Andrew Thornton
Ubuntu is a great example of a OS ready for the desktop market. If only Stallman would see it as such. I suppose we can continue in spite of him. I don't see how you can go against what people want; if people want to use Skype in a Linux OS then Stallman to me is engaging in anti-marketing by not putting it on a recognized OS list of "free" software".
Please stop invoking Richard Stallman's name like some kind of talisman. His words have no more force than the strength of the arguments, whether made by him or anyone else. Our acceptance of software should not be dependent on whether RMS or anyone else blesses it. The Ubuntu operating system is not free software, and that's why it's not on the FSF list of free software operating systems. Whether it's friendly to use, whether it's “ready” for desktop use, whether it is what people want; all of these are not relevant to the question “is it entirely free software?” Separate from those issues is the question “how much do you care whether it's free software?”. If other criteria matter more to you, no-one is preventing you from having those priorities (though we can attempt to convince you to change those priorities, and you can attempt to convince others similarly). But please don't complain that an explicit list of free software operating systems does not include operating systems that *are not* wholly free software. -- \ “Never do anything against conscience even if the state demands | `\ it.” —Albert Einstein | _o__) | Ben Finney