MESSAGE
| DATE | 2002-06-20 |
| FROM | Ruben Safir
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [hangout] IBM Space offers and Downtown Services
|
There is a bit of noise around the net about the IBM offer to create
a tech center and space for Free Software groups in NYC. I feel, that
in light of this offer to the community, we need to look at a number of
aspects of this development.
First of all, I would like to extend my personal thanks to the folks at
IBM for their years of ssuport of a number of groups and for providing
meeting space in Midtown for NYLUG, GNUBIES, Deludge, and a bunch of
other software organization.
There has been much speculation about the motives of IBM in making this
offer, and how atruistic IBM is towards GNU/Linux.
It's my belief that IBM is indeed excited about the prospects for
GNU/Linux as a platform to peddle their propeitary software. I believe
that IBM sees a future for themselves on this platform, and that the
collegiate nature of Linux developement and Free Software Developement.
The management of IBM sees Linux strictly in terms of it's ability to
generate revenue (and rightly so). I see no moral dillema in terms of
IBM's management profit driven motivations to exploit Free Software,
and Free Softwares need to create Free and Open platforms for software
developement. In fact, I see just the opposite. I want everyone to
run Free Software because the moral foundation of the software makes
pratical buisness sense.
However, I think that Free Software and our user groups, especially
NYLXS, have reason for concern about IBM's offer and IBM's current
business plan. We should not confuse IBM's agenda for our own. IBM,
as a business which provides IT services for enterprises and government,
can not accomplish many of the missions which NYLXS, as Free Software
institution feels it must provide to the general public. This is most
obvious in terms of general computer education, and empowerment programs.
These are not business goals (unless your business is a University) and
it still falls on the shoulders of organizations like NYLXS to promote
general computer education for the public at affordable prices.
IBM's educational offering are IBM specific. This should be of no
suprise. They're offerings are peppered with WebShperei, Domino and
DB2 offering,
neither of
which, to my knowledge, are free software. IBM also has licensing issues.
Obviously, they are targeting the use of propietary server applications
as their bread and butter on the Free GNU/Linux platform. And they
very focused on using GNU/Linux as a means to sell more close sourced
propietary products.
So while I deeply apreciate IBM's efforts to Free many projects,
and to help improve many Free Software products, IBM is not necessarily
an all encompassing guardian angle of free Software.
It was not long ago that IBM was proposing spyware in every IDE hard drive.
And the company has shown to be at times very sensitive to critism on these
matters, clumsy in their aproach (read the left hand doesn't know the right
hand is trying to patent common software discoveries), and often as much
of a threat to Free Softwares necessary political agenda as a help.
Putting these issues to the side for a moment, most importantly, our
Computing organizations must be very careful to remain finacially, politcally,
and organizationally independent. We must be able to make decisions without
wondering how IBM is going to react. There is a real danger of over dependence
on handout, not just form IBM, but from ANYONE, at the cost of the real work
needed to forge long lasting and effective organizations. This can not happen.
>From NYLXS's prospective, we've already made this error once, against my
better judgement, and I care not to do it again. NYLXS's membership is
dependent on volunteer hours, and we will only accept help of this nature
from members. Our members work hard and have a full stake in our success or
failure. This has the benefit of changing the very nature of the conversation
between the people we depend on to get things done, and the organizations leader
which is asking to fill the man and materials to get these tasks finished.
If IBM's personel and board of directors wish to pluck $40 on the table
and then donate 20 hours of volunteer hours with us, in the trenches, and
as full equal partners, we would love to then use their space for our
regular inservices, lectures and meetings. And while we might consider
doing a special event with IBM, I see nothing changing in the goal of
NYLXS to develope it's own educational space and facilities. We wouldn't
take a dime from them unless they are members.
Lastly, I think IBM is making a big mistake be focusing on the server market
for Free Software. I would ask IBM to invest in the GNU Desktop and help
us fill in the gaps of common desktop applications needed to run business.
As long as Microsoft control the desktop, then we are all just grabbing the
tiger by the tail. Microsoft can end IBM's ability to provide services tomorrow
if it chooses to. Until we have a large installation of Free Software desktops,
then we are at the mercy of others.
Ruben
--
__________________________
Brooklyn Linux Solutions
__________________________
http://www.mrbrklyn.com - Consulting http://www.brooklynonline.com -
For the love of Brooklyn http://www.nylxs.com - Leadership Development
in Free Software http://www.nyfairuse.org - The foundation of Democracy
http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/resources - Unpublished Archive or stories and
articles from around the net http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/mp3/dr.mp3 - Imagine
my surprise when I saw you... http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/downtown.html -
See the New Downtown Brooklyn....
1-718-382-5752
____________________________
New Yorker Linux Users Scene
Fair Use -
because it's either fair use or useless....
|
|
