On 01/10/06, Fastfission <fastfission(a)gmail.com> wrote:
On 9/29/06, Artur FijaĆkowski
<wiki.warx(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> I think that the right way is to teach people how
use free tools and
> force them to use it, then force everybody to use properiaty software,
> couse it's easier for windows users...
While I'm sure you have the best of intentions,
when given the option
between "not using free tools" and "being forced to use it" most
people will opt for the former. Enforcing a de-facto "only computer
geeks are welcome" sort of rule is not going to really help the
long-term interest of our projects.
Have you been following the discussions and the mention of the Java
player? That would be much the same as a Flash player in terms of what
people would have to download, etc. And there are Free Software java
players it works with.
I really love MediaWiki's support of SVG -- you
can upload and
download an open format, but it always renders it to be viewed in any
old browser. I think we should take this as something of a model --
the goal should be to combine maximum usability with maximum freedom,
and as has been pointed out these are not and should not be
incompatible. We shouldn't have to "force anyone" to learn anything to
use our resources, if freedom is really a goal.
The trouble is the profound lack of unencumbered video formats. It's
the [[dancing pigs]] problem except with freedom instead of security.
- d.