On 01/10/06, Fastfission fastfission@gmail.com wrote:
On 9/29/06, Artur FijaĆkowski wiki.warx@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.