> However, by taking this pure stance on the software side as well, it runs headlong into the same thing that keeps most people out of FSF world: you buy a computer for the software you can run on it, and the software you get that way simply isn't as good in many cases as what you can get on Windows or OS X.
I've been running Linux for over fifteen years, and I beg to differ: free software is almost always preferable.
> In contrast, the site here explains in great detail how installing software on Linux to watch a DVD is likely to be illegal in many places
That's simply an unfortunate fact of living under repressive regimes which try to forbid one from playing the DVDs one has bought; it's certainly not their fault.
I've been running Linux for over fifteen years, and I beg to differ: free software is almost always preferable.
It depends what you're doing, but if it involves anything to do with gaming, professional/business software, or the creative/multimedia industries, I stand by my previous comment.
For example, arguing that LibreOffice is an acceptable professional substitute for MS Office is fine until your accountant can't open the spreadsheet you sent over because of some incompatibility in the macros, at which point the amount of money it's going to cost for the lost time on that one occasion will instantly cover the cost of buying the real thing.
For another example, despite the recent push by the likes of Valve, gaming on Linux is still a far cry from gaming on Windows or any recent console.
That's simply an unfortunate fact of living under repressive regimes which try to forbid one from playing the DVDs one has bought; it's certainly not their fault.
But most people aren't going to care, because they want to watch their movie, and this laptop won't let them unless they jump through hoops and, in many places, break the law along the way.
Those are due to be released later this year, but no-one really knows yet how they will work out in terms of performance or cost-effectiveness, or what range of games will be available for them. Even if Valve port all of their own big titles over, the major titles from others in the industry may or may not follow, and it will probably take time if they do.
So yes, Steam machines are what I was referring to, but yes, gaming on Linux is still a far cry from gaming on Windows or any recent console.
I've been running Linux for over fifteen years, and I beg to differ: free software is almost always preferable.
> In contrast, the site here explains in great detail how installing software on Linux to watch a DVD is likely to be illegal in many places
That's simply an unfortunate fact of living under repressive regimes which try to forbid one from playing the DVDs one has bought; it's certainly not their fault.