Comments on: Cloud Computing: Richard Stallman calls us STUPID! (With respect, we don’t agree RMS!) http://lirneasia.net/2008/09/cloud-computing-richard-stallman-calls-us-stupid-with-respect-we-don%e2%80%99t-agree-rms/ a regional ICT policy and regulation think tank active across the Asia Pacific Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:22:55 +0530 hourly 1 By: Ashley http://lirneasia.net/2008/09/cloud-computing-richard-stallman-calls-us-stupid-with-respect-we-don%e2%80%99t-agree-rms/comment-page-1/#comment-27480 Ashley Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:54:11 +0000 http://lirneasia.net/?p=2531#comment-27480 I go with cloud computing. There are enormous advantages in it and it basically goes with using minimal resources that can give to maximum users. <a href="http://www.hpcsystems.com/" rel="nofollow">Servers</a> can be utilised much more effectively to meet the user's needs. I go with cloud computing. There are enormous advantages in it and it basically goes with using minimal resources that can give to maximum users. Servers can be utilised much more effectively to meet the user’s needs.

]]> By: Akshara http://lirneasia.net/2008/09/cloud-computing-richard-stallman-calls-us-stupid-with-respect-we-don%e2%80%99t-agree-rms/comment-page-1/#comment-23076 Akshara Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:36:09 +0000 http://lirneasia.net/?p=2531#comment-23076 With google coming up with Chrome OS as a lightweight thing, days wont be far where with high broadband connectivity, it becomes technically feasible to store our PC data on remote computers hosted by Google / Microsoft / ABC Corp. Which means we are not only sacrificing our freedom, but also our data... youtube / flickr / orkut / facebook is virtually monitoring each and every one of us. Of course it is upto us to take care we do not leak out much personal things... or better to go out and hang out with real friends atleast. User privacy is very important and that was one fundamental thing which drove the free software moment. Access to source code and ability to monitor it. This assured as that with GNU/Linux, our privacy is not at stake and we are free from any sort of malicious code which can probe our systems and send data. Understand that cloud computing is just marketing crap for Software as a service model. Our privacy and freedom will be at stake if we fall for this. With google coming up with Chrome OS as a lightweight thing, days wont be far where with high broadband connectivity, it becomes technically feasible to store our PC data on remote computers hosted by Google / Microsoft / ABC Corp. Which means we are not only sacrificing our freedom, but also our data… youtube / flickr / orkut / facebook is virtually monitoring each and every one of us. Of course it is upto us to take care we do not leak out much personal things… or better to go out and hang out with real friends atleast.

User privacy is very important and that was one fundamental thing which drove the free software moment. Access to source code and ability to monitor it. This assured as that with GNU/Linux, our privacy is not at stake and we are free from any sort of malicious code which can probe our systems and send data.

Understand that cloud computing is just marketing crap for Software as a service model. Our privacy and freedom will be at stake if we fall for this.

]]> By: Chanuka Wattegama http://lirneasia.net/2008/09/cloud-computing-richard-stallman-calls-us-stupid-with-respect-we-don%e2%80%99t-agree-rms/comment-page-1/#comment-15891 Chanuka Wattegama Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:36:26 +0000 http://lirneasia.net/?p=2531#comment-15891 Thanks Sanjana for the link. I never said cloud computing is for everyone, and certainly LIRNEasia is not Coca Cola. We don’t have sleepless nights worrying competitors robbing our secret formulae. Thanks Sanjana for the link. I never said cloud computing is for everyone, and certainly LIRNEasia is not Coca Cola. We don’t have sleepless nights worrying competitors robbing our secret formulae.

]]> By: Sanjana Hattotuwa http://lirneasia.net/2008/09/cloud-computing-richard-stallman-calls-us-stupid-with-respect-we-don%e2%80%99t-agree-rms/comment-page-1/#comment-15886 Sanjana Hattotuwa Tue, 14 Oct 2008 07:48:10 +0000 http://lirneasia.net/?p=2531#comment-15886 http://www.nytimes.com/external/venturebeat/2008/10/13/13venturebeat-the-cloud-isnt-for-everyone-99024.html is an interesting article in light of Chanuka's post. Sanjana http://www.nytimes.com/external/venturebeat/2008/10/13/13venturebeat-the-cloud-isnt-for-everyone-99024.html is an interesting article in light of Chanuka’s post.

