FreeGeek Chicago is committed to using free and open source software on our hardware to the greatest extent possible. Free software provides FreeGeek Chicago many practical advantages, such as speed and security. We believe it is an important part of encouraging ethical, thoughtful technology use.

Practically speaking, free software -- the GNU/Linux operating system in particular -- allows us to provide safe and effective low- and no-cost computers. Running GNU/Linux means there are no licensing fees or other software costs.

The Xubuntu Linux distribution used for FreekBoxes runs well on older hardware but is actively updated and improved, making it a good choice for basic computing such as word processing and browsing the Internet. Because of the efforts of the Ubuntu project and the architecture of the Linux kernel, our computers are far more resistant to spyware and viruses than many Windows-based PCs, particularly those running older versions of Windows.

The ethics of free software is equally important in this decision. For computers to be useful as tools for political, social, and economic empowerment, users must be able to exert some control over the technology they use, and have the means to learn more about its inner workings. Free software provides end-users with access to source code and often uses community-oriented approaches to support and development.  FreeGeek strongly believes these elements of free software are far more in line with our ethics than mainstream propriertary software, where the user is ultimately at the mercy of the software vendor.

The world of free software is big and complicated. If you're interested in more, the GNU Project has detailed articulations of some of the ideas motivating the free software movement, or visit FreeGeek during public hours and talk to any staff on duty.

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• Tue, 07/18/2006 - 8:28pm