Quote:
Originally Posted by DaleDe
This is where we disagree. The computers have value not because of free software. Computers have value because there is software that people can buy that will solve a problem or help them in some way. A source of free software can enhance the value of the hardware but is not necessary except for some who don't need the computer in the first place but want one for fun. Companies seldom use free software as they can't depend on it.
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On the contrary, quite a few companies use and depend on MySQL and the Apache web server, for example, even though those are free. There are also companies that use OpenOffice, rather than paying for MS Word, etc. These free applications increase the value of the hardware.
I'm not trying to say that free/open-source software has completely replaced commercial software; clearly, it has not. But in some areas it competes well, or even supersedes commercial software.
Regarding the term "value," there are so many definitions floating around that I think it is necessary to state a definition when using this term, and to understand that not everyone may be using the definition one has chosen. This seems to be one of those areas where the argument has centered more around which definition of the term to use, rather than centering around the actual premises.