The power of choice...

Another of the things I like about FOSS, is that there is a lot of variety to choose from. This helps to configure you computer the way you want it to work, and also the way your desktop looks.

One can really customize the computer as one pleases, making using your computer a really pleasant experience. Almost every Linux distro supports several users interfaces, making it easy to choose a distro that looks and feels like you want it to.

Not only that, one doesn't really have to an expert on command lines. You can find several distros where you don't actually need to go to that level, or find the distro that suits your level of expertise on the matter. At the end, it's up to each user to decide how deep into it he or she wants to go.

The software installed in most distros is the bares bones, which is a good thing since they include the software most people uses on daily basis. If you need a piece of software that doesn't come installed, most modern distros make it easy to install what you need.

And if you need extra information on how to do it, the odds are that you just need to do a quick search to find a way to do so.

But most importantly, with FOSS the user really has the freedom to choose what makes it into his/her computer. On the hard drive there is only what the user wants, and uses more frequently.

Not only that, there are several offerings of tools that do what the users wants to get done. With the extra that most of them can be adapted to the user needs with more ease than their proprietary counterparts. Just doing a quick search you can come by several of the most popular options.

And most of the time, you can find a version to use on your Windows or Mac OS X machine if you don't feel comfortable making the jump to a Linux distro.

There are several ways you can experience the freedom that comes with FOSS, and the satisfaction that comes of being part to a truly lively community.

The strength of diversity...

The diversity that comes with the FOSS movement is another thing that I like about. I believe that diversity actually gives both, strength and a great thing to have.

Diversity is good because it brings different points of view and experiences to the table. Thus enabling to make things happen a lot faster, since the odds of someone of someone having faced the same or similar circumstances are greater. Giving the community the ability resolve things a lot faster.

Also, it's good because there are a lot of people with different backgrounds the search of the right person, or group, to help in your project is a lot easier. The community can give different perspectives on how a problem can be solve, or what elements should be included on your project.

As a user, it's beneficial because there are several projects that approach the same task in different ways. And because of this, you can be sure that the odds that there is a project that better for your needs is out there.

It's true that with diversity comes some perils, and managing it can be tricky to say the least. But, in the long run diversity is an asset.

Diversity prevents to become trapped doing the same things, because no one in the community sees a way out. Not only there is someone that can point out the fact, but can also help pointing the way out.

FOSS as a community should embrace diversity, and work together to make it as much a strength as possible.

Design isn't everything...

I find it mostly annoying and sad how many fans of many products tend to focus mainly on how good the design looks. And when someone points out that any part of it isn't necessary or it doesn't work that well all the fan boys are quick to refute by name calling.

It seems that many users are so blinded by the bells and whistles of the products they buy, that they those focus on the usability or if they actually need the product they buy.

While I like that the products I use look good, I prefer them to be practical and utilitarian. The main reason I use something is because it gets the work done, not because it looks good. One can save a lot of time and money by getting things that get the task they are designed for effectively, rather than by them just for the looks of the product.

There are out there several examples of product that are both practical and good looking, but most of the time one has to choose one or the other. Let's face it, getting there is more an art than a since. Thus, is really hard to do design such products. Also explains why usually those products go with a premium.

It's time to actually look beyond looks. And either buy things that are useful, or be willing to pay the premium for the product that have both attributes.

The best tool is the one that does its task most efficiently, and if has good looks is only a plus.

Freedoms on the Internet...

The Internet has is one of the technologies that has the most potential to bring, and keep, people together.

It's a platform on which everyone can participate, share and truly reach a larger number of other people in order to organize in order to reach common objectives.

As such, it's important that the Internet runs on open standards and software. It should be easy to see how the underpinnings run, so that no group can have a way to impede free speech. Or any other freedoms at that.

Individuals have the right to freely associate as they see fit, in order to advance their interest. Walled gardens are to avoided as a matter of principal, since they take control out of the hands of the people and put it on the hands of the owner of the gardener.

Freedom of speech and association are corner stones to keep our freedom. We should be the ones settings the limits to them, not outside forces. Why anyone should have a word on what I say, or with whom I associate with? When power becomes centralized, it has a hard time keeping up with the advancement of the individual and the society.

That's why communities at the ground level should have a lot more say on how they manage themselves. We are the one who know better than anybody else the problems that we face them, and should have the freedom to look for the solutions needed and enact them.

The time has come to take power to do on our hands, and really make the change we are looking for directly at our communities. And the Internet can be one tool to empower the people.

Take control...

Is really sad how it seems that there is a trend followed by many companies to take control away from the user. Each time a new version is announced, the company who makes takes away features that would allow the user to control less and less of what to decide what the software can do.

Which is bad, because that means that the user is left at the mercy of whatever the company want to do.

The user should be able to have complete control of what it's running on his computer, and how is it running. After all, who know better what the user needs that the user himself.

As users, we should do more that mindlessly consume whatever it's given to use. We should be aware of what is going on around us, so we can do more than react when things aren't going our way. If we give them that, the users give up being able to effectively fight back.

Walled gardens are not beneficial for user, since walled gardens only serves the interests of those who own the garden. And they limit the options of the user to whatever the owner of the garden sees fit to offer.

Each user should be the one who decides what to see, and what to use. Most importantly, the user has the exclusive right to choose what channels to use to get the software he needs. Also, the users should be able to deal with the provider without any interference.

The end user is the one who should decide what goes on his or her machines, not the companies.

Break bounderies...

One of the things that irks me the most on any piece of software, being the OS to any other program that I run on my computer, is when it takes from me control the ability to set it up to work as I want it to do and how it share the data I feed into it.

I want to have as much control as possible of whatever is going on my computer, and being able to set my privacy level as I see fit on every piece of software running.

There is no need for the developers telling me how I should use and set the software once it is on my computer, or to be protected from myself. If I need any protective tools, those are the tools that help me understand and protect my computer and data from outside threats.

And the most important tool of all, is information on the possible threats I'm facing. Clear and concise information that helps me understand how certain things might harm me is far more useful at the time of making decisions about what software I download, or what sites should I avoid.

I dislike the idea of being forced into a walled garden just because the developers don't want me changing their code, appearance of the program, to make it work the way I want it to work. Or what worse, to tell me what can I can consume on their platform.

We should be given as much control as possible on our computers and smartphones as possible. We shouldn't be locked out to make any changes to them. Yes, some changes might take your product on paths you didn't think about or wanted it to go. But, once it's out there all has the tendency to take a life of its own.

Why limit anything to the boundaries one person or group set?

By opening the possibilities of what your software can do, the sky becomes the ceiling of what it can be achieved. One doesn't achieve greatness by limiting ourselves to a narrow road.

The Cloud...

For all the hype about the cloud, I've a hard time embracing it for all my computing needs.

I find that for be, I want some of my files on the cloud while other I want them to be on my hard drive. I do believe that for most people needs, they are going to use a mix of cloud and local.

For most intends and purposes, most people needs are meet by a mix of cloud and local storage or processing. The cloud is mostly used for sharing files, music and photos, or for collaborative projects where multiple people need access to a file to work with.

If you don't need to do any of those things, you could use your computer and local drives to meet all of your needs. At the end, there is no need to have everything on the cloud or stored locally. You just need to find the right mix for you.

Most importantly, is important to use services that use open standards at least. This insures that if anything happens to the service, your files can be read by any other service. It would be even better if the service you use is open source, since gives an extra layer of security and flexibility.