On Fri, 25 Mar 2005 08:42:27 +0000, Tony Groves <tongro at eircom.net> wrote:
> Rory McCann wrote:
> >
> > I don't think it's a good idea to put forward OpenOffice, Firefox or
> > Thunderbird as examples of open source innovation. All are too similar
> > to exisiting Microsoft products to be called 'innovative'.
> >
> > <Rory>
> >
> The point I was making there was that the entire idea of Open Source is
> innovative in comparison with mainstream software, notably Microsoft's.
> And if examples are to be given in a non-technical newspaper, they
> should be programs that the readership can relate to and actually use today.
>> Tony.
The problem is that some people might see
Firefox/OpenOffice/Thunderbird as no real different from
IE/Word/Outlook, so it looks like open source people are 'just
copying' Microsoft. Which hurts any claim of innovation. We need to
find something developed "without the financial incentive of success".
Or try to prove that people pay for open source software development.
One thing I can think of it 'The World Wide Web', or more recently
some of that funky eye candy that was on the front page of slashdot
recently. :)
<Rory>
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