Sanjana

]]> By: Chanuka Wattegama http://lirneasia.net/2008/09/cloud-computing-richard-stallman-calls-us-stupid-with-respect-we-don%e2%80%99t-agree-rms/comment-page-1/#comment-15791 Chanuka Wattegama Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:20:22 +0000 http://lirneasia.net/?p=2531#comment-15791 Hi Steve, Before I respond to specific issues let me assure I have nothing against FOSS or Open Source in principle. On the contrary, I am all for FOSS and sometime back tried even promoting it for Sri Lanka government with the support of my friends at IOSN then. I have also been a party that organized the well attended event on FOSS at WSIS 2005 – where RMS was a key speaker. That was my first physical encounter with RMS and yes, I was impressed by his dedication. I have the same respect for FOSS enthusiasts that I have for vegetarians. Both are noble causes but what I don’t like is either being imposed on others. I do not foresee a day everyone becoming a vegetarian. Ditto for FOSS or Open Source. Both are good models but too much to expect everyone to be converted. I guess if RMS is against cloud computing he should take it at a different level rather than calling the users stupid. What alternative he could offer? (say to the popular services by Google) Are there any FOSS alternatives to popular services he mentions? I am more than happy to shift if there are any. Hi Steve,

Before I respond to specific issues let me assure I have nothing against FOSS or Open Source in principle. On the contrary, I am all for FOSS and sometime back tried even promoting it for Sri Lanka government with the support of my friends at IOSN then. I have also been a party that organized the well attended event on FOSS at WSIS 2005 – where RMS was a key speaker. That was my first physical encounter with RMS and yes, I was impressed by his dedication.

I have the same respect for FOSS enthusiasts that I have for vegetarians. Both are noble causes but what I don’t like is either being imposed on others. I do not foresee a day everyone becoming a vegetarian. Ditto for FOSS or Open Source. Both are good models but too much to expect everyone to be converted.

I guess if RMS is against cloud computing he should take it at a different level rather than calling the users stupid. What alternative he could offer? (say to the popular services by Google) Are there any FOSS alternatives to popular services he mentions? I am more than happy to shift if there are any.

]]> By: Steve Song http://lirneasia.net/2008/09/cloud-computing-richard-stallman-calls-us-stupid-with-respect-we-don%e2%80%99t-agree-rms/comment-page-1/#comment-15779 Steve Song Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:47:37 +0000 http://lirneasia.net/?p=2531#comment-15779 @Chanuka, your failure to grasp RMS's point and your knee-jerk reaction are almost as unfortunate as RMS's intemperate comments. What RMS is talking about the rise of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and the implications of that for vendor lock-in, competition, and open source software in general. This is a legitimate concern for an Internet whose success is based on open standards and the sharing of source code. Sadly this is poorly expressed by RMS. SaaS effectively creates a loophole for people using GPL software not to release their code modifications. This is a violation of the spirit of the GPL license. See Tim O'Reilly's comments and some discussion here: http://radar.oreilly.com/archives/2007/07/the-gpl-and-sof-1.html Further you appear not to understand what cloud computing is. Cloud computing is the abstraction of applications from individual servers. Hosting your blog on Wordpress does not make you a "cloud" user. It makes you a SaaS subscriber. Cloud computing is inevitable as is SaaS but using free software without respecting the share-alike nature of the license will ultimately inhibit people from contributing to open source projects. @Chanuka, your failure to grasp RMS’s point and your knee-jerk reaction are almost as unfortunate as RMS’s intemperate comments. What RMS is talking about the rise of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and the implications of that for vendor lock-in, competition, and open source software in general. This is a legitimate concern for an Internet whose success is based on open standards and the sharing of source code. Sadly this is poorly expressed by RMS.

SaaS effectively creates a loophole for people using GPL software not to release their code modifications. This is a violation of the spirit of the GPL license. See Tim O’Reilly’s comments and some discussion here:
http://radar.oreilly.com/archives/2007/07/the-gpl-and-sof-1.html

Further you appear not to understand what cloud computing is. Cloud computing is the abstraction of applications from individual servers. Hosting your blog on Wordpress does not make you a “cloud” user. It makes you a SaaS subscriber.

Cloud computing is inevitable as is SaaS but using free software without respecting the share-alike nature of the license will ultimately inhibit people from contributing to open source projects.

]]> By: Chanuka Wattegama http://lirneasia.net/2008/09/cloud-computing-richard-stallman-calls-us-stupid-with-respect-we-don%e2%80%99t-agree-rms/comment-page-1/#comment-15582 Chanuka Wattegama Thu, 02 Oct 2008 03:28:16 +0000 http://lirneasia.net/?p=2531#comment-15582 It looks like we are not alone. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-10054718-16.html Hey, aren't anyone out there to defend RMS? It looks like we are not alone.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-10054718-16.html

Hey, aren’t anyone out there to defend RMS?

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