Comments on: OLPC missing its community opportunity http://www.openlogic.com/blogs/2008/04/olpc-missing-its-community-opportunity/ Open Source Governance, Scanning, Support, and Cloud Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:00:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Stormy http://www.openlogic.com/blogs/2008/04/olpc-missing-its-community-opportunity/comment-page-1/#comment-101018 Stormy Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:18:32 +0000 http://www.openlogic.com/blogs/2008/04/olpc-missing-its-community-opportunity/#comment-101018 My point was not that we shouldn't use Windows because the community wouldn't like it. My point was that the community is willing and able to help out with Linux and open source on OLPC. If OLPC decides to move to Windows they will be saying no to all that extra help. (Help that I don't think they are truely utilizing at the moment.) Although there will still be a community of people willing to help if it's Windows on OLPC, they won't be able to help at the same level. They'll be able to help with marketing but not with actually getting the thing working, creating software, testing, etc. And getting people involved at the code level often strengthens the community at all levels. My point was not that we shouldn’t use Windows because the community wouldn’t like it. My point was that the community is willing and able to help out with Linux and open source on OLPC. If OLPC decides to move to Windows they will be saying no to all that extra help. (Help that I don’t think they are truely utilizing at the moment.)

Although there will still be a community of people willing to help if it’s Windows on OLPC, they won’t be able to help at the same level. They’ll be able to help with marketing but not with actually getting the thing working, creating software, testing, etc. And getting people involved at the code level often strengthens the community at all levels.

]]> By: Bryan http://www.openlogic.com/blogs/2008/04/olpc-missing-its-community-opportunity/comment-page-1/#comment-101012 Bryan Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:26:52 +0000 http://www.openlogic.com/blogs/2008/04/olpc-missing-its-community-opportunity/#comment-101012 This is an example where I think far too much respect and importance is granted to Community. Here's what I mean. It would seem like the good in all this is the notion that because of the OLPC program, children who would not have otherwise had access to a computer will now have that access and all the good things that come along with it. Now, it seems to me that when someone (the Community) refuses to participate because the laptops that will be distributed can/will have Windows on them, then those someones are placing the principles and perceived value of said Community above that of the original, laudable, core goal - namely, of placing valuable tools in the hands of children lacking them. I find it difficult to see how someone could possibly justify such a position, if that's in fact the one the Community is taking. If someone could give me a reason something like one of the following two, then it would seem valid. * Children can't use the laptop as effectively for learning if it as Windows on it compared to some other OS more favored by the Community because... * The non-Windows laptops are cheaper (in the sense that more of them can be distributed to these children for the same cost), therefore if we want to help a larger population, we should go with that option. An example of a reason that doesn't provide the basis for a strong argument would be: * We should not use Windows because the Community wouldn't like it. If that's the reason, my question would be... who cares? It's not about 'the Community', it's about getting machines in the hands of kids who don't have them. It would seem that a reason like that just indicates to me that the Community has an inflated image of self importance. Now, if a valid, pragmatic reason can be provided, I'm all for the idea of sending something other than Windows out. This is an example where I think far too much respect and importance is granted to Community. Here’s what I mean.

It would seem like the good in all this is the notion that because of the OLPC program, children who would not have otherwise had access to a computer will now have that access and all the good things that come along with it.

Now, it seems to me that when someone (the Community) refuses to participate because the laptops that will be distributed can/will have Windows on them, then those someones are placing the principles and perceived value of said Community above that of the original, laudable, core goal – namely, of placing valuable tools in the hands of children lacking them. I find it difficult to see how someone could possibly justify such a position, if that’s in fact the one the Community is taking.

If someone could give me a reason something like one of the following two, then it would seem valid.

* Children can’t use the laptop as effectively for learning if it as Windows on it compared to some other OS more favored by the Community because…

* The non-Windows laptops are cheaper (in the sense that more of them can be distributed to these children for the same cost), therefore if we want to help a larger population, we should go with that option.

An example of a reason that doesn’t provide the basis for a strong argument would be:

* We should not use Windows because the Community wouldn’t like it.

If that’s the reason, my question would be… who cares? It’s not about ‘the Community’, it’s about getting machines in the hands of kids who don’t have them. It would seem that a reason like that just indicates to me that the Community has an inflated image of self importance. Now, if a valid, pragmatic reason can be provided, I’m all for the idea of sending something other than Windows out.

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