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Dilbert and Open Source

Fri, 2007-08-03 10:29 — nelson

Dilbert mentions Open Source today. Or, rather, his boss mentions it "because it's free." Which it is, but it's the freedom to run, modify, and share software that's important.

In the Pointy-Haired Boss's office:
PHB: "From now on, I want you to use Open Source software for everything we do. It's free."
Dilbert: "I'll be right back."

At Alice's desk:
Dilbert: "It's an emergency. I think he's been reading."

Dilbert and Alice in the PHB's office:
Alice: "We know you have a trade publication in here. Hand it over and no one has to get hurt."

Comments

Wed, 2007-08-08 01:25 — administrator

If open source were free then millions of users would not have paid providers of LINUX money to install the OS on their machines. What the pointy haired boss in the dilbertesque world does not realize is that nothing is free. Only the form of payment changes. Ajeet
Wed, 2007-08-08 05:05 — Ken Coar

Non sequitur; flawed analogy. Many of those millions of people a) don't know how to install it themselves, or b) don't want to be bothered. If your analogy were completely correct, then housekeeping services would be struggling -- because, after all, their customers could be cleaning their homes themselves for free.

But the laws of thermodynamics do seem to have occasional applicability to economics. :-)

The Dilbertesque point is that the PBH is the poster boy for clewlessness of all types -- but everyone seems to know somebody like him. :-) It's a 'comic strip,' not to be taken seriously..

Tue, 2007-08-14 07:06 — administrator

I love Dilbert! Does anyone know a source for downloading dilbert free?
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