Re: Linux and Software Freedom

On 8/20/2011 3:51 AM, Tony Mechelynck wrote:
> On 20/08/11 10:11, Ron Hunter wrote:
>> On 8/20/2011 1:21 AM, Tony Mechelynck wrote:
>>> On 17/08/11 20:36, Asa Dotzler wrote:
>>> [...]
>>>> You personally probably don't need need Firefox to tell you anything
>>>> about its up to date status. Your Linux distribution handles your
>>>> updates and your versions. That's relevant for the 1-2% of Firefox
>>>> users
>>>> on Linux for sure.
>>> [...]
>>>
>>> Please don't make such sweeping statements. I'm on Linux, but Firefox is
>>> one of extremely few products which I get straight from their original
>>> publisher, bypassing my distro's sotware-update system.
>>>
>>> However, I check for updates for all my software daily (or sometimes
>>> even oftener) at the time of day when it suits *my own* schedule, and I
>>> have no use for Firefox (or anything else) disrupting my work routine,
>>> either by popping up an "updates found" alert, or even by "only"
>>> monopolizing my bandwidth by downloading an update wihout my say-so, or,
>>> worse, stopping everything in order to install a new version.
>>>
>>> Maybe I'm crazy, but if I weren't I wouldn't be with Linux in the first
>>> place, would I? I'd have remained where I started from, a serf to Lord
>>> Bill of the Gates, or maybe I would have gone over to the Highlands and
>>> indentured myself to the MacIntosh. ;-P
>>>
>>> Best regards,
>>> Tony.
>>
>> I don't think you can prevent the notifications, and that can be
>> irritating. I think such things are better saved for when the user shuts
>> down, or restarts, the application. On the other hand, experience
>> indicates that if they aren't notified of an update, some users would
>> NEVER check, putting them in danger from nasty exploits for an
>> undetermined period. Other users leave software running for days/weeks,
>> without a restart, and they would similarly be exposed to the above
>> risks. This may be one of those 'damned if you do/damned if you don't'
>> things.
>>
>
> Well, as long as I keep the choice and the ultimate control, it's OK by
> me if other people get updates without asking. Especially now that I've
> taken a look in the Mozillazine KB and it seems that there is a UI for
> that in all three apps (Fx, Tb, Sm).
>
> But we're straying a little far from whether or not to keep the version
> number in the about page, aren't we? My opinion (at this precise moment
> in time) is that it does no harm, it may do some good, at least in some
> circumstances; keeping it takes no work, removing it takes some (as a
> minimum, writing and landing a patch), and in addition removing it may
> spread ill-will among some users, so by all means keep it, at least for
> the moment. Oh, yes, it may be of little utility; but what's the harm in
> that?
>
>
> Best regards,
> Tony.

+1