January 10, 2008

Who are the free software users?

There seems to be a culture developing in the software world, on the one hand there are those people who will only buy the branded products, but it is the free users who are of interest today. They come in all different shapes and sizes, but have one thing in common; they would not use anything else.

So just what are the general characteristics of the free software user?

Free software users expect open licenses and no activation methods

Free software users expect regular upgrades and patches

Free software users expect to work the way they choose

Free software users want control of their own systems

Free software users explore

Free software users expect to help themselves

Free software users don’t fear the command line

Free software users learn software categories, not programs

Free software users expect access to developers and other employees

Naturally this is not likely to last forever and at some stage these point will change, but it is quite useful to see these points and put them against your own software persona.

Source [Datamation]