Tales From The Dark Side

Mar 31, 1999

Since this article first appeared on Mar 31, I've been mildly surprised by the thank-you notes I've received from readers, considering none of the following articles thus far have actually made any reference at all to the Mac OS platform. Perhaps the whole premise of Free Software (as in "unfettered", and not "without charge") is now of some interest to us due to the recent release of Darwin, Apple Computer's maiden venture into the realm where OS stands for Open Source, and with which until now Linux has been synonymous.

I especially would like to thank the webmaster of The Wired Republic (try guessing which country it refers to:-)) for kindly feeding me with the links on his website featuring the coverage of GNU creator Richard Stallman's visit to Singapore and his address at the Singapore Linux Conference. (The original articles in The Straits Times Interactive have long since expired.) I think these articles help to set a clearer backdrop to the subsequent arguments that were raised in The Straits Times Forum page.

Three more articles have appeared today (Apr 5) which I've slotted in at the end. Due to the 7-day shelf-life of articles in ST Forum, I've switched the links over to mirror sites on The Wired Republic, as well as on The iMac NewsPage. (I'm assuming there's no copyright.)

"In my 30 years as a computer user, I have never come across a case in which a program would stop working, and the only solution was to re-install the operating system. That is, not until I started to use Microsoft."

Greg Hosler, Straits Times reader

It all began with a recent visit to Singapore by Mr Richard Stallman, principal creator of GNU(a recursive acronym which stands for GNU's Not Unix) and champion of the Free Software Movement. During a visit to a popular local computer retail center and in a subsequent interview with the Straits Times, Mr Stallman appeared to endorse — not software piracy per se — but the principle of affordable software that piracy inadvertently offers to consumers.

Stallman's remarks triggered a flurry of responses in the Straits Times Forum page, one of which was by Greg Hosler, a Linux proponent. Hosler's letter, "Free software for better programs" dated Mar 23 (no longer archived, but see below) attracted a swift response from Microsoft Singapore (it only took them three days). The exchange has since developed into a thread, attracting contributions from other readers, and so I thought I'd share it with you. If you're interested of course. Here they are, in chronological sequence:

• Software 'should be given away free'. A reprint of an article originally featured in The Straits Times. (8 Mar 99)

• 'Free' software isn't free of charge. A reprint of an article originally featured in The Straits Times. (9 Mar 99)

• Free software idea raises serious issues. A reprint of an letter by Singapore's Business Software Alliance originally featured in The Straits Times. (17 Mar 99)

• Free software for better programs. Greg Hosler's letter to the Straits Times (same link as previous article) (23 Mar 99)

• Don't limit IT use to one vendor. (same link as previous article) (25 Mar 99)

• System crashes not peculiar to Microsoft. This is Microsoft Singapore's response to Mr Hosler's earlier letter. (26 Mar 99)

• Price plays a very important role. (same link as previous article) (27 Mar 99)

• Microsoft should not make users the scapegoat. (30 Mar 99)

• Not all computer systems are created equal. Hosler's response to Microsoft Singapore. (31 Mar 99)

• Windows better than Linux for average user. (31 Mar 99)

• Master IT skills, not just Windows. (2 Apr 99)

• Try a Mac computer. Read the FULL version of this letter (it appears after The Straits Times' heavily-censored version). (2 Apr 99)

• Buy other software, not pirated ones. (5 Apr 99)

• Mac or PC, it's reboot and...pray. (5 Apr 99)

• Wide use of Linux will test its worth. (5 Apr 99)

I can't remember a time when Microsoft had so much bad press here (though we did have one instance last weekend in New Zealand ;-). As more letters are published, I'll highlight them here if I find them interesting. And then maybe the next letter could be from YOU. Just contact stforum@cyberway.com.sg to have your say.

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