Comments on: Bill Gates Makes a Brilliant Argument for Open Source http://foolswisdom.com/bill-gates-makes-a-brilliant-argument-for-open-source/ A fool and his blog are soon parted. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:10:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7-beta2-9617 hourly 1 By: moviesimdb.com http://foolswisdom.com/bill-gates-makes-a-brilliant-argument-for-open-source/comment-page-1/#comment-140662 moviesimdb.com Mon, 19 May 2008 06:29:11 +0000 http://foolswisdom.com/?p=701#comment-140662 As far as open source is concerned, the creative part is already there, but it’s a bit lacking in the capitalism department. If we can come up with a way to mint money for people and companies working on open source, then it’ll most certainly work. As far as open source is concerned, the creative part is already there, but it’s a bit lacking in the capitalism department. If we can come up with a way to mint money for people and companies working on open source, then it’ll most certainly work.

]]> By: Pete Quily http://foolswisdom.com/bill-gates-makes-a-brilliant-argument-for-open-source/comment-page-1/#comment-110219 Pete Quily Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:47:10 +0000 http://foolswisdom.com/?p=701#comment-110219 Hmmm... It's getting harder and harder to view Bill Gates as pure evil. Even Adam Smith didn't think the markets solved everything. Hmmm… It’s getting harder and harder to view Bill Gates as pure evil.

Even Adam Smith didn’t think the markets solved everything.

]]> By: Ling http://foolswisdom.com/bill-gates-makes-a-brilliant-argument-for-open-source/comment-page-1/#comment-109029 Ling Sat, 16 Feb 2008 14:48:21 +0000 http://foolswisdom.com/?p=701#comment-109029 All I'd like to add is that if people are willing to work together, there's a heck of a lot that can be done. If you know what Microlending is, then you'll know what I mean here. Sites and Org's like Kiva are not only offering solid returns to investors, but at the same time improving lives in the third world. It works. That's an example of creative capitalism. As far as open source is concerned, the creative part is already there, but it's a bit lacking in the capitalism department. If we can come up with a way to mint money for people and companies working on open source, then it'll most certainly work. All I’d like to add is that if people are willing to work together, there’s a heck of a lot that can be done. If you know what Microlending is, then you’ll know what I mean here. Sites and Org’s like Kiva are not only offering solid returns to investors, but at the same time improving lives in the third world. It works. That’s an example of creative capitalism.

As far as open source is concerned, the creative part is already there, but it’s a bit lacking in the capitalism department. If we can come up with a way to mint money for people and companies working on open source, then it’ll most certainly work.

]]> By: Mark Jaquith http://foolswisdom.com/bill-gates-makes-a-brilliant-argument-for-open-source/comment-page-1/#comment-108679 Mark Jaquith Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:39:45 +0000 http://foolswisdom.com/?p=701#comment-108679 I don't think capitalism has failed the poor of the world so much as it simply hasn't been available to them. There's a chicken/egg thing going on. The countries are not capitalistic, so they aren't viewed as a market, and capitalism isn't offered to them internationally. But if companies would be a little more forward-thinking, they'd work to make them into markets by seeding them. They'd be able to compete in the markets they create, but would have a lot of clout because they were there first. You know, the whole "small piece of a bigger pie" thing. Capitalism is the only answer. You're not going to significantly or permanently raise the standard of living in the third world through typical charity (of the food/medicine/clothing/shelter variety) or warfare or welfare. Those are all external forces that are imposed upon their recipients. Change has to come from within. Capitalism is the only system that can give them the tools (education being one of these tools) to lift themselves up out of poverty by innovating, trading, competing, etc. Open systems are absolutely a better choice for those at the economic bottom. They have the lowest cost of entry, they encourage experimentation and innovation (an essential ingredient in self-betterment), and they create vibrant micromarkets. I think things like the OLPC are good, but they might be a little bit ahead of themselves. How about open source power generation techniques, open source water transportation and purification, open source crop cultivation techniques? This isn't something that is only applicable to advanced technologies like computing. I don’t think capitalism has failed the poor of the world so much as it simply hasn’t been available to them. There’s a chicken/egg thing going on. The countries are not capitalistic, so they aren’t viewed as a market, and capitalism isn’t offered to them internationally. But if companies would be a little more forward-thinking, they’d work to make them into markets by seeding them. They’d be able to compete in the markets they create, but would have a lot of clout because they were there first. You know, the whole “small piece of a bigger pie” thing.

Capitalism is the only answer. You’re not going to significantly or permanently raise the standard of living in the third world through typical charity (of the food/medicine/clothing/shelter variety) or warfare or welfare. Those are all external forces that are imposed upon their recipients. Change has to come from within. Capitalism is the only system that can give them the tools (education being one of these tools) to lift themselves up out of poverty by innovating, trading, competing, etc.

Open systems are absolutely a better choice for those at the economic bottom. They have the lowest cost of entry, they encourage experimentation and innovation (an essential ingredient in self-betterment), and they create vibrant micromarkets. I think things like the OLPC are good, but they might be a little bit ahead of themselves. How about open source power generation techniques, open source water transportation and purification, open source crop cultivation techniques? This isn’t something that is only applicable to advanced technologies like computing.

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