Urko Masse

Authored Comments

I don't actively speak against commercial software or products the audience is using. And I don't actively highlight what I use. I just prefer to know that I'm using Ubuntu and LibreOffice, in case someone notices. I got quite a few comments about my use of Ubuntu, LibreOffice and the Android Impress Presenter app after the workshop, even though I didn't mention anything about it.

My approach is to address what I think are the most common topics: price being one of them, pretending it isn't there makes me feel uncomfortable.

In my workshop I encourage baby-steps, and I described how we did it that way at my school: never directly replacing software without user input, always starting by simply including the open source alternative alongside the commercial one.
It is the future-proofing for me that makes the huge difference: open source software lasts longer, and lets you grow to newer versions on your own terms, or to more users and computers without any artificial restrictions. Unexpected surges in demand are no problem at all when you base your work around open source. Sudden changes of commercial companies' strategies have no effect on your work and productivity. You set the rules, you set the schedule, you set the direction. Empowerment.

Finally, please don't focus only on my comment about your choice of computer :) You feel it is an appropriate choice, and that the possible negative impact of this choice on your goals is negligible. That's a valid opinion.
For me, I feel I can get away without using commercial software for my presentation, fully getting rid of that possible, unmeasurable negative impact. So I make that choice, based on my own opinion.
An effort to promote Free Software, even if this effort uses some commercial software, is obviously much better than no effort at all!
So keep up the good fight! :)