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

[staticsafe]

On Mon, May 20, 2013 at 06:53:39PM +0200, Ralf Mardorf wrote:
> 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?
> 
> 

The situation for Android varies from manufacturer and phone product
lines. If you buy a "Nexus" device directly from Google (Play Store) you
will have a device with an unlocked bootloader (or easily unlocked) and
very easy to get root access on and flash new "ROMs" with fastboot.
-- 
staticsafe
O< ascii ribbon campaign - stop html mail - www.asciiribbon.org
Please don't top post - http://goo.gl/YrmAb
Don't CC me! I'm subscribed to whatever list I just posted on.