Unit 2 - Completed (I hope!)

So, I have now double-checked and everything seems to be complete for this week's assignments. I am unsure where to put my comments regarding the lecture, so I guess I will go ahead and put them here. :-)

Lecture: Answers to questions posed within the lecture:

In “About Servers”:

In looking at two sources that give definitions of computer terms, ODLIS and Wikipedia, the definitions in ODLIS are more of an overview of how the terms apply to computers and gives examples that the average person may have encountered in a work environment. The Wikipedia entries give more in-depth discussion to what the term is and how it functions in context. There are also embedded links to terms that might be unfamiliar to the less-familiar readers to assist in comprehension of the definitions. The user groups for these two sites may overlap, but it is clear that the ODLIS definitions are given to a very specific audience – basic computer users with little-to-no knowledge of network structures and the way computers are set up beyond what they themselves have seen or connected to. The Wikipedia entry is geared towards those with a basic knowledge at or above the target group of ODLIS, and expands upon that base to give a more in-depth definition of the term within a broader context.

In “Gnu, Linux, and Open Source”:

The question posed is: “Given Bretthauer’s discussion, can you explain what is really meant by these three expressions?”

The expressions and their definitions, from the two Bretthauer readings and other readings, “as according to me” follow:

Free as in free speech – Freedom to: run the program for any purpose; modify the program to fit individual needs; redistribute copies with or without charging a fee; and distribute modified versions so community can benefit from your input.

Free as in free beer – Freedom to: - choose as long as you share you results

Free as in free kitten – Remember: everything comes with a price, ie hardware, maintenance, staff time, etc. It may look great in the beginning, but there is always a price to be paid.