[D-community-offtopic] Why should I use a libre instead of a proprietary operating system?

[Ralf Mardorf]

On Mon, 2013-05-20 at 10:11 +0200, Ralf Mardorf wrote:
> Why should I use a libre instead of a proprietary operating system, when
> I'm not a computer freak and I don't care about what you freaks call
> issues?
> 
> I experienced something funny with an iPad I won. It's used as PDF
> reader only and not connected to the Internet, but I got an
> Apple-ClickandBuy bill. They want 0.89 EUR for nothing. 
> Some research showed me, that people using it intensively with all kinds
> of apps, connected to the Internet, OFTEN get bills for nothing in the
> range of 50 to 900 EUR.
> 
> Why is it impossible to download zero-priced software, if you don't give
> them your bank connection? A rhetorical question ;).
> 
> Do research yourself and then decide, if this is a risk you like.
> 
> A Déjà vu for me, IIRC this happens for the second time to me. I don't
> care, since it's more expensive to take steps for less than 1 EUR, than
> to ignore it. But wait, there's one step to do, to ensure that I never
> ever get a bill in a range between 50 to 900 EUR.
> 
> Well, I won it. And you, you'll be in line in front of the crap store
> and pay hundreds of EUR to get a locked operating system without usable
> software already installed?

Oops, to be fair Apple does care and there are ways to protect against
such issues, however, Apple and Microsoft tend to hide such information.

I still recommend Linux and BSD ;).

Btw. what is the situation regarding to a locked system for Android?