[Linux-aus] Firefox vs IceWeasel

[gyaresu]

David Lloyd wrote:
> 
> Karl,

>> How does it jeopardise it (How is it a debarcle?)? its a browser for 
>> crying out loud. 

Computers scare people.

It's not a browser. It IS Linux. It IS 'Free Software'. It IS 'The 
Computer'. A huge number of people (particularly the ones uncorrupted by 
ANY computer use) have no differentiation between a browser and an OS.
E.g. My Grandmother is highly literate and an advanced researcher of 
Genealogy but She still opens EVERYTHING in MS Word.

>> in my 'Internet' menu its called "Firefox Web Browser". "Iceweasle Web 
>> Browser" wont cause my head to implode, and i very much doubt anyone 
>> else's.
> 
> Clearly you don't interface with people at a business level enough. I'm 
> about to take a pot shot at you: you're also not one of these "ordinary 
> users" - you happen to be a user who understands a not insignificant 
> amount about open source and free software.

^^ Agree. I do on-site service (plus the only Linux guy in Northern Tas) 
and It would be significantly easier for me to convince people why I'm 
changing them over to an entirely new set of programmes if they had at 
least heard of some of the programmes I'm installing. Herd mentality. 
Hence the success of Ubuntu.

> Firefox has a reputation as a secure, free and open source web-browser; 
> it's reputation is such that those who once distrusted open source 
> software are starting, at least, to trust it enough to use.

^^ The teenagers are the worst. Switching them from IE is a chore at the 
best of times.

> That said, the open source browser component of the old Mozilla suite 
> has undergone quite a few name changes. Interestingly, they've generally 
> been because some other trademark holder has alleged infringement of 
> their trademark.

So we probably need a catchall name that incorporates EVERY secure 
browser. A generic name that isn't associated with a Trademark or a Brand.

Not so much an Internet Explorer as an 'Secure Pipe' or 'Web Tunnel' 
that could be Firefox or IceWeasle or whatever. As long as it was Free, 
Open and secure.

"OK kids. Now open up a 'Secure Pipe' to http://example.com"

> No one's head is going to implode about this issue however someone is 
> going to have to explain what the difference between Ice Weasel and 
> Firefox actually is. We may have to live with it, however remember that 
> open source is forging its way into places where people see change, 
> diversity and code forks as weaknesses and something to be afraid of.


FOSS doesn't seem to have any sexy generic handles associated with it. 
It all rides on the big names, Red Hat, Ubuntu, Linux, Firefox, 
OpenOffice.org. I believe that to be an Achilles Heel.

Imagine if Ubuntu or Debian had a falling out with the Linux kernel 
hackers and decided to fork Linux! Imagine. "No it's not Linux. It's 
Albatross".