January 8, 2015 - Jane-Dundas Branch of the Toronto Public Library condemns USB bootable GNU/Linux and portable app suites?

  • 9 years ago
I do not think that is such a good idea in my honest opinion, to call FOSS (Free Open Source Software) illegal, non/un/insecure, inferior or for pirates/piracy. The same goes for those that want to use the Portable Apps suite, which basically works with windows (and on GNU/linux via W.I.N.E.). But with draconian IT policies restricting just about everything (and screwing itself over, not allowing microsoft office to even run! xD) with a *.exe extension, it is far more restrictive than you think.

I also feel they are stomping on one's right to have the freedom to bring their own fully functional USB bootable GNU/Linux desktop with them, especially if they don't have a laptop, netbook or tablet/PC to carry around. Something definitely has to change, even if there were a few driveless/diskless computers. This way, somebody with just a portable hard disk or USB flash drive/pen/stick, can plug it in, boot it up and do what they were intending to do when at the library.

Sorry about the language, I was just not too happy.

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