
Linux it's not part of GNU, but uses tools that are part of GNU

As i said, during the late 80's was the rise of operating systems, and the creation of the graphical interface of them, the problem with the free software, the free software's biggest problem, was that it was too complicated to be used by people with basic or non knowledge about computers, added to the poor publicity, problem that still remains.

Over time, the open source operating systems were significantly improved their environment and their use becoming more accessible and easier for people.
Opposite proprietary source operating systems, open source systems, are fully configurable and it can adapt to the needs of each one of us, also allowing system modifications made by the user.
Another diference (BIGG diference) with propietary software, is security: Most than 95% of malicious software it's for propietary code O.S.



But,.. if we have free and legal open source software... ¿Why do we make illegal copies?...


Aha! That's the point...! (?)

There 're many causes, so i m going to list them



Price

Many of us (At least in Argentina) we don't have enought money to buy an original propietary O.S, so, many choose download it and "legalize it".



Costs of Windows 7 (November 2010) in Argentina:

Windows 7 Starter 32 bits: U$S 65= Aprox. $270
Windows 7 Home Basic 32 bits: U$S 120= Aprox. $500
Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bits: U$S 160= Aprox. $665
Windows 7 Professional 32 bits: U$S 215= Aprox. $895
Windows 7 Professional 64 bits: U$S 215= Aprox. $895
Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bits: U$S 295= Aprox. $1230

[

The cost of the last version of the Apple's O.S:Mac OS X U$S 30= Aprox $125 (In july 2011)

Mac OS X is less illegal copies are made of, and it can only be installed on Apple hardware.
Although in this system the rate of attacks is MUCH LOWER than Microsoft's Systems, this is 'cause it's part of "minority", not because of it's safety. Mac has lower security systems than Microsoft's OS or Linux, leaving exposed many vulnerabilities

But, having open source software, why not use an OS of this style?

That question was what led me to the next reason ...





Ignorance


Lots of people doesn't knows, or "knows" but don't want really know. Many people talk without knowing. Many speak without ever having used at least once an open source system. They say open source systems 're more complicated, that they have bugs, they talk about the aplications they use, about the compatibility(Microsoft Office, mainly...)

Demystifying ...

Some of the reasons many people give when asked about alternatives to commercial software ...

1)"It's more complicated". False. The use of Linux systems was difficult time ago, but now the difficulty is practically nonexistent, including installation. Windows also had his "side B" for over 10 years, their use was difficult for a number of issues, you had to have some knowledge of disks, commands. Today, in the case of Linux, there are different distributions for the different types of users ... from simple to novice users (Ubuntu. ..) to a little more difficult systems for advanced users (Slackware. ..)
2) "It's unstable". False While currently some systems may be unstable, the Linux kernel is very stable, although, as I said, over time, this stability has been lost a bit, depending on which distribution you use..Microsoft systems were the most unstables, in fact, during the Windows 98 presentation, while trying to install a scanner, the system crashed, showing the BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) (It was live on TV! (LOL) ). Windows Me, was a DISASTER (Personal experience),bugs everywhere problems with installation of Drivers ... a little of everything!. The stability was improved from Windows XP... But Linux still much more stable than the Microsoft system. Apple's systems are also stable, because its core is based on the same as for Linux, UNIX











link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzFUcDKC64E

3) "I got used to Windows". Nor false, neither true , Even if you're used to a certain system, everyone is almos the same. You will not have the same thing in Linux, than you have in Windows. There are alternatives...

Windows's most used aplications:



The Microsoft Office Suite...

]

The free office suite, is LibreOffice (Fork of OpenOffice.org), which works very well for my taste,and it doesn't have many unnecessary stuff.



Windows Live Messenger, One of the big reasons why many people choose proprietary code systems.
Personally, I do not see why, in fact, with each update of Messenger, it has become more unstable, more for anything, increased memory consumption, less optimization...
I like more the simply MSN Messenger versions than the Windows Live ones.
In Linux there are many alternatives to Windows Messenger:



Emesene, An argentinian free alternative to Windows Live Messenger,very stable, and lightweight, fully customizable, editable, with add-ons or plugins that make you comfortable set.

There are also, those that allow the use of accounts from different providers (Gmail, Yahoo, etc, etc), such as Pidgin, Kmess ... etc

Many use other software, such as recording, image editing, compression, etc..
There are many alternatives that work very well, in fact, I use GIMP as image editor and for recoding, there are lot of free software working very good and it concetrates in the principal function and don't have lot of innecesary stuff that causes slow computer performance (Like NERO XD) . There 're also free versions of POWERFUL compresors that works very well

4) (And perhaps the most important one), incompatibility Neither true, neither false Unfortunately, only a few software companies make applications for Linux systems, mainly because it is not profitable, I mean, leaves no profit, and if left, would be almost nothing,'cause if that aplication has a price, we opt for a free one unless it is too exclusive to get But this is mainly with games, lmost games are only compatible with Windows and Mac a few times, and they aren't compatible with Linux.

Another BIG advantage of Linux systems is that it has a software center, where you can download the aplication you need without searching in the web and risk to download the wrong application, or a virus, etc...

Why people doesn't know about open source O.S or applications? That brings me to the reason...


]

The people "in charge" of promoting open source...

In order of importance:

1) The Government:

In Argentina, Unafortunatelly, the actual gorvenment doesn't promote the open source...
Here, Cristina Kirchner implemented a plan called "Conectar Igualdad".The plan's objective is to provide netbooks to public school kids. This netbooks have a dual boot, with Windows 7, and Ubuntu Linux 10.04. That's good! The thing is, "Ubuntu" it's not the reall Ubuntu! The graphical environment it's like Windows XP (EWW!), Basically, that's says to the kids Linux is like Windows, and IT'S NOT. And the system is in the Netbook, but they don't even use it in Class.. so, it doesn't work...

2) We: Yeap, society. You 're maybe saying "But, How? Didn't you just say it's a Government responsibility?" Yeap! Yes, but it is also our responsibility. Since we were kids we never learn we were doing something bad when we copy software or applications.So, now, if we know the alternative for not doing it, It would really nice to promote it

3) Companies: Companies 're gonna make applications for the most used O.S (First place, Windows, second, Mac...) if Linux were the most used OS instead of Windows, the story would be other.



Games we all want to play...]

From a personal view, I honestly wouldn't even pay $ 100 for any Windows version
But not for the fact that I can find and download anywhere, it's because since I was a kid, it taught me not to pay for something that could get in free. Of course when I was a kid I didn't realize this things! Haha. And yes, I use to use Windows some time ago... The first computer we had, came with Windows Me. And some years ago I tried open source, and I really like it!!. I m still having Windows XP, but just for games... hahaa The important things 're in Linux! XD

This was my first post on Socialphy! Thanks for visit it! Please make a coment!
And SORRY!! BUT REALLY SORRY FOR MY BAD ENGLISH!! haha! See ya!!