On what I preach: Rediscover the web (& lots more)

Ok,

Time now to tell a little bit more about myself.(After all as I had already mentioned I aint popular yet). As the big banner at the top will tell you I use a different browser. If you want to get the browser I use you can just click the banner at the top. But then if you cant download it and you have ways and means of getting in contact with me(right now this applies to anybody who is willing to come and meet me personally in Vellore) then I can provide you with a copy of the browser (and lots more of OSS for both Linux and Windoze). Getting back to the topic, I am an ardent believer in OSS (Open Source Software) or Free Software. As of now I have not been able to notice any differences between the two except for the names. (Well if u r not an ardent Linux user and u just cant get what I am talking about this may come in handy.) Well getting over the argument, I sincerely believe in it being "GNU/Linux" but bcos of the complacency involved I simply call it "Linux". Personally I would have called it "lin". But well that aint possible. As that is highly incomprehensive for many ppl, so Linux is fine as of now.

Many people (well not exactly that many, its been basically some college friends) have asked me what made me become so crazy about Linux. Well the fact is that I am not crazy about Linux. I am just crazy about the philosophy I preach (And I feel that is the philosophy of knowledge). I simply dig OSS bcos it offers me the freedom to what I do. And that is what any tech is meant for. It is meant too wrok the way you want it. It always has the functionality for that built in. But sadly when software becomes closed source its just that control that you lose. Many will say that we dont need that functionality. Well it is not about the functionality alone (though it forms a big part of it), it is more about the freedom in using something that I know is working as it is supposed to work bcos there are many others around this world doing the same. It gives me the trust which is so important. I dont know about any body else but I have read a lot on the net about Microsoft being able to leak private user information through its software and many others also doing the same. Well for all that its worth it does seem possible bcos if you use Windows u use Windows. The system knows about everything you tell it. Well and this is no clever AI or anything. It can anyway keep track of what you use it for and what you use it with. The software that you have and the various details about it (well if these products are microsoft again it becomes all the more easier for them to track.) Personally anybody cconnecting to the net using Windows sitting at home is really in for trouble. Bcos as to what I have been taught in engg (or let us say what i have got from it) has really exemplified the world of computing for me. It has made everything look so simple and self explanatory. (Well maybe that is what engg is supposed to do hmm :) ). And when without this knowledge I could make a trojan to attack Win systems upto ME trust me the engg at Microsoft are capable of much more.

So as ever it is in your hands(or should i say mind) on what you use (And its in mine to use what I want). I have made my choice and I have given the reasons (at least 1) for it above. Will keep giving more as I can. But i think there are better people(or groups of people) who have already done this on the web. Want to know more about OSS & Free Software. Hop on to.

Free software Foundation
Open Source Initiative
Bangalore Linux Users Group
Chennai Linux Users Group

And if you want to know about one Indian whom every Indian knows(and whom I regard as an ideal man, a man of principles and values and above all a man of knowledge) and his opinions on OSS then you must check this.

Post terminated.

Ankit Malhotra
(The BATFAN)